Psychology
School refusal: why children do not want to go
A child with a morning stomach ache may not be pretending. How to tell the difference and help.
· 4 min read
School refusal is anxiety, not laziness. Symptoms typically appear on weekday mornings and disappear at weekends.
Find the cause
Peer relationships, failure in one subject and separation anxiety are the three most common causes. Asking "why don't you want to go" rarely yields an answer; observation is more reliable.
A gradual return
A phased plan starting with half-days is far more effective than forcing a full day.
