My six-year-old is usually reluctant to attend school. He doesn’t tell me why. He looks scared at times when I ask him why he doesn’t want to go. I fear his teachers are being too harsh on him. What do I do?
Such behaviour could be related to classroom problems with teachers, students, bullies, or van drivers. The issue could be small, but to your child, it is big. If you take the trouble to find out what’s worrying him, it may not be too difficult to help.

Try to figure out what’s happening by discussing different activities that happen in school, including lunch time, the trip in the school van, and classes. Watch his reactions carefully.

If you find him disturbed on certain days, check the class timetable to see if there is a particular class/activity which may be problematic. Talk to his friends in his absence, and find out if any teacher has been scolding or punishing him. Children sometimes prefer not to share this with parents.

Meet the class teacher and alert her about the situation. She can keep an eye open for trouble from other classmates, or curb her own behaviour, if she has been too harsh.