School Refusal
School refusal refers to a child’s refusal to attend school, specific classes or difficulty remaining at school. Approximately 5% of students have experienced school refusal. The number is high though for children who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or those who are, in general, anxious.
School refusal should not be confused with truancy. Truancy does not usually have a specific reason behind missing school and is often done so without parent knowledge. School refusal is more complex than truancy and can be quite stressful for the child and the child’s family. School refusal not only can affect a child’s academic growth, but it can negatively impact a child’s social relationships with peers and teachers.
A professional assessment to determine the reason for school refusal can be very helpful. A professional such as a psychologist can work with the child, the family and the school to determine triggers for school refusal and help to assess if there are issues such as bullying, trauma, anxiety or depression. Plans such as a peer buddy system, a school re-entry plan and/or psychotherapy can be put in place to help a child successfully return to school and decrease school refusal.