Lots of children say they find school boring and would prefer to stay at home. But this is normally just a throwaway comment. Some children, however, genuinely dislike their time at school, to the point where it causes mental turmoil. So, what should you do if you think your child is having a tough time at school? I have teamed up with a prep school in Hampton to share some advice when your child doesn’t enjoy school.

Pay Attention to Your Child’s Behaviour

When children struggle with something, they can’t always find the words to explain how they’re feeling, so their emotions manifest in different ways. If your child’s behaviour has taken a turn for the worse, especially where school is concerned, it might be because they’re not enjoying it for some reason. Perhaps they are having problems with their friendship group or they’re struggling with some of their lessons, or maybe there’s a teacher they don’t particularly like. There is usually a reason why children stop enjoying school and that reason can often be rectified if you can get to the bottom of it.

Encourage Your Child to Open Up

Make sure your child knows that you are there to talk to whenever they have something on their mind. Hear what they have to say and don’t judge them, as this will make them reluctant to open up. Let them speak freely about how they’re feeling and don’t interrupt them until they are finished getting everything off their chest. If you can get to the root cause of the problem, you will be in a better position to help.

Don’t Put Pressure on Them

If your child tells you that they don’t like school, try not to criticize them or become defensive, as this will only put further pressure on them and make them feel worse. Ask them why and try and provide them with some coping mechanisms. For instance, if they are upset because they have no one to sit with at lunch, suggest some ways they can initiate friendships.

Speak to the Teachers

Your child’s teachers are similar to you in the sense that they want your child to get the best out of their time in education. With that said, you will probably find that they will be more than accommodating in helping you get to the bottom of why your child isn’t enjoying school. They may be able to give you some additional insight into what’s wrong.

Consider Various Possibilities

While you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about why your child isn’t enjoying school, it might help for you to consider some of the possible reasons. Here are some suggestions:

Does your child sit at the back of the classroom because they cannot see the board very well – they may need glasses.

Has your child has fallen out with their peers or is being bullied. The teachers should be able to help resolve any conflict between students.

Is your child struggling with a particular subject – some extra support at home or a private tutor will help.

Perhaps your child struggles with social anxiety – you may want to consider counselling to help with mental health issues. Plus come up with ways to help them socialise (such as extra-curricular clubs, play dates etc) which might help.