BY DR. SHONN A J O H N , C . Ps yc h. & DR. PAU L O PIR ES, C . Ps yc h.
TOO SCARED
for School!
About 5-10% of children struggle with significant anxiety. Anxiety can interfere with a student’s ability to perform in school and socialize with others. Times of change (e.g., first day of school) or performance/ evaluative situations (e.g., writing a test) typically cause some anxiety; There are times when a child’s anxiety gets in the way of going to school.
“School refusal” describes the problem of a child who does not stay at school or refuses to go to school on a regular basis. Children who struggle with school refusal tend to complain of not feeling well before leaving for school (e.g., stomachaches). They could also display tantrums, separation anxiety, or defiance, and when at school, they ask to go home. If allowed to stay home, the symptoms quickly disappear, only to reappear the next morning. In some cases, a child may refuse to leave the house. There are four typical reasons why children refuse school: 1) to avoid school-related objects and situations that cause distress (e.g., 34
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worries about reading, recess, group activities), 2) to avoid evaluative or negative social situations (e.g., science test, teasing/bullying), 3) to receive attention from parents, and/or 4) to obtain/pursue tangible rewards outside of school (e.g., playing video games)1.
What can parents do?
• Focus on gradually increasing school attendance. • For younger children, start with integrating them during morning class time. Continued on page 34