What to do with a child who refuses to go to school?

If your child refuses to go to school, or you’re supporting another parent or child in this situation, here’s how you can respond:

Ask for help.
Consider possible triggers.
Take a kind but firm approach.
Give clear and consistent messages.
Set clear routines on days off school.
Engage the system.

What do you do when your teenager doesn’t want to go to school?

If your child is avoiding or refusing to go to school, talk to your child’s therapist. He can help develop strategies to help resolve the situation, such as addressing your child’s sleeping habits so that he is ready for school in the morning.

Why does my 13 year old daughter refuse to go to school?

For the last term and a half our 13-year-old daughter has been refusing to go to school. This currently consists of not getting up, or not getting dressed, or ripping her school uniform so she has nothing to wear, hiding her shoes, refusing to leave the house, and so on.

When does a child say I’m not going to school?

This is not a situation when a child says, “I’m not going,” and the parents just agree. There is usually crying, panic, nausea and pleading. It might seem worse to send your child in this condition than giving in. At the same time there is pressure from the school system that your child attend. Truly a rock and a hard place for parent and child.

Why is my daughter not at school half term?

The school reassures us that whenever they check on her, she is playing happily with friends, or working well in lessons, and that there must be some problem at home. However, during the two week half term (just ended) she was a lovely, happy girl, enjoying meeting up with her friends to play.

Why is it harder to get my child to go to school?

Just a side note but the first day back from the weekend or holiday will usually be worse. If you get to avoid something then facing it again is harder. This is one more example of how avoiding makes things worse. The reality is that sometimes for various reasons, you can’t get your child to school.

Can a child not want to go to school?

To say that a child who does not want to go to school “has school refusal” is pseudo-scientific babble – no better than a form of quackery. “School refusal” is not an illness, it is what normal children sometimes do. Refusing to go to school can also be a sign of a problem. But is it not a diagnosis.

What makes a child refuse to go to school?

In contrast, school refusers more often than not are well-behaved, compliant kids, except for this particular circumstance. In addition, their parents know they are not in school. These parents have likely spent plenty of time and energy trying to get their child to school, but with no success.

Why is my teenage daughter not going to school?

Last term she often said that she felt unwell, sometimes a headache, sometimes feeling sick, or sometimes her arm hurting. She had many investigations by the GP and the hospital; generally the diagnosis was that she is a healthy girl, but tense, and the GP has suggested an anxiety disorder.

What to do if your child is avoiding school?

School avoidance is a serious problem that can worsen rapidly. Work closely with your child’s school. It’s also a good idea to consult with a licensed mental health professional who specializes in child anxiety and can support you in helping your child or teen re-engage in school.