GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

Strategies to Help Your Child Love School Again (Part 2)

Strategies to Help Your Child Love School Again (Part 2)

My previous blog post on Why Your Child Hates School explains reasons for a student’s frustrations with school and how parents can support their struggling child. Here are solutions to Help Your Child Love School Again:

  1. Advocate for Your Child

Your child needs you to be their voice, especially when they feel unheard or misunderstood. Work closely with teachers, counselors, and administrators to ensure they receive the support they need.

  • Request meetings if you notice ongoing struggles.
  • Ask about support services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling.
  • Work with the school to develop an IEP or 504 Plan if your child qualifies for accommodations.

  1. Focus on Strengths and Interests

Every child has strengths and interests that can help them reconnect with learning.

  • Find ways to incorporate their passions into their education.
  • Encourage them to join clubs, extracurricular activities, or special programs that align with their interests.
  • Praise effort and progress rather than just grades.

[Read more…]

Why Your Child Hates School (Part 1)

Why Your Child Hates School (Part 1)

As a special education teacher, I’ve worked with students across the spectrum—both neurotypical and neurodivergent—who struggle with school. I see the frustration on their faces, the reluctance in their steps, and the exhaustion in their voices when they tell their parents, “I hate school.”

If your child has ever said these words, you’re not alone. Many parents hear this, and their immediate reaction is concern, frustration, or helplessness. Why does your child feel this way? Is it something specific, or is it just a phase? And most importantly—what can you do about it?

Why Kids Hate School: The Common Reasons

  1. It’s Too Hard (or Too Easy)

For many students, schoolwork is either too challenging or not challenging enough.

  • A child who struggles academically may feel frustrated and defeated, dreading school because it reminds them of their difficulties.
  • A child who finds the work too easy may feel bored and disengaged, leading to a lack of motivation and even behavior issues.

For Neurodivergent Students: Many neurodivergent students, especially those with learning disabilities, ADHD, or autism, may struggle with processing speed, working memory, or attention, making learning feel overwhelming. Others, particularly gifted students, may feel unchallenged and unmotivated.

What Parents Can Do:

  • If your child finds school too difficult, work with their teacher to explore accommodations, interventions, or additional support. A 504 Plan or IEP (Individualized Education Plan) may be necessary.
  • If your child is bored, speak with the school about enrichment opportunities, acceleration, or more challenging assignments.
  • Provide opportunities at home for problem-solving, creativity, and hands-on learning to keep their mind engaged.

  1. Social Struggles and Peer Relationships

Friendships and social dynamics play a huge role in a child’s experience at school. If your child is struggling socially, school can feel like an emotionally exhausting place.

  • They may feel lonely or left out.
  • They may experience bullying or exclusion.
  • They may have trouble understanding social cues or forming friendships.

For Neurodivergent Students: Many neurodivergent children struggle with social communication and may find it difficult to navigate friendships. Sensory sensitivities, misunderstandings, or rigid thinking patterns can also make social interactions stressful.

What Parents Can Do:

  • Encourage social skills practice through role-playing, books, or structured social activities.
  • Reach out to teachers or school counselors for support in fostering positive peer interactions.
  • Connect your child with clubs, hobbies, or activities where they can meet like-minded peers.

[Read more…]

What Does Your School’s Student Performance Data Mean

What Does Your School’s Student Performance Data Mean?

Schools are required to share outcomes with parents.  Frequently, schools share information about the state student assessment outcomes on the school’s website or they invite parents to an informational session where they share and explain their outcomes.  Most schools even have a specific plan for addressing gaps or areas of lower performance, and they often share these plans with parents.  But parents need to ask, “Where is my voice in addressing this data?” [Read more…]

Special Education Parents Provide School Support and Leadership

Special Education Parents Provide School Support and Leadership

Parents of students with special needs know the importance of having a solid plan in place to support their child for success.  All students have varied needs, and students with disabilities need specific supports to help them reach the rigor of the academic standards taught in their classes.  Resource teachers work with the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team to develop a plan for supports, then share this plan with general education teachers and other support providers.  The goal is to ensure accommodations are supports are regularly in place so all of the students can find success.  In inclusive classroom settings, general education and special education teams work together to support these needs.  But, as many classroom teachers will tell you, even this amount of support is sometimes note enough. [Read more…]

Sensory Adventures: Kids’ Summer Activities

Sensory Adventures: Kids’ Summer Activities

As the sun shines brightly and the days grow longer, summer calls for adventures that engage the senses and spark creativity. For children, the summer break provides the perfect opportunity to explore the world through sensory experiences that stimulate learning, foster development, and create lasting memories. In this blog post, we’ll discover a variety of sensory activities that you can enjoy with children over the summer months.

