school sux

N.B: This blog post is for parents, although the resources that are linked here also provide information and resources for students who are struggling to find their place at school.

Let’s be honest, school is not for everyone. You may have had a positive and engaging experience at school, and maybe you are still in contact with many of your friends. That’s certainly my experience. Now, I work with many students who are not having positive experiences at school. Everyday is a challenge for them and this leads to disengagement. I talk to parents who feel helpless to help as they can’t relate to their child’s experiences, or they themselves had a negative school experience and are concerned their attitude to school is ‘rubbing off’.

How can you make the school experience a positive one for your child? How can you ‘convince’ them that it is worth going, even though your own experiences were negative. How can you help your child plan a career and a meaningful life when they are disengaged from school? These are issues that go way beyond career counselling, and yet, without an education foundation, the future can be more challenging than perhaps it needs to be.

If there is one thing I am sure about, it is that we never stop learning. There are plenty of stories out there of people who overcame incredible obstacles and finished their education in their 20s, 40s and even 60s. Parents have a role to play in supporting their child through all the transition phases of their early life - especially when these transitions become challenging. Maybe you don’t have the tools or the resources you need to help them when they most need your help.

Below is a list of websites that address the issues associated with negative school experiences. Some resources target parents and careers, others target the student directly. I hope you find what you need to move forward in your journey with your child.

Spark Their Future: helping your child to enjoy learning and school

We the Differents: high school and life advice for students

Headspace: wellbeing resources for young people