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Starting school, moving, and other stressful life events may trigger the onset of school refusal. Other reasons include the child’s fear that something will happen to a parent after he is in school, fear that she won’t do well in school, or fear of another student.
Often a symptom of a deeper problem, anxiety-based school refusal affects 2 to 5 percent of school-age children. It commonly takes place between the ages of five and six and between ten and eleven, and at times of transition, such as entering middle and high school.
Children who suffer from school refusal tend to have average or above-average intelligence. But they may develop serious educational or social problems if their fears and anxiety keep them away from school and friends for any length of time.
What parents can do
"The most important thing a parent can do is obtain a comprehensive evaluation from a mental health professional,” says ADAA board member Daniel Pine, MD, who directs research on anxiety disorders in children and adolescents at the National Institute of Mental Health.
That evaluation will reveal the reasons behind the school refusal and can help determine what kind of treatment will be best. Your child’s pediatrician should be able to recommend a mental health professional in your area who works with children.
Meanwhile, keep your children in school. Missing school reinforces anxiety rather than alleviating it. The following tips will help you and your child develop coping strategies for school anxieties and other stressful situations.
op, I had another thought. Since it's already pretty far into the school year, what if you had her stick it out for the remainder of the year and then use the summer as a trial to see if you both could make homeschooling work? The summer could be used to set up activities with homeschool groups (many will be meeting during the summer too, so she could get a taste of it then). She could get a part time job or set up a volunteer gig? And/or she could choose an activity (sports, arts, etc.). You could have her devote time each day for studying, not a lot, since it will be summer but maybe an hour or two so that she can get a feel for what homeschooling will be like? You could try it for a few weeks and see how it would work. That way you would both have a better idea if it would be a good fit for you both.
op, I had another thought. Since it's already pretty far into the school year, what if you had her stick it out for the remainder of the year and then use the summer as a trial to see if you both could make homeschooling work? The summer could be used to set up activities with homeschool groups (many will be meeting during the summer too, so she could get a taste of it then). She could get a part time job or set up a volunteer gig? And/or she could choose an activity (sports, arts, etc.). You could have her devote time each day for studying, not a lot, since it will be summer but maybe an hour or two so that she can get a feel for what homeschooling will be like? You could try it for a few weeks and see how it would work. That way you would both have a better idea if it would be a good fit for you both.
op, I had another thought. Since it's already pretty far into the school year, what if you had her stick it out for the remainder of the year and then use the summer as a trial to see if you both could make homeschooling work? The summer could be used to set up activities with homeschool groups (many will be meeting during the summer too, so she could get a taste of it then). She could get a part time job or set up a volunteer gig? And/or she could choose an activity (sports, arts, etc.). You could have her devote time each day for studying, not a lot, since it will be summer but maybe an hour or two so that she can get a feel for what homeschooling will be like? You could try it for a few weeks and see how it would work. That way you would both have a better idea if it would be a good fit for you both.
Good idea for the summer! I think we're still going to look into dual enrollment between the high school and the community college.
Good idea for the summer! I think we're still going to look into dual enrollment between the high school and the community college.
Thanks CD peeps for all the input!
Best of luck! I think dual enrollment sounds like a fabulous way to go.
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