  1. Sensory Bins:
    • Create sensory bins filled with materials such as rice, dried beans, sand, or water beads.
    • Add scoops, funnels, measuring cups, and small toys for scooping, pouring, and sorting.
    • Encourage exploration and imaginative play as children dig their hands into the sensory materials, discovering textures, shapes, and colors.
  2. Nature Scavenger Hunt:
    • Embark on a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard, local park, or nature reserve.
    • Provide a list of items to find, such as leaves, rocks, flowers, or pinecones.
    • Encourage children to use their senses to observe, touch, smell, and listen to the natural world around them as they search for treasures.
  3. Messy Art Play:
    • Set up a messy art station outdoors using materials like finger paint, shaving cream, or colored sand.
    • Provide large sheets of paper, cardboard, or easels for children to express their creativity.
    • Embrace the messiness as children use their hands and fingers to paint, smear, and mix colors, engaging their senses in the artistic process.
  4. Water Play:
    • Beat the summer heat with water play activities such as water tables, sprinklers, or kiddie pools.
    • Add water toys, sponges, spray bottles, and containers for pouring and splashing fun.
    • Experiment with adding ice cubes, food coloring, or bath toys to enhance the sensory experience.
  5. Sensory Walks:
    • Take sensory walks around your neighborhood or local community, focusing on different senses with each outing.
    • Encourage children to notice the sights, sounds, smells, and textures they encounter along the way.
    • Use a sensory scavenger hunt checklist or create a sensory nature journal to document observations and discoveries.
  6. Do-It-Yourself Sensory Playdough:
    • Make homemade sensory playdough using simple ingredients like flour, salt, water, and food coloring.
    • Experiment with adding scents (e.g., vanilla, lavender) or textured materials (e.g., glitter, rice) to create unique sensory experiences.
    • Encourage children to knead, squeeze, and mold the playdough to strengthen fine motor skills and stimulate tactile senses.
  7. Sensory Storytime:
    • Host sensory story time sessions at home or in your backyard, featuring books that engage multiple senses.
    • Choose books with interactive elements such as textured pages, scratch-and-sniff scents, or sound effects.
    • Encourage children to participate in the story by acting out scenes, making sound effects, or creating sensory props.
  8. Outdoor Sensory Obstacle Course:
    • Design an outdoor sensory obstacle course using household items and natural materials.
    • Incorporate activities such as balancing on a beam, crawling through tunnels, jumping over obstacles, or stepping on sensory pathways (e.g., grass, sand).
    • Encourage children to navigate the course using their senses of balance, coordination, and proprioception.
  9. Texture Exploration:
    • Set up a texture exploration station with a variety of tactile materials such as fabric swatches, foam shapes, textured balls, and sensory bags filled with gel or beads.
    • Encourage children to touch, squeeze, and explore the different textures, describing how each feels.
  10. Outdoor Music and Dance Party:
    • Host an outdoor music and dance party in your backyard or local park.
    • Provide musical instruments, such as drums, tambourines, or shakers, for children to play along with the music.
    • Encourage children to move and dance freely, expressing themselves through rhythm and movement.

Summer is a time of exploration, discovery, and sensory delight for children. By engaging in sensory activities that stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination, parents can create memorable experiences that promote learning, development, and connection. Whether it’s digging in a sensory bin, splashing in water play, or embarking on a nature scavenger hunt, the possibilities for sensory adventures are endless. So, grab your sunscreen, put on your explorer hats, and get ready for a summer filled with sensory fun!