One of the hardest issues to deal with as a parent is having a child that hates school. It’s tough seeing your child so upset and angry about having to attend school so they can get a good education, and as a parent, you often feel powerless to deal with the situation, but there are several things you can do to help your child get through this.
Talk to them
First and foremost, you need to talk to your child to find out why they hate school so much. You need to know if they are being bullied, or if they have anxiety about being away from you, or whether they simply find the school environment too challenging before you can hope to help them through it. Take them out for ice cream and broach the subject as gently as you can, asking them as many questions as you can to see if you can get to the root of it all.
Talk to the school
Of course, your child may not be very forthcoming or unable to articulate what the problem is. That’s why it is important that you also speak to their teachers to ask them how your child is at school and what they think the problem might be. They aren’t always aware of situations like bullying but more often than not, they will be able to help you if you work with them.
Consider alternatives
Unfortunately, mainstream schools are not the right place for many children to be. Children who have learning disabilities often fare better in specialist schools, for example, and children who are gifted are often not challenged enough which makes them act out and hate school. Luckily, there are lots of alternatives like homeschooling, cyber school, and specialist schools to consider. If you think your child might benefit from an alternative form of schooling, as a parent, you should start researching your options as soon as possible because the sooner they are settled, the better it will be for them and for you.
Put your child first
It’s all too easy to get frustrated with a child who hates school, who has tantrums every day when you try to get them in the car, and who refuses to attend no matter what you do, but there is almost always a good reason why they are so hesitant to attend. It does none of you any good to get angry and force them into tough situations.
Listen to your child, see what can be done to make them feel better about attending school whether it is therapy, a new school, or something else completely, and always put your child first and foremost, but of course, make room for your own self care too!
It’s always tough as a parent when your child is suffering, but school is important, so this is one issue that you really need to get to grips with as quickly and sensitively as possible for your child’s sake. Hopefully, the above tips will help you with that. Good luck.
