Children often can tell when something is not right for them but they may not know how to communicate the reasons why. Maybe they are unhappy but are too young to identify their problem. Or maybe they do not know that the education system is less than ideal because they do not have a basis for comparison. That is why you have to be aware of the tell-tale signs that point to the possibility that a traditional school may not be suitable for your child.
Your Child Wants to Stay Home
Do your children put up a fight in the morning before going to school? Children who are not happy at school will try their best to stay at home. They will drag their feet instead of getting ready. They will ask you to keep them at home. If this happens regularly, you should have a talk with your child to find out why he does not want to go school.
Frequent Headaches or Stomach Aches
Children who experience psychological upset at school may get headaches or stomach aches frequently. If you rule out causes of the headaches or stomach aches after visiting the doctor, these ailments may be symptoms of stress from being in school.
Mood Swings from School
Children are naturally happy and optimistic beings. If they leave the house with a skip in their step but return home in a bad mood, it could be a sign that your child is being bullied or experiencing stress in school. You will need to find out what is causing your child to experience mood swings from school. Have a chat with your child or try to find out more about what your child is going through from his school teachers.
Unflattering School Reports
If you know your child is capable of a certain quality of work but their reports show that they are not doing as well as expected, you should be concerned about their lack of performance. Take time to figure out why and be sympathetic when you speak to your child. You do not want to alienate him at this time. He may be facing some difficulties or on the contrary, may be feeling unchallenged by the current work.
Complains About Boredom
If a child is not adequately challenged by the subject matter in school, he may feel bored and lose the motivation to do well. He may not even want to learn in school at all. On top of wanting to stay home, your child will likely complain about being bored in school.
Frequent Disciplinary Reports
Children lack the emotional skills to identify their emotions and communicate them well. If they are regularly feeling frustrated, they might start to act out in school. Once you start getting disciplinary reports, it is time to have a chat with your child and try to find out what is going on in his life. Once again, remain calm and be sympathetic. Do not jump to any conclusions. Your child’s feelings are valid and you will need to hear him out.
Does not Enjoy Learning
If your child no longer exhibits curiosity or does not demonstrate a natural joy for learning, chances are, he is unhappy. You will need to find out what is causing such unhappiness in his life. Does being forced to go to school have a reason to do with his behavior?
Try Out Our Online Lessons at NFC Academy
Any of these signs can occur during your child’s school years but they will usually go away after a while. However, if your child remains sullen for a prolonged period of time, you might want to consider letting your child try out homeschooling. Many online homeschool programs can be customized to suit your child’s learning ability. If your child is happier doing school online, then online homeschooling will help your child greatly on his educational learning journey.
At NFC Academy, we offer an accredited Christian education program for homeschoolers from kindergarten to high school. You have the opportunity to enroll in any program no matter where you are in the world. If you recognize the signs that your child is not thriving in a traditional school, you can let him try out our online lessons and see where that takes him. If you want to find out more about our programs at NFC academy, feel free to contact us today.