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Original poster

DS has no aspirations and wants to quit school...

59 replies

SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 18:43

He has no idea what he wants to do with his life and he wants to quit school as he's had enough.

I feel like if he had aspirations like other kids his age he'd better grasp why he needs to stay in school

The closest i can get to what he wants to do is "be a superhero". How do i get my 5 yo to like school again? And why doesn't he what a job?

OP posts:
YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 24/11/2020 18:43

1/10. Must try harder.

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 18:49

Ok maybe it didn't read as amusingly as intended but it's real none the less. He really dislikes school. All his little friends know they want to be teachers or truck drivers etc but DS says he doesn't want a job (yeah kid, not gonna happen). So i can't use the well if you want to be a truck driver you have to go to school because you need to do X, y and z.

He wants to be a superhero but his favourite ones are 6, and the fact they go to school in the day doesn't wash with him.

So how do i get him to like school again and why doesn't he want to be a truck driver or a nurse or a teacher like all his friends?

OP posts:
Hazelnutlatteplease · 24/11/2020 18:52

If this is real, you turn round and tell him he doesn't need to know what he wants to do for a very long time yet. He does need to go to school so he needs to get on with it and stop being silly

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5 year olds
iswhois · 24/11/2020 18:56
Hmm
JemimaJellyfish · 24/11/2020 18:57

Ha, I thought you were talking about a teenager until I got to the superhero bit 😂

Why doesn't he want a job??? 🤣🤣🤣

blisstwins · 24/11/2020 18:59

tell him superhero training starts in secondary...until then they are trying to figure out who qualifies for the special course

Didiusfalco · 24/11/2020 19:00

He's 5. Mine wants to be a unicorn. Chill.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 24/11/2020 19:03

Most 5 year olds don't know what they want to be, or connect school and learning with adult work. They enjoy school because they get to see their friends and hopefully the learning is tailored to be fun and set them up to achieve, which is rewarding in itself.

My 5 year old DS is in Y1, which is less play based than reception. He doesn't seem to mind, but he definitely noticed. Some of his friends, who were happy to go to school last year, are dragging their heels now. Could that be it?

If you think he's genuinely unhappy, try to find out why (at this age it can be something as random as a dinner lady speaking crossly to him). Ask the teacher how he seems during the day. I don't think career ambition is a huge motivator at this age!

ScrapThatThen · 24/11/2020 19:04

I am so with him. Work is overrated 😂. Ask his teacher if they can give him a role/responsibility at school to build belonging and connectedness. Make his understanding of superheroes more grown up by talking about farmers/nurses/ soldiers being superheroes. Do something about money.

WankPuffins · 24/11/2020 19:06

When my Ds was 5, he wanted to be Lightning McQueen.

Everyone was like "ooo, you want to be a racing driver?"

And ds would give the most withering look and say "No. I want to be lightning Mcqeen. I want to be a red racing car". He wanted to be a car. Bless him.

He's 17 now and is going to be training to be a paramedic next year. So he might still get to drive very fast Grin

OrangeIsTheNewTwat · 24/11/2020 19:07

You're doing well. At that age my DD was still determined to be a cat.

ShedFace · 24/11/2020 19:10

I’m 35 and I don’t want a job either. Grin

Ginfilledcats · 24/11/2020 19:11

When I was 5 I wanted to be a unicorn.

Try saying about seeing his friends, or learning, or play time, etc etc

haircutsRus · 24/11/2020 19:12

@ShedFace

I’m 35 and I don’t want a job either. Grin
Nor me, and I'm 58 Grin
PenguinIce · 24/11/2020 19:15

Gosh you must be so worried. If I am honest at 5 it is really too late for him to succeed in any worthwhile profession now and so he is now destined for the career scrap heap. Better get him down the job centre pronto!

Heyahun · 24/11/2020 19:23

Omg I hated every single day of school 5-17 years old. My mum struggled to Make me to every day - there was a lot of tears - a lot of angry ! And I look back at the time and I shudder! I bloody hated school so much and have very few fond memories of it

I turned out fine though went to uni - - loved it there and I’ve worked decent jobs since

He’s 5 - why are you so worried

Crystal90567 · 24/11/2020 19:23

My then 5yo wanted to be a butterfly on Mondays a fairy in the middle of the week and a bird at the weekends. She's now 19 and at uni doing engineering.
I thought your post was about a late teen.

He's a child being imaginative. Relax ffs.
If your school is putting this pressure on that's awful but I suspect it's you. FIVE years old is a little child. No concept of jobs!

Starlightstarbright1 · 24/11/2020 19:33

The job thing is a none issue. My Ds wanted to be a captain on the octopod

You have to go to school- its the law ( i am aware its to get an education but 5 year olds need black and white)

Do talk to him about what he likes and doesn't like about school. Do talk to the teacher how he is settled. It is a difficult year for many

Witchend · 24/11/2020 19:49

Dh announced after about a week of school he was leaving asap. He was most put out to find he had another 11 years to go after that one.
He stayed in education for 21 years because he enjoyed it.

Ignore.

Ds wanted to be a dog at that age.

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 21:14

@JemimaJellyfish

Ha, I thought you were talking about a teenager until I got to the superhero bit 😂

Why doesn't he want a job??? 🤣🤣🤣

i'm glad someone appreciated my attempt at light humour Jemima.

I don't know, he wants to just stay home and watch his favourite TV show. I told him he had to have a job so he could have a nice house to live in and buy all the toys from before mentioned TV show. He obviously thinks he'll love it forever.

No real idea why he doesn't want to go to school either except Yr 1 sucks

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plutodust · 24/11/2020 21:24

@SleepingStandingUp

He has no idea what he wants to do with his life and he wants to quit school as he's had enough.

I feel like if he had aspirations like other kids his age he'd better grasp why he needs to stay in school

The closest i can get to what he wants to do is "be a superhero". How do i get my 5 yo to like school again? And why doesn't he what a job?

My middle child was like that at 5, now he's picked his a levels and works hard.
Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 21:24

@blisstwins

tell him superhero training starts in secondary...until then they are trying to figure out who qualifies for the special course
yes!!!!!!
OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/11/2020 21:26

My 7 year old doesn't want a job. He says he'll just live with me. Hmm

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 21:29

My 5 year old DS is in Y1, which is less play based than reception. He doesn't seem to mind, but he definitely noticed. Some of his friends, who were happy to go to school last year, are dragging their heels now. Could that be it? It is very much the curtailing of his freeedom. He is not a child who sits quietly well in normal life, although he is good at school. He's fine once he's in, has a 121 who is very good at distracting him as they walk into school who is my God send tbh. No one telling him off, some issues with so much writing.

@WankPuffins awesome career progression!! Maybe superhero to nurse!

OP posts:
Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 24/11/2020 21:31

@Ginfilledcats

When I was 5 I wanted to be a unicorn.

Try saying about seeing his friends, or learning, or play time, etc etc

yes the usual thing is "but if you don't go you won't see "Florence" who is like his favourite person on Earth but it still makes me sad he's fundamentally sad about going and a part of me thought if he at least wanted to be say a teacher or a truck driver like his friends, i could add some motivation that way
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