School avoidance is a
disorder affecting school-aged children who, because of anxiety,
depression, or social factors, avoid attending school because attendance
causes stress.
-
Some psychologic and social factors may cause school avoidance.
-
Children may fake illnesses and make up excuses to avoid going to school.
-
To re-establish regular attendance at school, open communication among the child, parents, and school personnel is recommended.
-
Sometimes psychologic therapy may be needed.
School avoidance occurs in about 5% of all school-aged children
and affects girls and boys equally. It usually occurs between age 5 and
age 11.
The cause of school avoidance is often unclear, but psychologic factors (such as stress, anxiety, and depression—see Overview of Mental Health Disorders in Children)
and social factors (such as having no friends, feeling rejected by
peers, or being bullied) may contribute. Sensitive children may be
overreacting with fear to a teacher’s strictness or rebukes. Younger
children tend to fake illness or make other excuses to avoid school.
Children may complain of a stomachache, nausea, or other symptoms that
justify staying home. Some children directly refuse to go to school.
Alternatively, children may go to school without difficulty but become
anxious or develop various symptoms during the school day, often going
regularly to the nurse’s office. This behavior is unlike that of
adolescents, who may decide not to attend school (called truancy or
"playing hooky”—see School Problems in Adolescents).
School avoidance tends to result from
-
Poor academic performance
-
Family difficulties
-
Difficulties with peers
Most children recover from school avoidance, but some develop it again after a real illness or a vacation.
Home tutoring usually is not a solution. Children with school
avoidance should return to school immediately, so that they do not fall
behind in their schoolwork. If school avoidance is so intense that it
interferes with the child's activity and if the child does not respond
to simple reassurance by parents or teachers, the child may need to be
seen by a mental health practitioner.
(See also Overview of Behavioral Problems in Children.)
Treatment
-
Communication with school personnel
-
Attendance at school
-
Sometimes therapy
Treatment of school avoidance should include communication
between parents and school personnel, regular attendance at school, and
sometimes therapy involving the family and child with a mental health
practitioner. Therapy includes treatment of underlying disorders,
adaptation of the school curriculum for children who have a learning
disability or other special education needs, and behavioral techniques
to cope with the stresses at school.
Posts
0 Comments