How to help a kid who hates middle school
Middle school days feel overwhelmingly long and exhausting for kids who are burnt out or miserable. Because attendance is mandatory, parents struggle to help them cope when they lack connection with peers outside of school.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1grabbing pizza when he gets picked upDid this help you?
- 2spend more time watching movies togetherDid this help you?
- 3let him have time to decompress and talk to friends on the phone for a little whileDid this help you?
- 4play video gamesDid this help you?
- 5find other organizations religious or non religious where your child might be interested in making connectionsDid this help you?
- 6joining an out of school programDid this help you?
- 7having somewhere to go at recess and lunchDid this help you?
- 8Asking children specific or alternative questions about their day instead of general onesDid this help you?
- 9Reaching out directly to teachers or school counselors for clarificationDid this help you?
- 10Delaying sending children to kindergarten for an extra year to let them matureDid this help you?
- 11Rebranding the yelling as a 'classroom voice' so the child doesn't take it personally.Did this help you?
- 12Scripting affirmations with the child in the car before school.Did this help you?
- 13Meeting with the school administration or principal to intervene.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My 8 year old hates going to school because his teacher yells.”source ↗
“He has always loved school and lately he has been pretending to be sick, dragging his feet on getting out the door, etc.”source ↗
“She's upset and hates school, but part of it is that she just wants the attention of 1 good friend, and doesn't like groups.”source ↗
“She won't really take any advice i give her and so I feel helpless and don't know what I can do.”source ↗
“Is anyone else’s kid having a hard time in kindergarten ? Mine seems to be having a hard time fitting in and learning.”source ↗
“He just hates how long the days feel.”source ↗
“I hated middle school, and it was tough, but I’m glad that I had a church youth group that provided some connection with other kids my age.”source ↗
“My son has been having a really hard time :( he’s young for the class (5 in Nov) but because he has so many friends in town we thought it was fine to send him. Turns out none of those kids are in his class. He’s been struggling going in most mornings, but comes out happy.”source ↗
“Canadian here - my daughter is also have a tough time adjusting to Kindergarten. There is SO much to learn, and it's a whole new environment for them so anxiety is a bit high.”source ↗
“This happened to me in 3rd grade but I didn't tell my parents what was wrong until spring or so.”source ↗
“I’m worried about this derailing his love of school.”source ↗
“my son absolutely had a nightmare of a teacher in first grade, I didn't realize how bad it was until I heard several other parents talking about that same teacher at the start of second grade.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 7Why does my kindergartener hate reading and shut down?