Student Behavior for Little Ones

Sure, every child has a favorite subject—some like science, some like language arts, though the majority of young children will cite recess as their favorite class of the day. But what should parents do when their little preschooler or kindergartener, declares and stands by an adamant dislike of a subject? What if your child refused to complete an assignment and simply stated "I don't like math"?

Student Behavior in Preschool and Kindergarten

First things first, parents, why doesn't your child like math? When young kids exhibit a negative attitude toward something there can often be deeper issues, such as an inability to see correctly or something wrong in the environment in which math is taught. By digging a bit deeper into your child's statement you may uncover the real reason that they refuse to complete their homework.

• Start a dialogue. Children may be hesitant to speak about why they really don't like math, so try to sidle around the topic by asking about the math class. By getting your child to open up about the experiences that are associated with math you may pinpoint the reason that they have such an aversion to the subject.
• Play devil's advocate. Make sure that your little one knows that you understand this dislike of math, as your support is a key to success, but try to explain why math is important. If there are no deeper issues here, if math really is just something that your little student doesn't enjoy, then explain the benefits of the subject and encourage him or her to keep trying.
• Make it fun. If holding your child's attention is an issue, relate the math homework that needs to be completed to something that is of a special interest. Many parents have spent hours adding and subtracting M&Ms, marshmallows, and pretzels to motivate their kids and get them involved in their homework.

Parents often start out strong, but the will of a young child can be surprisingly exhausting. Even if the situation seems impossible, though, don't give up! In the long run, your children will benefit from your insistence that they attend all of their classes and do all of their homework, even they don't appreciate your efforts now.