"Not wanting to go to school" is a sign of SOS. The first "words" parents should say and a guide to support them starting today.

When a child says, "I don't want to go to school," it can unsettle any parent. However, this is not "laziness" but a significant SOS signal indicating "it's tough as it is now." The first step needed is to build a foundation of safety and trust rather than jumping to solutions. The initial words to say should be, "Thank you for telling me," "Those feelings are an important sign," and "It's okay to take a break now, let's think about it together." Next, calmly check their physical condition, including sleep, meals, and any pain, as well as their safety (such as the presence of bullying or violence), and inform the school, "My child will be absent today." Avoid words of blame or "comparisons," and create an environment where the child can talk at their own pace. There are various public consultation services available, such as the "24-hour Child SOS Dial (0120-0-78310)," and there are systems in place where learning outside of school can be counted as "attendance" if conditions are met. This article compiles practical strategies that can be used from today, including data-driven background insights, appropriate and inappropriate ways to communicate, a 48-hour and one-week support plan, collaboration with schools and professionals, creating rules at home, and ways to envision a path forward without being overly fixated on returning to school.