What To Do If Your Child Hates School

**Collaborative post**

If your teen hates school, it’s probably not his fault. Healthy brains are designed to protect us from things that threaten us. The pressure associated with education today can be intimidating and a cause for your child to hate school. Bullying, anxiety, and learning difficulties are not always the reason, but they often influence how kids feel about school. If your child hates school, these tips should help you get to the bottom of the issue and give you ideas on how to help them.

Listen actively to your child

It’s common for parents to tell kids how to feel, but this only represses their feelings and spills into anger. When your child says they hate school, avoid phrases like “Don’t say that, I thought you love school, don’t you like your friends” among others. Respond with understanding and paraphrase their statements to what they really mean. For instance, you can say, “I can tell you are upset, you are hurt, aren’t you, or that was discouraging, wasn’t it.” These statements encourage your child to talk about what’s happening, giving you a clear picture of what they are going through. Ask them would you rather questions. Compare their situation to scenarios which things could be worse to try and provide another perspective of the situation.

Get them some help

If your child finds learning difficult, encourage them to get a tutor. Extra lessons will not only help them improve, but also allow them to learn different strategies they can use. Also, retaking A-levels at home can be helpful for your child, especially if they feel embarrassed they failed the first time. It will give them a confidence boost by keeping their ‘business’ private.

Be hands-on

Kids often feel overwhelmed when they have so much work to finish. Feeling overwhelmed can fuel the fire to hate school. The best way to navigate this is to help your child manage their school projects and homework. Teaching them to find a balance will help them manage their time better and make the workload a little less overwhelming.

Get them a breather

Kids who go through bullying or feel anxious find a breather helpful. Talking to a guidance counselor or sitting in their office for a few minutes gives them time to adjust and strength to face the rest of the day. They don’t have to say anything to the counselor, but when they do decide to talk, the counselor or teacher can guide them through academics and school relationships.

Express your opinion positively

If your child complains about a teacher, address his feelings without helping him attack the teacher. For instance, instead of saying, “I saw how rude the teacher was. I didn’t like her either” say “you are angry and hurt. It’s hard.” Also, avoid giving off days because they only create a negative feedback loop, increasing the desire to stay home.

It’s hard on parents when kids say they hate school. But if you take time to really listen to them, change your response, and help them through the challenge, kids will regain their interest and enjoy school. These tips will help you listen and understand your child.