Do your kids like going to school?

Mine are reception and Y4 and love it. They may have the odd day saying that they don’t want to go but it’s not about school as such, more that they’re tired or want to be with me or DH.

Surely it's the same as adults not wanting to go back to work after some time off or the weekend?

I love my job but I often don't want to go in on a Monday morning - because I love my home more 😂

Surely most people prefer to be at leisure than working or studying.

My two are 16 and 14 so both have exams at the moment. They enjoy school but some years have been less fun that others given teachers and other kids.

I wish I didn't have to go to work but it'll be fine when I get there.

schools aren’t the same anymore. They run on a positive behavior model where kids who misbehave have their bad behavior ignored and their good behavior overly praised. It leads to a situation where some kids will get punished for things that bad kids will get away with. They soon terrorise the other kids, the classroom becomes a dog eat dog environment and teachers do nothing. Everything becomes unpredictable and children have no idea what will get them in trouble or not so they are constantly on high alert and being punished for things they don’t understand, while being frightened of bullying. My child was sad going to school and i made her go anyway, now she’s a teen and im trying to undo years of anxiety and stress.

Mine genuinely loved school and were sad to leave both. But they still had days when tired or didn’t fancy the subject that day. That’s normal human behaviour isn’t it - we don’t always like our job or our house or our husband?

I mean, I’d much rather not log on for work today and instead be able to do what I want, lie on the sofa, read some of my book, go for a leisurely swim etc but work is where I shall be. I don’t mind my job at all but it’s not as fun as pleasing myself.

Mine have always gone without a fuss but I think if I’d ever asked them if they’d prefer to go to school or stay home all 3 of them would probably have said stay home! Which is why I didn’t ever ask them, it wasn’t an option that I would ever home school them (I would have hated it!) so they had to go anyway. They were always fine, had friends and did well in their lessons, got on with people etc. But for some children home is a far more enjoyable and relaxing, less structured place than school.

I have a 6 year old who always says he has a good or great day when I pick him up from school. He has friends and is doing well.

He will still complain he doesn't want to go back after the holidays though.

My two (8 and 10) don’t like school. Dd8 particularly hates it. They like seeing their friends but that’s it.

My DC didn’t like primary at all but secondary was better. In year 8 DS2 kept being sick as he was so anxious. School gave him a get out of class pass which helped.

My friend and hated all schools and would stay at each others houses all the time so we weren’t alone and feeling worried before school. Nothing bad ever happened but we were always so worried

@Howsaboutthatthenhey my dd (aged 6) just says she wants to stay at home instead. She's very sociable and interested in learning so it surprises me but I think the school day is just too long for her. If it was shorter or if it was 3 days a week I think she would do better - she just finds it super tiring and over stimulating. My ds (age 8) says it's boring. He's intelligent but not exceptionally so and the school really pushes the children academically so I'm not sure why he finds it boring. I think they do a lot of literacy and maths and he would prefer a wider variety of subjects. Both very independent and I have never had issues with them crying, not wanting to leave me. They do get anxious the night before but they sort of accept they have to go, just very vocal about hating it.

Yes it upsets me a lot especially since his school isn't understanding a said he is manipulating me 😒 he's hated it since reception

@Howsaboutthatthenhey I worry about this constantly, I feel I'm breaking her spirit but don't feel I have the skills/time/ability to home educate!

My eldest is in year 5, very intelligent, sporty and sociable - but hates school. She's autistic and finds the environment so hard and some of the children are unkind. She's been in many theatre productions (amateur and pro) and tv shows and she's so comfortable in these environments with much nicer kids but school is not a good place. My year 4 son likes it most of the time, but looks forward to holidays!

I think a lot of kids have a better time at home doing the things they enjoy so of course, school is not a great option to be enjoyed!
I also think there are crunch years. For a bright, NT child there are brakes put on them in years 2, 6, 9. My kids are years 6 and 9 and good grief, going back to school today has been a trial. They are marking time. The y9 has to do 7 more weeks of subjects she knows she will never do again and hates. The y6 may as well have the 7 weeks off. I don’t blame either of them for complaining.
Add in any additional needs, bullying, general bad behaviour in schools, yeah it can be a miserable place.

No my children don't like school and one is a school refuser he gives me hell in the morning getting him to school and cries all the time that he has to go, he hates it so much. if they had it their way they wouldn't go at all. I'm more surprised when people say their kids like school tbh

They don't hate it and when they're there I think they actually quite like it, but they'd always choose to be at home/they always prefer the holidays. I think that's pretty normal tbh and most people's experience of work too.

Mine all go to the same school. Two are really happy to go in and the third, despite having a far better friendships group than siblings, hates it but seems ok once settled.

My DD doesn't like school. She's Autistic so she masks a lot and it exhausts her.

Despite trying, I don't think school get it. Or are able to / have the funds and resources to.

I think teachers are overworked and often firefighting.

I feel the education system is a bit broken really, and that so much more us expected these days from teachers, pupils and parents.

Part of it is due to modern day issues, and part of it I blame Michael Gove for (major changes to the curriculum)

My daughter loved school until this year (Y5). Behaviour in the class deteriorated and her poor teacher was spending most of each day dealing with a group of boys who only wanted to argue about football all the time. My daughter would be sat there wanting to start work or even wanting to read a book but unable to get the teacher's attention to ask if she could read quietly because all of the attention was being taken by these arguments in class, and it was distressing her (she's sensitive to loud noise).

She asked to be home educated earlier this year and it has been the best thing ever. She adores learning again. I told her she didn't have to go to school anymore and she said "I will actually get a good night's sleep tonight" 🥺

It's such a shame because she loved school, but she has no desire to ever go back now - she wants to be home educated for the rest of her compulsory education 🙂

Over 57k members of the fb group not fine in school are testament to the fact the current school system doesn't work for many. 3 of mine struggled. All autistic with varying needs. One never made it through seniors, one was constantly sick with stress and another self harmed and took od. If I had a Time Machine I'd get them all out after year 6. 🥺

Mine (same age) half heartedly complain about it occasionally especially in the mornings when I wake them up they whinge and say they don't want to go, they're "too tired" etc etc. but once they're up and dressed they're fine and go in happy enough. They don't love it but don't vehemently hate it either which I assumed was the norm for most school children?!

Mine both go to a wonderful, over subscribed school and are doing really well there and they both hate going. It makes me really sad to send them, they especially find it hard after the holidays.