If your child is anxious about going to school and even refuses to go, he or she may be suffering from school phobia.
- About 5% of children suffer from school phobia.
- It usually occurs between the ages of 5 and 11.
- School phobia affects boys as much as girls.
School is meant to be a place of learning, socialization and exchange for children. But for some children, it is above all a source of fear and anxiety. While listening to parents or teachers is generally enough to help them overcome their nervousness, for some students, the anxiety is so present that it becomes paralyzing.
This disorder, called school phobia, affects about 5% of children according to the MSD manual website. Affecting boys and girls equally, it usually occurs between the ages of 5 and 11.
In a article of their establishmentCleveland Clinic pediatrician Dr. Ellen Rome and psychiatrist Joseph Austerman detail the signs of school phobia that should alert parents.
School Phobia: 5 Signs Your Child Is Anxious About School
“Most children have periods when they resist going to school. This is normal. But if the behavior persists for two weeks or more, it is probably more than a passing phase.”note the two American experts.
In addition to refusing to go to class or skipping class (for older children), other signs may suggest school phobia:
- regularly complaining of physical symptoms such as nausea, headache or stomach pain;
- often going to the school infirmary complaining of various ailments and asking to go home;
- call parents during the day, asking to be picked up;
- going to school only after crying, tantrums, defiant behavior, or other problem behaviors.
“If you notice a difference in your child’s behavior, don’t minimize it: explore it.”advises Dr. Austerman. “It will be better for your child if you seek help for his or her problems when they are small and manageable, before they develop into something bigger.”
School phobia: what are the possible causes?
The origin of school phobia is not always easy to identify. However, several factors can come into play:
- psychological disorders: stress, anxiety and depression;
- social factors: lack of friends, feeling rejected by peers or bullying.
“If school phobia gets so bad that the child misses a lot of school, it may be a sign of a more serious problem such as a depressive disorder or one or more of the anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and/or panic disorder. These other disorders differ from school phobia in that they also cause problems unrelated to school.”specifies the MSD manual on its side.