--- title: 'Download: Find out why your child doesn’t like going to school ' description: Kids don’t always know how to talk about challenges they face at school. Instead, what parents often hear is “I hate school!” This worksheet can help your child share struggles, and help you get to the bottom of what’s going on. slug: child-hates-school author: Ashley Fernandez reviewer: Andrew Kahn, PsyD published: '2023-09-13T13:42:43.342Z' date_modified: '2023-09-13T12:00:00.000-05:00' source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/child-hates-school lang: en --- # Download: Find out why your child doesn’t like going to school [Things I Do-Don’t Like About School](https://cdn-assets.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3A2VnSAX3BAM2HfBR5gw23/87cca4f07478b026ec2d7666e206dd41/Things_I_Do-Don_t_Like_About_School_editable_Accessible.pdf) As a parent or caregiver, it can be tough when your child turns to you and says, “I hate school!” Or asks, “Do I really have to go?” Their feelings about school are pretty loud and clear. But the tricky part is figuring out *why* your child feels this way. This two-page worksheet can help.  Have your child check, circle, or draw everything they *don’t* *like* about school. Then have them do the same for all the things they* do* *like*.  Afterward, talk together about everything your child included. Explore their feelings, and try to understand the “why” behind it all. For example, *“I see that you don’t like reading out loud in class. Can you tell me more about why you don't like it?” * Try to connect the things they* like* to the things they *don’t like*. For example,* “You say you don’t like sitting at your desk, but you like recess. Maybe we can talk to your teacher about what might help you during class.” * This worksheet isn’t here to solve your child’s feelings about school. But it’s a great way to start [an honest conversation with your child about school](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-say-it-questions-to-ask-your-child-about-school). Depending on what you learn, you may want to connect with your child’s teacher, too.  Learn more about [how to help kids cope with school refusal](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-refusal-how-to-help-child). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [School refusal: What it means when kids won’t do schoolwork](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-refusal) - As many as 1in4 kids show signs of school refusal at some point. They wont go to school, whether its outside of the house or at home. And they wont budge about doing schoolwork at all. Unlike with kids who are complaining or avoiding schoolwork, you cant talk them into doing it. They may literally m - [What to say when your child doesn’t want to go to school](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-to-say-when-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-dont-want-to-go-to-school) - There are lots of reasons kids might ask to stay home from school sometimes, including just needing to take a day off to recharge. But if your child often wants to skip school, its important to understand why. How you respond can either shut down a conversation or open it up. Here are some helpful t - [School refusal: How to help kids cope](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-refusal-how-to-help-child) - When kids flat-out refuse to go to school, it can be stressful for parents and teachers alike. You may wonder: Why are they acting out like this? What if theyre never willing to go back to school? Different kids resist or refuse school in different ways. Here are tips for parents, caregivers, and ed --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/child-hates-school#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/child-hates-school","description":"Kids don’t always know how to talk about challenges they face at school. 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