Joanna Fortune: My young son hates going to school — what if it escalates to refusal?

Your son needs to reconnect with the joy of learning and the fun side of school. Picture: iStock

My child is in fifth class and hates school, saying he hates being told what to do all day. I’ve tried every trick in the book to encourage him, but nothing seems to be working. The school is understanding, and his teacher is giving him extra attention. I’m worried his resistance could escalate to a flat-out refusal. What would you suggest?

Rather than encouraging him to like school, I suggest you focus on understanding why he does not. If you can get to what underpins his reluctance, hopefully, it does not escalate to avoidance.