Korina’s Daughter Pilar Doesn’t Want To Go To School, Pepe Tells Twin ‘It’s So Much Fun, You Have To Go'

Korina Sanchez, broadcaster and mom to twins Pepe and Pilar Roxas shared a classic hatid-to-school moment on her Instagram where her daughter declares she does not feel like going to school that day.

"You don’t want to go to school? Korina asked. Pilar answers “no” definitively and mom Korina asks why before telling her that she’s still going to school.

“Why not? We are going to school today,” Korina answered Pilar. “I don’t like it,” Pilar replied.

“Why? May naka-away ka ba? Korina probed before moving on to talk to her son, Pepe.

“What about you Pepe, you like school? Because?” Korina asked, before asking Pepe to encourage his twin sister to go to school.

“It’s so much fun, Pilar. You have to go there,” Pepe replied while coloring.

The short video was taken during a car ride to school. A sure stress moment for parents who have a full day planned before being met with a young child’s big emotions.

“It’s just a mood”

Korina captioned the clip “Pilar did NOT want to go to school this morning. Hayzzz….” with matching eye roll and crazy eyes emoji. Looks like Korina had another one of those days as a parent.

Some netizens were quick to say that perhaps Pilar was having issues with school to which Korina calmly replied it was just a mood for her daughter. Something normal for young school children.

One follower joked, “Hindi pa Friday, Pilar” to which Korina answered “Paki sabi sa kaniya.” Obviously, Korina understood her daughter’s emotions and wasn’t worried about it.

“We are going to school. We will, when you get there, you’ll find out you’ll have fun. I promise. Di ba Pepe? she said in the video.

Korina was calm even in the midst of Pilar’s complaining. “Pilar, you have to go to school. Pilar, put your shoes on,” she said.

What to do when your child doesn’t want to go to school

"Young children sometimes can sense the apprehension from their parents or other family members," says Thumby Veloso, Managing Director of Toddlers Unlimited. "Talking positively about the school or people, or even our own schooling experiences can help little kids feel less anxious."

Parents.com and an old Smart Parenting article provide a few tips for similar situations.

1. Recognize his fears.

Younger school years sound easy to an adult but it’s handwork for a young child, says Parents.com. It’s important to recognize and validate when they say they’re encountering difficulty. 

It is not validating to say “Preschool ka pa lang, paano na ‘pag mas matanda ka na?” It invalidates the work they are putting in. When they are older and more developed, naturally the challenge grows as well. It is false to compare the work in preschool with the work in higher grade levels because the level of child development in both stages is very different. 

2. Address it at once.

If your child constantly expresses that they do not want to go to school, get to the root of the problem. Find out what is causing him or her anxiety, is it the academics? Is it a classmate? Is it your child’s relationship with his or her teacher? Ask questions gently and calmly to find out.

If the school itself is a new environment for the child, Veloso suggests school visits. "We also like to do visits with the child, it's nice for them to come over when the school is not busy, that way they have time to get comfortable in the room and get to know the teacher a bit.

On the other hand, “If it’s a classmate who is causing the problem, listen intently and determine if it’s a bullying issue, says a previous Smart Parenting article.

"If so, encourage your child to let his teacher know, and make a follow up at a reasonable time to see what action has been taken by the school.”

3. Determine if you need professional help.

“If it lasts more than two weeks or starts to seriously disrupt your day-to-day life, that’s when you know you need help,” says Christopher Kearney, Ph.D., director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic in the same Smart Parenting article.

READ MORE STORIES ON YOUNG KIDS IN SCHOOL:

• Tired And Irritated After School? Here's What Parents Can Do To Recharge Kids Emotionally
• Don’t Rush Through School Drop-Offs! 5 Ways To Help Ease Your Child's Separation Anxiety
• Validate Emotions, Establish A Routine, And More: How To Prepare Young Kids For Onsite Classes