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Have Fun

If lunchtimes are part of the issue, encourage your child to select an activity group/club where he/she can make friends and build confidence.

The Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC), for example, is a place where many students go to hang out, play with Lego and make new friends. This is supervised and forms part of our Pastoral Care strategy.

Socialise

Set up play dates with friends from school. Giving your child a social experience outside school can be a great way to build friendships that can be continued in the school setting. Boys in particular build friendship on shared experiences, so an adventure with a mate outside school becomes an opportunity for bonding at school, and a motivation to go to school every day.

When you’re at home

• Stay calm. If your child sees or senses that you’re worried, stressed or frustrated, it can increase their anxiety. And by staying calm, you model a positive way of handling the situation.

• Plan for a calm start to the day. This might help your child feel more positive about going to school. You can do this by organising uniforms, lunches and school bags the night before and getting your child to have a shower or bath in the evening.

• Be cautious about unintentionally rewarding school absences. Avoid TV, video games, leisure activities, internet use and family excursions.

• Help your child establish to a reasonable sleep and wake cycle. It’s very hard to help your child get to school if he/she is sleeping during the day and staying awake at night.

• If there is an older or younger sibling, they can help to model the routines. Your child might be asked to help pack a younger sibling’s bag or lunch box. They can prepare lunches together the night before. An older sibling can help tie shoe laces etc. When everyone in the family is excited about the day, it can make a difference.

Getting to school

• Call on a trusted friend or grandparent to drop your child at school. Children often cope better with separation at home rather than at the school gate.

• When your child goes to school, praise him/her by describing what your child might be feeling. You could say, ‘I know this is very hard and I am proud of you for trying hard.’

• Reward your child for going to school. This could be some special time with Mum or Dad or stopping on the way home for an ice-cream or hot chocolate. The reward should be on the same day.