When we were in elementary school, we also had moments when we couldn’t stand being in school, so we must not be surprised if our own kids currently feel the same way. Their dislike for school stems from a variety of reasons, so we shouldn’t be quick to judge that they’re just being lazy.
Even smart kids can get bad grades. So if your elementary schooler starts to show signs of struggling in school, regardless of their level of intelligence, you must treat the matter with sensitivity. Chances are, their difficulty comes from something deeper than academics, and a solution is to transfer them to another school.
But how do we properly help our child who seems to hate school?
Possible Reasons for Disliking School
Young kids also feel stressed, and when they do, they also can’t sleep well, become moody, and experience headaches just like adults. They might also have trouble choosing what to eat for breakfast, what to pack for lunch, or what to wear. When your kid exhibits this behavior, it’s time to find out if their school is the cause.
A possible reason for your kid’s dislike for school is a bully who constantly bothers them, a kid they don’t like who insists on hanging out with them, an unpleasant teacher, or your kid being lonely because they don’t have friends.
Schoolwork can also be a reason. Your kid either feels like they’re running behind their classmates because of his/her low grades or bored because their subjects are too easy for him/her.
In the case of gifted kids, their underachieving habit can come from their interest in extra-curricular activities rather than their academics. You might notice that they thrive more in art than math or excel better in sports than their quizzes.
Thus, avoid labeling your kid as an underachiever, whether they’re gifted or not. It’s understandably frustrating to see that your kid doesn’t perform as well as you expect them to. But by finding out the reasons they don’t like school, you’ll realize that it isn’t because they’re unconcerned about achieving less but rather because their environment is ineffective in helping them learn.
Should You Transfer Them to Another School?
Before deciding to find a new school for your kid, help them improve their situation in their current school. You can ask them to write a journal, comparing their bad and good experiences in school, or find them a tutor if their grades are the problem.
But if these solutions aren’t yielding good results, then it’s perhaps time to consider a new school with an exceptional elementary education that offers more than academics. An international school can be a noteworthy option because being exposed to pupils from diverse racial backgrounds will help your child become more culturally aware and open-minded, qualities that are more essential than getting straight A’s.
However, transferring schools can still intimidate your kid, especially if it’s in the middle of a school year. Hence, visit the school before enrolling your child and discuss your kid’s strengths, passions, reasons for moving out of their old school, and everything else relevant to their transfer. Talk to your child as well about the things they should expect. If they’re scared, reassure them of your presence and ask them what they need.
And since a new school is an opportunity for your kid to start anew, try to get them involved in school activities. Be informed of the extracurricular clubs their new school offers and find out which of them interest your kid. You can also speak to their teachers, counselors, and coaches to help your child adjust quickly. By being active in pushing for your kid’s happiness in school, they’ll thrive and grow as confident individuals who can be flexible in any setting.
