It’s not unusual for kids to miss or resist going to school every once in a while. However, it becomes a problem warranting attention when this starts happening frequently. The first thing that comes to mind is that maybe kids want to stay home and relax or play. School refusal is usually confused with playing hooky when it is not always the case. Unfortunately, most of the parents fail to understand the underlying reasons behind school refusal, which makes the situation even worse. If you are facing such an issue with your child, then you’ve definitely come to the right place for help.

Find the Root Cause

School refusal is not itself a problem but rather an indication of other bigger problems. You need to figure out those problems that are causing your kid to stay away from school. Some of the common causes behind kids’ refusal to attend school include peer pressure, bullying, fear of showing poor performance, separation anxiety, family problems, etc. A large number of studies have also linked school refusal with anxiety disorders. You can easily find the cause by starting an informal discussion with your kid. Ask him about his school friends, teachers, school environment, etc. You may also talk to his close their friends to know more about the issue. After finding the root cause, you will be in a better position to help the kids in overcoming the issue before it’s too late.

Discuss with the School Personnel

If your kid is not going to school due to anything he is facing at school, like bullying, peer pressure, strict environment, etc., then you must talk to the school management right away. Bring the issue to their attention so that they can fix it. If it’s a bullying situation, it would probably be a good idea to talk to the bully’s parents as well, informing them of how it’s affecting your own kid.

Your Support Can Make a Difference

School anxiety does not go away easily. It takes time and patience in resolving the issue. So do not expect your kid to start going back to school right away. Instead, give him time to heal properly. When it comes to school anxiety, your support can make a huge difference. Just make sure you are there for your kid in this difficult time so that he may not feel alone.

Reach Out for Professional Help

If the nature of the issue is serious and you do not think that you can handle it on your own, then you must consult a professional expert immediately. Discuss your kid’s condition with the professional in detail in order to formulate an action plan for helping the child. Most of the health experts recommend therapies to cure the problem permanently, but the nature of treatment varies with every kid.