What to do if your teenager doesn’t want to go to school: 7 strategies

Parenting tips and guidelines to follow if your son or daughter shows that he or she doesn't want to go to school.

When a teenager does not want to go to school, parents find themselves in a delicate situation that they do not know how to deal with. One of the predominant feelings in such situations is helplessness.

If a teenager says he doesn't want to go to school? What do you do? Parents naturally become very worried and fearful when their teenager refuses to go to school. In this article we will talk about some strategies you can put in place if you find yourself in this situation.

Strategies you can put in place if the little one does not want to go to school.

Let's explore 7 strategies that can help and guide you if you find yourself in this situation. Following them will not guarantee that your child will want to go to high school, but they can help and guide you through this complicated situation. Also, you probably don't have to implement all of the strategies, as they will depend on the specific situation.

1. Don't assume your teen is being defiant.

We all know that if there is one thing teenagers are known for, it is being defiant about limits. This process is normal and healthy, and is part of adolescence. However, don't assume that this defiant behavior don't assume that this defiant behavior is the only reason your teen is refusing to go to high school.. Many times, there are other issues at play. If you focus only on this one cause, you may overlook other problems that may be causing your child's refusal to go to school.

2. Try to identify the problem

Following on from the previous point, it is very important that you identify the reason why your child refuses to go to school. Is he/she feeling pressure from school, is he/she being bullied, is he/she depressed and doesn't have the energy to get out of bed, is he/she overloaded with homework and very tired, is there a social skills problem that makes it difficult for him/her to relate to peers?

Observe your child closelyObserve your child closely: his routines, use of new technologies, school and extracurricular tasks he has to do every day, how he spends his leisure time, who he goes out with, sleeping habits, eating habits...

Some of the main reasons why adolescents do not want to go to school are bullying, academic difficulties, anxiety and depression. Although there could be other situations that explain a teenager's refusal to go to school.

3. Specifically explore the possibility of bullying

Bullying as a possible cause deserves a special point. Sometimes avoiding school is one of the first signs that your child is being bullied.. Therefore, I encourage you to be sure to investigate this possibility. Keep in mind that many teens are embarrassed to admit that they are being bullied and may not tell you.

It is also important to remember that bullying can take many different forms: coercion, social manipulation, social exclusion, intimidation....

Remember to consider the possibility that the bullying may be happening in the world of technology and social networking.. Cyberbullying is the order of the day and is often more difficult for parents to detect.

4. Validate your child's feelings

What do you think can help your child at this time? Your child will probably find it comforting to have his or her parents understand that it is difficult for him or her to go to school. To do this, you can use active listening techniques, such as giving them your full attention, not doing other tasks while they are talking, not interrupting them, encouraging them to continue talking, not judging them...

5. Inform the institute

A point that always is necessary is to inform the institute of this situation that is taking place. Your teachers are going to be an indispensable source of information. Think of them as your eyes when your child is at school. In addition, it is very likely that the school will have to be part of the solution.

6. Avoid getting involved in a power struggle

If your child refuses to go to school, try not to get angry.. This can make the situation worse and cause stress for both yourself and your child. Having arguments at home will not make your child want to go to school; on the contrary, it will be another source of problems.

Likewise, avoid power struggles with school officials. Many times, when we are overwhelmed, we look for culprits and blame the problem on external causes beyond ourselves. This is not going to help your child. It is a matter of joining forces and rowing in the same direction..

7. Offer psychological help

He may not want to tell you what is happening to him, but he may feel comfortable talking to a psychologist. Also, if your child is having any problems with anxiety, depression, bullying.... There is work to be done with a mental health professional to work through all those symptoms. to work through all those symptoms.

If your child does not want to go to a psychologist, you can consider the option of going yourself. A psychologist can help you cope better.

Remember that your child is unique and has unique circumstances, therefore, this problem requires an individualized response. In any case, the three components to solving the problem are usually the adolescent, the parents and the school. It is a partnership, they often blame each other and that is not the way to go.