Do your kids like going to school?

[Howsaboutthatthenhey]

Dd had a friend over at the weekend (they’re 6 & 7)
They were sat playing together in the trampoline, chatting away.
I heard Dd say ‘I don’t want to go to school tomorrow, but I have to’ her replied ‘I don’t either, but I have to go’ he said it in such a sad way and they both seemed so sad. Minutes before they’d been playing so happily. Both very outgoing, happy kids.
Felt so sad to hear them and see the change in their faces during their little, private conversation
I often feel I’m making Dd go to school, are we doing it all wrong?

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

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.

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 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 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?

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.

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.

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 😂

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.

My DD generally hated school. It got worse and worse, then took them out in Y8 to attend online school and they flourished (ASD, PDA, ADHD). It took a few years for them to recover and it was the best thing I ever did.

I loved school as a kid though! I even used to hate being off ill.

Me me is ten and only just starting to prefer weekends to school days. Even still he does enjoy a lot of what they do at school. I’m constantly impressed by his primary school. It’s just our local, not one we specifically chose for being excellent but it is such a caring inclusive community and the staff are excellent.

I’ve got 3 children, two are adults now and youngest is 16. Middle child loved school, very sociable, oldest less so and youngest hates it. All very academic though, top grades. My DD is struggling with A level choices and I said pick the ones you like the most as she’s predicted all 8’s and 9’s so is an all rounder and she said ‘I don’t like any’. She’s very shy too so I think she finds school quite over whelming and I’m hoping 6th form will be easier for her as those not wanting to be in class and mess around constantly will be gone

DS really enjoys his time at school, has loads of friends and is happy there. However he will always say he would rather be at home.

It's worth chatting to her. Is there something that she really doesn't like/is upsetting her? Or would she just rather be at home playing with her friend.

The first needs investigating and supporting and a chat with the teacher, the second acknowledging, encouraging about the good stuff etc etc

My 13 year old has never particularly liked going to school, she'll never say she enjoys it, but she doesn't like having to miss it when she's ill and won't even consider taking a day off to go somewhere with me, but I think that's more because she doesn't want to fall behind and have to catch up.

Mine love school. They have excellent teachers, great facilities, learn interesting and varied subjects, lots of sports and playtime.

I hated my school was determined that I wouldn’t blight my children’s’ childhood as mine was

Exact same situation here. My child (16) loathes it. If the other pupils were well behaved they’d love it. Lack of discipline is destroying the school experience - and mental health - of so many young people.

DD1 (12, Yr8) generally enjoys school. Not every lesson, but overall.

DD2 (11, Yr6) loved school... until 2020. Then the lockdown hokey cokey made it all confusing and she never really settled back.
She is looking forward to a fresh start in September with new people. But is worried about still having no friends.

My 5 year old loves school. She’s very sociable and loves being around other children her own age, she’s really not a hang-off-mums-legs type of kids. She has enjoyed the holidays but is more than ready to go back today.

Mine loves senior school. He was utterly miserable, bored and isolated at Juniors.

I think it comes down to the school and how they organise activities. And the general approach to teaching.

DS has always hated it - now S4 (age 15)
DD has always loved it - now P7 (age 11)

All kids are different.

Primary kids love school because there is more play and less rules. Once they hit SATs and secondary, they realise it is all shit and a trap which they can't opt out of.

No wonder teens are so depressed. School is worse than prison. My son and daughter HATED secondary school. Nasty exam factories.

Young family members, both at high school, one loves every minute, other hates every minute! Both doing well though….

Most people have no choice other than to send their child to the closest local school, though.

If you have the luxury of choice or the financial ability to move around then you're incredibly fortunate.

It could be a phase. I remember times when I didn't want to go, and times when I couldn’t wait to go.

That's interesting.

My dd went to a mixed sex primary school but we chose a girls school for secondary. The first week she started there she said to me that she found it so much easier to concentrate without boys mucking around.