At one point or another, your child or teenager may lose motivation when it comes to going to school. Some kids end up skipping school 🏃, and there can be a number of reasons for this. In this article, we will discuss why a child might not want to go to school and help you navigate this tricky situation. ✨
Why is your child avoiding school? 🙅♀️
Children and teenagers of different ages may want to skip school for a few different reasons. As a parent, it is important that you get to the bottom of why they're trying to avoid school 🔍.
If you can find out what problem your child is experiencing 😟, you'll be better equipped to help them resolve the issue, so they can get back to focusing on their studies. 📚 If you think your child might need a bit of extra help along the way, why don't you check our amazing team of tutors? 📝
So, what are the reasons that a kid might want to skip school? 🤔 There are many root causes of child truancy, and here are some of the most common:
- Illness
- Bullying
- Falling behind with school work
- Struggling with mental health
- An argument with a friend
What can you do as a parent to fix the problem? 👪
The most important thing you can do to support your child in this situation is to talk to them and try to understand why they are struggling with attending school at the moment. ❤️
👉 Communication is key
Ask your child how everything is going at school and how they feel in general. Depending on the age of your child, they may not even be able to articulate exactly what is at the root of the issue. 🙊 Be sure to ask the right questions and to read between the lines. Some kids may be struggling with home learning – if that’s the case, be sure to try to re-frame the situation in a positive light, and check out our guide to the benefits of virtual learning.
Be sensitive to the fact that your child may be experiencing difficulties that you're not aware of 😨 – whether that be bullying, falling behind on the workload or a mental health issue.
No matter what your child is struggling with, the best thing you can do is to help your child get back to school as long as that's the best option for them. 🏫 Maybe your kid needs some extra help with their learning – online tutoring is a great idea to help build their self-confidence and improve their grades!
When talking to your child, be sure to listen carefully 👂 to what your child is telling you, and try to interpret the situation as best as you can.
Keep in mind that your child may be struggling with something that is difficult for them to communicate. Be patient and try to create a safe and open environment for your kid so they are open to sharing what's going on 🤗.
When you know more about the reasons behind your child's truancy, it will be easier for you to help them resolve the situation.🌟
If school has become a negative thing for your child, try to change their mindset and put learning in a positive light. Play into your kid’s interests and strengths. For example, if your child is creative, read our tips on how to encourage this great quality in them, and focus on the aspects of school that are interesting to them.
👉 Establish routines and expectations
Making sure your child has a balanced and structured everyday routine can help make sure they don't skip school 📅
It’s all about tailoring your approach to what suits your individual child, but here are some basic tips:
- Make sure your child goes to bed at the same time every night and gets up at the same time in the morning 🛏️
- Every evening, ask your child to lay out their clothes and have their school bags packed ready for the morning 👖
- Establish clear rules and expectations regarding school, depending on the age of your child and your individual situation as a family 👍
👉 Stay calm
It can be confusing and frustrating when your child is struggling with something and skipping school. Try your best to stay calm when communicating with your child – if you come across as angry or impatient, your child might not feel comfortable opening up.
If you’re feeling stressed, check out our helpful tips for keeping stress at bay! Maintaining calm and positive communication with your child is the only way to resolve the situation.
We hope these tips will help you navigate this situation with your child. Our team here at GoStudent are here to help! 😃 If you think that some tutoring could benefit your child, why not book a free trial class with one of our great tutors? 🚀
