Introduction
When kids are severely unhappy about coming to school, they sometimes skip part or all of the school day. This discomfort persists.
Children who refuse to attend school may not attend any school because they find it difficult to leave the house or go to school. Despite their parents’ best efforts to convince them otherwise, children who refuse to attend school typically spend the day at home with them.
Signs of school refusal
You could think that school evenings and mornings are a “battle of wills” if your youngster refuses to go. Your youngster might Cry, have temper tantrums, yell, or scream; lock themselves in their rooms; refuse to leave; beg or begrudge you letting them stay at home; complain of aches, pains, and illnesses before school; display high levels of anxiety; have trouble sleeping; threaten to harm themselves.
Children in primary and secondary schools may have problems with school refusal, but kids between the ages of 5 and 6 and 10 and 11 are more likely to experience it.
Causes of school refusal
Rarely does a single reason for school rejection exist. It could be connected to sadness, anxiety, phobias, worry about leaving home, learning challenges, social issues at school, or nervousness.
Refusal to attend school may begin gradually or unexpectedly. It may take place because of the following:
Peer conflict in the home; challenging circumstances at home, school, or with peers; traveling between schools; Bullying or taunting concerns with a teacher; and Poor academic achievement.
A youngster who skips school may be able to:
- Avoid frightening circumstances, such as tests, particular instructors, the canteen, and others, and stay away from situations when you have to interact with classmates or teachers.
- Watch what’s going on at home, especially if a family member or pet is ill.
Reasons why child is having trouble going to school
- Talk to your child about school and the reasons they choose not to go. Try to determine whether your child is attempting to dodge anything or is experiencing issues with their friends or instructors. ‘If you could alter one thing about school, what would it be?’ is one such example.
- Ask your kid to rank each aspect of the school day, such as the bus trip, classroom, specialised courses, teacher, classmates, recess, and lunch breaks, if they find it difficult to discuss the issue.
- For younger children, pointing to symbols like sad or smiling faces may make expressing their feelings easier.
- Consider whether anything at home is preventing your youngster from leaving the house and leaving for school.
Finding solutions to school refusal
Help your child confront the issues that prevent them from leaving home or attending school with a problem-solving mentality.
- Inform your child that you will collaborate with their school to support their attendance at school.
- If your child feels they can’t control their anxieties or fears about school, talk to them about consulting a counselor or psychologist.
- While receiving therapy for the condition that is keeping them out of class, your kid must continue to attend. As your child attends school, their self-assurance and resilience increase.
- It encourages social growth and keeps your child interested in school. Children who haven’t missed a lot of school typically adjust to it easier.
Working with schools on school refusal
Working together with your kid’s school is the greatest approach to get your child back in the classroom. Starting out by speaking with your child’s classroom teacher, homeroom teacher, or year coordinator is an excellent option.
- Describe your child’s situation and the reasons why they are refusing to attend school, such as bullying, learning challenges, mental health issues, etc.
- Talk to your child regarding bullying. You might enquire at the school about its anti-bullying policies.
- Find out whether your kid can benefit from additional support personnel. The coordinator for student welfare, a school psychologist, or a counselor may be among these employees. Request frequent updates on your child’s development and support need.
- Ask the school what assistance it can provide if your kid struggles to enjoy learning due to a learning disability.
- Consult with the school about starting an attendance student support group if your kid needs continuing assistance to remain motivated in their studies.
- You and your group may decide on the most effective methods for promoting your child’s attendance together.
- Speak with the school about having your kid return to school gradually. For instance, your child might be able to start off with a shorter school day or with their favorite subjects and work their way up from there.
- Children have a right to develop and learn in safe environments, such as schools.
Child Psychologists help for school refusal
Families can seek Child Psychologists assistance to understand how to handle school refusal and solve the underlying issues.
- Make an appointment with your doctor to check things out if your child complains of feeling ill.
- Your General physician could suggest that you see a psychiatrist or Child Psychologist if there are no medical causes for your child’s symptoms.
- Usually, a psychiatrist or psychologist will conduct an evaluation to determine whether the student’s unwillingness to attend school is related to problems with anxiety or depression. If your kid is also receiving treatment for anxiety or depression, school refusal therapies and supports will likely be more effective.
- Asking your child’s psychologist about any methods you might employ at home to encourage their return to school is a smart idea.
Conclusion
If your child is frequently refusing school and is showing tantrums and temper issues while going to school. You must not ignore these symptoms. These symptoms if untreated may lead to severe depression and anxiety in your child. Consult child psychologists as soon as possible. You can choose online counseling platform like TalktoAngel for your Child Counselling. They have highly qualified and experienced psychologists who will make sure to make your child better and thus helping in overall development of the child.