What to do when your child says “I hate school!”

In the list of things of fun things to do, most tweens can think of dozens of things they’d rather do than go to school: watch TV, surf the Internet, go shopping—heck, even floss their teeth!
That’s nothing to worry about. We felt the same way too when we were their age. But what do you do when this feeling is out of control, and your child views school with dread and even anxiety? Here are some important parenting tips.

is your child bored?

School is work, and work isn’t always fun. You can’t shelter your child from this reality, but you can try to drum up his interest in the subject. The first step is to show that you care. Sit next to him, ask him about his homework, talk about what happened that day in the classroom. Build his curiosity by looking for related information on the Internet, or taking him on a field trip (a boring Science lecture on the different kinds of animals may look more interesting if you talk about it while walking around the zoo).
Very smart children can also get bored if the classroom work is too easy for them. You can try talking to the teacher and asking for projects or books that can help augment what’s discussed in class.

is your child overwhelmed?

Your child may be struggling to keep up in class and frustrated by his low scores and poor performance. He feels that no matter how hard he tries he can’t do well, and he simply gives up trying.
Talk to the teacher about what both of you can do to help your child. Get a clear picture of what topics he’s struggling with, or what skills he may need to sharpen. You may also check if he has a learning disorder.

Does your child hate the teacher?

Talk to your child to get the root of the picture. Why does he feel this way/? What happened? You don’t have to go to the teacher right away, since your child’s perceptions may be ungrounded. Unless the teacher has done something really wrong, like humiliate him in class, dealing with an authoritative or demanding person is just one of the life skills your child has to learn. But if the problem grows worse, or he gets stomach upsets or shows other signs of stress, then talk to the teacher—not to accuse her, but to bring it to her attention and talk about how you can both improve their relationship.

Is your child having problems with his classmates?

Sometimes the problem isn’t school but the people there. Is he being bullied? Does he have trouble making friends? Has he had a fight with his best friend? Encourage him to share his feelings, and look for ways to boost his confidence. He may have to work out his social issues on his own, but just feeling loved and accepted at home already is a big help.