School Avoidance: What It Is and How to Help Your Child

 


School avoidance is a growing concern among parents and educators alike. It is a situation where a child refuses to attend school or has difficulty remaining in school for the entire day. This problem can start with sporadic absences and slowly increase to a point where it becomes a significant issue. Parents can often observe soft signs like avoiding a particular class, struggling with homework, or faking an illness to skip school.

School-avoidant
behavior can manifest in different ways. Some children may be entirely absent from school, while others may go to school but leave during the day or escape to the nurse's office. Some may only go to school after crying, hiding in their bedroom, having an outburst, or refusing to move. Children may also have unusual distress about going to school and beg their parents not to make them go back.

If you notice any of these signs in your child, it is essential to act. You do not need academic definitions to tell you if your child is avoiding school or not. If your child's reluctance toward school is causing stress within your family or your daily life, then it would make sense to get help now.

It is natural for parents to avoid or deny an issue with their child, which could be scary and overwhelming. However, the longer you wait to address the issue, the harder it can become to resolve. So, listen to your instincts and gut feelings. Try not to talk yourself out of these observations.

The first step to helping your child is to identify the root cause of their avoidance behavior. Some common reasons for school avoidance are bullying, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties, or traumatic events. Once you have identified the cause, you can work with your child's school and mental health professionals to create a plan that helps your child overcome their anxiety and feel more comfortable in the school environment.

Here are a few strategies you can use to help your child overcome school avoidance:

  1. Build a positive relationship with your child's school. Talk to your child's teacher or school counselor and let them know about your child's situation. They can collaborate with you to create a supportive environment that encourages your child to attend school.
  2. Encourage your child to express their feelings. Let your child know that it is okay to feel anxious or overwhelmed and that you are there to support them. Encourage them to express their feelings and work with them to find healthy coping mechanisms.
  3. Create a predictable routine. Establishing a predictable routine can help your child feel more comfortable and reduce their anxiety. Try to maintain consistent mealtimes, bedtimes, and school routines.
  4. Seek professional help. Sometimes, school avoidance can be a sign of a more significant mental health issue like anxiety or depression. If you are concerned, it is essential to seek professional help from a mental health provider who specializes in working with children.

In conclusion, school avoidance is a serious issue that can have long-term consequences for your child's academic and social development. If you notice any signs of school avoidance in your child, it is crucial to act and seek help. Remember, you are not alone in this. There are many resources available to help you and your child overcome school avoidance and build a positive future.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KUTANA NA MWANZILISHI NDUGU HUSSEIN MSHUNGA

Image
 Hussein Mshunga ambaye ni Mwanzilishi wa CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST TANZANIA   (Brela Reg. No. 497719), ana  ndoto ya kuhakikisha huduma za kisaikolojia zinawafikia watoto wote Nchini Tanzania.   Ana shahada ya Elimu katika Saikolojia (Bed Psychology (Hons) kutoka Chuo kikuu cha Da es salaam (UDSM), Pia ni Muasisi wa Tanzania Autism Resource Centre Taasisi isiyo ya kiserikali inayojishughulisha na kusaidia watoto wanaoishi na Usonji kuongeza uwezo wao maishani kupitia Uchechemuzi (advocacy) na utoaji wa huduma katika elimu, tiba na uwezeshaji wa walezi ,wazazi na wataalamu wanaowahudumia.  Pia ni mnufaika wa mradi wa Learning Journey into Leadership for Young Changemakers ulioanzishwa na Swiss centre of competence for international cooperation, na kudhaminiwa na  Fondation Botnar ya nchini Uswisi. Hussein Mshunga Bed.Psychology (Hons) UDSM, Associate Member Tanzanian Psychological Association (TAPA) Saikolojia ya watoto ni moja ya matawi mengi ya sai...
Read more

CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST TANZANIA

Image
Child Psychologist Tanzania is a comprehensive psychological practice for children. We are specialized in direct assessment, advise  and supportive therapy for the children who have the following challenges; Neurodevelopmental Disorders , i.e  Autism,  Attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Inability to concentrate, remember things, process information or solve problems. Poor social skills Emotional  problems such as anxieties worries and fears Low frustration tolerance Coping with Parents divorce Parenting Support Relationship difficulties within the family Adjustment to a traumatic event Issues with toileting, sleeping and eating. We also offer training and consultation sessions for parents, carers and professionals on the issues regarding child psychology and development. for appointments, please call  or WhatsApp +255738223136 ,+255755204029. Email: childpsychologisttanzania@gmail.com
Read more

JEAN PIAGET - THE FOUNDING FATHER OF MODERN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Image
  Jean Piaget, 1896-1980 Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, whose original training was in the natural sciences, spent much of his career studying the psychological development of children, largely at the Institute J.J. Rousseau at the University of Geneva, but also at home, with his own children as subjects. The impact of this research on child psychology has been enormous, and Piaget is the starting point for those seeking to learn how children view numbers, how they think of cause-and-effect relationships, or how they make moral judgments. He showed that rational adult thinking is the culmination of an extensive process that begins with elementary sensory experiences and unfolds gradually until the individual is capable of dealing with imagined concepts, that is, abstract thought. By learning how children comprehend the world and how their intellectual processes mature, Piaget contributed much to the theory of knowledge as an active process in which the mind transforms reality. ...
Read more