My five-year-old boy used to be very interested in and fascinated by school. He would push us to take him there, sometimes even during weekends. However, lately he has developed a strong dislike for school. This is worrying.

I can hardly describe how he hates the idea of school. So, he is now giving all sorts of excuses to avoid boarding the school bus. What could be the problem? What am I supposed to do as a parent?

If your child starts saying that he doesn’t want to go to school, the first thing to do as a parent is to find out why. Don’t assume it’s just laziness or that he doesn’t like school work. Usually, a child hates school after going through negative experiences in the classroom.

Ask him what exactly he doesn’t like about school. Listen to what he says, and ask enough questions to get to the bottom of it. Once you know what the problem is, you can take steps to fix it.

Once you know what is bothering your child, schedule a parent-teacher conference. Talk to your child’s teacher in a non-threatening way, sharing the problem and attempting to come up with a solution together. If the teacher said something that upset your child, you will need to share that information. Just be sure to do so in a respectful way.

If your child is having problems related to schoolwork, set aside time each day to help. Stay in contact with your child’s teacher, and find out what skills need extra work. When your child starts to catch up, he may feel more confident, and begin to like going to school again.

If the problem is more serious, you may need to have your child tested in order to get extra help at school. Many children suffer from learning disabilities in one or more areas, and may require extra tutoring in a resource class.
The problem could also be a sign that he is having trouble with other kids. Some children are shy, and making friends is difficult. Lonely hours on the playground with nobody to play with can make a child dread school.

Kids who have trouble socially are some of the least happy children in schools. These are the kids who don’t want to come to school in many cases. In order to help your child feel more comfortable with other students, help him practice social situations at home.
Take your child to ballgames and other social functions at school.

If you have a burning question, send it to: powere@tz.nationmedia or SMS 15334 starting with SC-teacher

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