SCHOOL PHOBIA
It is not unusual for children to be anxious about going to school. Extreme school fears, or sometimes called ‘school phobia', are different from normal school anxiety. A child with school phobia may be so terrified of going to school he fights to stay at either his home or his family childcare home. Children from ages 5-11 may exhibit the following:
• May act sick
• Develop a headache
• Have a stomachache
• Vomit when it’s time to go to school
• Cling to parent
• Have a temper tantrum
• Excessive Crying
• Refuse to separate from parent at home, in car or at school
If a child has not had any experience in childcare or other programs, they may fear separation from their parents. This child usually has not had sufficient opportunity to act independently prior to starting school. In some school phobia situations that stem from separation, you will find both the parent and the child are having difficulty separating and both may need help. Children will mirror the fear of the parents and adults near them. Examine the child’s family life. Here are some family stress issues that can affect the child:
• Recent changes such as divorce
• Serious illness of a family member
• A death of a someone the child was close to
• Moving to a new home away from familiar family and friends
• Financial issues
All off these factors can cause the child to feel the parent’s stress and become insecure and frightened.
There are other legitimate difficult experiences in school that may play a role in making a child afraid to attend.
• An overly strict or unsympathetic teacher
• Problems with other children in the classroom
• Racism
• Bullying
It is important to find the cause of the child’s avoidance of school. Understanding the reasons for a child becoming frightened must be evaluated and dealt with. The child is not going to be able to return to school comfortably until they feel safe.
Some parents will keep their child home from school, however staying away from school for a long time can in itself make a child frightened about returning or attending on a regular basis. Most professionals feel it’s good for the child to be brought back to school as soon as possible, before the child establishes a pattern of staying away. It is important to note that getting the child to school is not the only objective. It may be necessary for the family to obtain outside help in identifying the underlying problem and correcting it.
A child may be in a realistically difficult situation where any normal, healthy child would be frightened. A child who is frightened about going to school because of difficulties with the teacher, being isolated because of race, ethnic background, or who are being bullied, may be experiencing emotional issues. Therefore, it would be important that the child’s pediatrician be notified. The child may need counseling or intervention where a professional can better determine how to help the child.
Disclaimer
The information in this is for general purposes only, and should not be construed as a substituted for professional advice from your health professional. We do not support self-diagnosis based on any information found in this fact sheet. We are not responsible for any self-diagnosis made by a reader based on information found in this fact sheet. It is merely meant to be an informational tool to present warning signs that should be brought to the attention of a medical doctor.