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children who won't go to school
Going to school usually is an exciting, enjoyable event for young
children. For some it brings fear or panic. Parents have cause for concern
when their child regularly feels sick from tension, "plays sick" or with
minor physical complaints wishes to stay home from school. Not wanting to go
to school is most common in children 5-7 and 11-14, times when children are
dealing with the new challenges of elementary and middle school. These
children may suffer from a paralyzing fear of leaving the safety of their
parents and home. The child's panic and refusal to go to school is very
difficult for parents to cope with, but these fears can be treated
successfully, with professional help.
Refusal to go to school often begins following a period at home in which the
child has become closer to the parent, such as a summer vacation, a holiday
break, or a brief illness. It also may follow a stressful occurrence, such
as the death of a pet or relative, a change in schools, or a move to a new
neighborhood.
The child may complain of a headache, sore throat, or stomach-ache shortly
before it is time to leave for school. The "illness" subsides after the
child is allowed to stay home, only to reappear the next morning before
school. In some cases the child may simply refuse to leave the house.
Children with an unreasonable fear of
school may:
- feel unsafe staying in a room by themselves
- display clinging behavior
- display excessive worry and fear about parents
- or about harm to themselves
- shadow the mother or father around the house
- have difficulty going to sleep
- have nightmares
- have exaggerated, unrealistic fears of animals, monster, burglars
- fear being alone in the dark, or
- have severe tantrums when forced to go to school
Such fears are common among children with separation anxiety disorder.
The potential long-term effects (anxiety and panic disorder as an adult) are
serious for a child who has persistent fears and does not receive
professional assistance. The child may develop serious educational or social
problems if away from school and friends for an extended period of time.
The parents and child can benefit from seeing a child and adolescent
psychiatrist, who will work with them in an effort to immediately return the
child to school and other important daily activities. Since the panic comes
from leaving home rather than being in school, frequently the child is calm
once in school. Refusal to go to school in the older child or adolescent is
generally a more serious illness, and often requires more intensive
treatment.
Unreasonable fears about leaving the home and parents can be successfully
treated, and parents should not hesitate to seek professional help. The
child's physician can refer the parents to a child and adolescent
psychiatrist.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents
over 6900 child and adolescent psychiatrists who are physicians with at
least five years of additional training beyond medical school in general
(adult) and child and adolescent psychiatry.
The Facts for Families© series is developed and distributed by the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Facts sheets may be
reproduced for personal or educational use without written permission, but
cannot be included in material presented for sale.
Free distribution of individual Facts for Families sheets is a public
service of the AACAP Special Friends of Children Fund. Please make a
tax-deductible contribution to the AACAP Special Friends of Children Fund
and support this important public outreach. (AACAP, Special Friends of
Children Fund, P.O. Box 96106, Washington, D.C. 20090).
Copyright © 1997 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.