Why Does My Child Complain of a Stomachache at Homework Time?
When School Stress Becomes Physical
"Mom, my tummy hurts..." It's the third time this week, and it's always right after school, just as you're about to sit down together for homework. You're not imagining it. The winces, the sighs, the physical complaints — they’re real. And they’re heartbreaking.
If you're a parent of a 6- to 12-year-old who's often beset by stomach pain right before or during homework time, you're not alone. For some kids, this is a recurring pattern — a seemingly physical ailment that vanishes as soon as homework is postponed or completed. It seems mysterious, but it’s not uncommon. These are somatic symptoms — physical expressions of emotional stress.
Stress in Small Bodies
Children don't always have the words to express what's going on inside. For them, the language of stress can be physical. Anxious feelings around school performance, pressure to succeed, fear of failure, or even just the overwhelming fatigue of keeping up in a fast-paced classroom can manifest as bellyaches, headaches, or even nausea.
Rachel, a mom of two from Lyon, shared with me recently that her 8-year-old daughter, Léa, started asking to go to the bathroom multiple times during math homework. “At first, I thought she was just trying to avoid it,” Rachel said. “But then she told me her tummy hurt, and she looked pale. We talked a bit, and I realized she was panicking about getting the answers wrong.”
This scenario might sound familiar. Kids like Léa aren't pretending. They're not being manipulative. Their complaints are their body's way of saying, "This is too much for me." For some children, especially those who already struggle with processing information or staying focused, even fifteen minutes of homework can feel like scaling a mountain.
The Hidden Triggers You Might Overlook
Not all homework-related stress comes from the difficulty of the work itself. Sometimes it’s about what the process represents: performance, comparison, adult expectations. Even the quiet pressure of sitting next to a parent while they watch, help, or correct can feel emotionally intense.
Your child’s stomachache might be triggered by:
- Fear of disappointing you or their teacher
- Feeling behind compared to classmates
- Unprocessed stress from something that happened at school
- Learning differences that make traditional homework hard to decode
- Sensory overload from a busy school day
If you're wondering what kind of expectations are developmentally appropriate, especially when it comes to focus and endurance, this guide on how long kids should focus on homework based on their age offers a reassuring perspective.
Reframing Homework to Lighten the Load
The good news? You can change the experience around homework so it feels less threatening to your child—and your evenings become more peaceful. Start by observing, without reacting, what tends to precede your child's stomachaches. Is it always a specific subject? A certain time of day? Right after a sibling finishes faster?
Then, try slowly dismantling the elements that feel like pressure. Rethink the schedule. Rethink the physical setup. And yes, rethink what "helping" your child really looks like—it might be more about sitting nearby quietly than guiding every step.
You can also reduce the mental load by making the material more playful. For example, some kids are far more receptive when material is delivered in an audio format. One parent I worked with used an app that transforms lessons into immersive audio stories, with her child’s name woven into the narrative. Suddenly, grammar wasn’t a worksheet—it was an adventure in a floating castle. That moment of delight turned what used to be a battleground into a ritual they both looked forward to.
When to Look Deeper
While occasional physical complaints are common, frequent or intense stomach pains warrant further exploration. Talk to your child's teacher. Is your child showing signs of anxiety in class as well? Are there social or academic difficulties you're unaware of?
It’s also worth discussing your concerns with your pediatrician, especially if stomachaches persist even outside homework hours. The doctor might rule out medical causes, but they can also help identify if the symptoms are linked to school-related anxiety or stress.
Reclaiming Calm, Together
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is redefine what homework time means in your home. It doesn’t have to mirror school. It doesn’t have to be silent, rigid, or filled with correction. You may find inspiration in our article on how to create peaceful homework routines. Each child is different—and so is each family’s rhythm.
In fact, some families find that reviewing lessons together in the car, or while preparing dinner, is more effective than sitting at a desk. Tools that convert written material into audio or quizzes (like those featured in the Skuli App) are just one way to gently bring learning into their world, without triggering the weight of "homework."
Because in the end, every child deserves to feel safe while learning. And every parent deserves to feel confident that they’re supporting—not stressing—their child.
And if you’re juggling more than one child, homework hour can feel especially daunting. You might find help in this guide on managing multiple kids’ homework without losing your mind.
Remember: A stomachache is often more than just a bellyache. It’s a cue. A call-out. An invitation to pause and listen. Not just to the body, but to the heart behind it.