Children who don't listen don't learn in school

FOR parents, it’s a worry if their child isn’t listening at school.

“If children aren’t listening, they’re not learning — they fall behind very quickly on basic concepts,” says Helen Sholdice, child therapist and parent-child coach.

Sholdice — who has seen parents “in tears” because their child isn’t listening to teacher — says there are two causes of the behaviour, representing two different temperaments. “A child may be putting up a defensive barrier to listening — a quiet, very compliant child, if feeling overwhelmed, sometimes retreats by not listening. Or it may be that a child is struggling for power and won’t listen. This child likes to be consulted on matters relating to them — there’s a desire for some equality and give-and-take in a relationship.”