Are you starting to notice an issue where your child is refusing to go to school? There can be countless reasons why this can happen and for a parent it can be an absolute nightmare. As well as being worried about your child it can mean that you are late for work and forced to take days off. So, what can you do in this situation? 

Speak To The School

First, you should absolutely start by speaking to the school. Let them know that there is an issue because it’s important for them to be aware that this isn’t a matter of a parent being lazy or forgetful. They might also be able to provide you with some coping mechanisms and additional levels of support. For instance, it’s possible that your child needs a little coaxing when they get to school to go through the gates. Your school may be willing to help here.

Find Something For Them To Look Forward To 

If you give your child something that they can look forward to, then you will be providing them with a reason why they should show up for school each day. This could be related to school plans such as a trip. Primary school residential trips are often arranged for each term. It’s just a case of finding one that your child is interested in or another incentive to get them through the door. 

Discover The Root Issue

There are countless reasons why a child might be refusing to go to school. It could be an issue related to bullying. If that’s the case, you need to find out who is bullying your child and what can be done to prevent it. A lot of schools now implement a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying. As such, they should be able to provide you with the right support here. They could also be having a problem with their teacher. If so, you need to sit down with the teacher, find out what the problem is and work on the right solution. You’ll often find with young children the reason is related to sensory issues such as being unable to clearly see the information being taught. It could be as simple as getting your child booked in for an eye test. 

Focus On A Subject They Love

Finally, you should focus on finding a school subject that they actually enjoy and that is going to provide them with something that they can engage with. Even children that don’t want to go to school do tend to enjoy an element of it at the very least. By focusing on this element, you can give them a reason to get up and get ready in the morning. You can also base any incentives around activities connected to this subject. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you should take if your child is refusing to go to school. Remember, there can be lots of reasons why issues like this might develop. If you want to fix the problem, you need to first understand the mindset of your child and what they are struggling with.

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*This is a collaborative article