When children say they are bored, they might be struggling to identify and express more complex feelings such as sadness or anxiety. So it’s worth considering if there are friendship issues happening in the playground, or if there is something else going on emotionally for your child. These stressors can occupy your child’s thoughts in the classroom, taking attention away from learning. By helping children to understand and articulate their emotions, we can provide them the tools to manage these experiences more effectively. Some schools offer programs that help children identify their emotions and learn social, emotional and behavioural regulation skills. Children with good social emotional skills are likely to do better on a range of interpersonal and academic outcomes, which can also benefit parents, teachers and the school in general. So what should parents do? Talk openly with your child. Ask more specific questions about their day, instead of just “how was school?”. Instead, you can try questions like: what was the most interesting thing you learned at school today? can you tell me about something you enjoyed doing at school today? was there anything that made you feel frustrated or bored today? what do you wish you could change about your day? who did you play with today? if you were the teacher for the day, what would you do differently? what feedback did you receive from your teacher on your work today? Find out what they mean when they say they’re bored at school, and when they feel bored. Consider having them assessed for possible learning difficulties, and their eyes and ears checked. Find out if there any problems with friends, or possible anxieties lurking below the surface. If your child is particularly high achieving academically, discuss this with the school. Your child may be eligible for further assessment and extension support. Find ways to relate what your child is learning in school to their own lives and interests. Consider how you can strengthen your child’s relationship with their teacher, and talk to the teacher, too. They might be able to make simple adjustments to support your child’s motivation and engagement.