| Everyday, in cities around the world, 1 to 4 | | | | which can be as innocuous as a just trying to fit |
| children will not go to school. Not because they | | | | in or a sense of rebellion. However, a screaming |
| are ill, or a death in the family, but simply because | | | | child grasping at a mother's leg refusing to leave |
| they refuse to go. Reasons can be as varied as a | | | | the car is showing signs of school refusal. |
| test the child did not prepare for, or a blemish on | | | | The following are some ways to stop school |
| the skin. School phobia, or "school refusal is an | | | | refusal: |
| serious and recognized anxiety disorder. | | | | - Look into what the problem is at school. If its |
| Astonishingly, this disorder is more common than | | | | bullying, then things need a closer look. If your |
| some better known child disorders such as ADHD | | | | child's complaint is a valid one, then parents need |
| or autism. Children are vague in their complaints | | | | to work with your child around the issue, at home |
| and have a hard time trying to verbalize what is | | | | and at school. |
| making them refuse to go to school. It is usually | | | | - Reward the child when they go to school. This |
| dismissed as misbehavior. It's important as a | | | | might be extra video game time or even a special |
| parent to recognize school refusal, because it can | | | | trip on the weekend. Positive reinforcement is |
| stunt your child's education. | | | | more effective than punishing the child for not |
| Christopher Kearney, Ph.D., a director of the | | | | going to school. |
| UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders | | | | - Work with the school to find out what the |
| Clinic says, "You need to look at whether it's | | | | problem is. This might even be asking the school |
| affecting the child or family's daily functioning," in | | | | for permission to observer what is happening at |
| order to draw the line between normal or not. If | | | | school, or for the teacher to pay closer attention |
| grades are slipping, or a parent is in jeopardy of | | | | to the child. |
| losing a job from frequent absences, its time to | | | | - Set goals for going to school. If the child can at |
| take action. Kearney also says that parents should | | | | least go to a school for a hour, or go and sit in |
| pay close attention to their children who refuse to | | | | the lobby, its better than just staying at home. |
| go to school for vague reasons such as stomach | | | | - Make home life boring. If the child gets to sit |
| aches or other mysterious pains. If other general | | | | around and play video games instead of going to |
| complaints are combined with school refusal, then | | | | school, then school refusal is a rewarded. Set |
| this can also be a sign to take a closer look for | | | | some boundaries so that the kid will have more |
| any issues arising at school. | | | | reason to go to school. |
| Kearny also states, "There is a subtle difference | | | | The bottom line is create a plan and stick to it. |
| between school refusal and school refusal | | | | Once the child is no longer afraid of the |
| behavior." Children who skip school to play with | | | | classroom, then her education can blossom. |
| their friends are exhibiting school refusal behavior, | | | | |