The opening of schools and the ringing of the classroom bell can cause anxiety in many students. This situation; Not wanting to go to school can be seen as school phobia or fear of school. There are many reasons behind school phobia. Although it is frequently seen in every academic year, it is possible to talk about school phobia in children who do not want to go to school for more than a few weeks.
The child, who is frequently with his parents since birth, leaves his parents and moves to a different environment when he reaches school age. and this may cause anxiety in the child. For a healthy separation, pre-school education is an important step in relieving the child's anxiety about starting school. In addition, various courses and social activities play an important role in the socialization of the child.
Not knowing what school is and what it will encounter can cause anxiety and fear in the child. Some children who leave the safe home environment during the process of not wanting to go to school, clinging to the mother, developing intense fear and anxiety about going to school, both during the process of starting kindergarten/nursery and primary education, may have difficulty entering a crowded and rule-filled environment such as a school. The most common cause of anxiety is intense separation anxiety due to separation from parents.
In the morning hours and when the child is close to going to school; Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, restlessness, crying, headache, abdominal pain, low energy, introversion, sleep problems, eating problems, etc. may be observed, and these complaints do not occur on weekends or when not at school.
Reasons for School Refusal
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A child who grows up in an overly protective or overly liberal parental environment has difficulty in becoming independent and individualistic when he needs to go to school. Children growing up addicted often experience intense anxiety about going to school and being separated from their parents.
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Parents who are worried that something will happen to their child when they are separated from their child unintentionally instill this anxiety in the child, and when the child needs to go to school, that is, separate from their parents, they cannot be separated from their parents, and if they are separated, they or their parents will not be able to separate themselves from their parents. worry that something might happen to your father can.
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When the child, who is not given any responsibility and whose every need is met by his parents, reaches the age of going to school and is expected to become individualized, he finds it difficult and does not want to separate from his parents.
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Family arguments, having a younger sibling at home, long separation stories, illness in the family, death, problems at school, problems with teachers or friends, lack of academic success falls, learning disorders, performance anxiety, social phobia, etc. In some cases, it may cause the child not to want to go to school.
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Lack of pre-school preparations and the child's lack of psychological preparation for the school process are among the reasons for school refusal. The more information one has about school, the less one's fear of school will be.
How to Treat a Child Who Doesn't Want to Go to School?
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The reason why the child does not want to go to school should be investigated, empathy should be established and the child should be listened to, understood and the questions in his mind should be answered.
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Behavior should be developed according to the extent of the anxiety he is experiencing, and he should be supported and encouraged to go to school.
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Allowing him to stay at home causes him to be further away from school. Families should agree on this issue, while the mother says "You must go to school", the father should not say "It is okay if you don't go today".
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The child should not be shouted at, punished or scolded because he does not want to go to school. This triggers more anxiety.
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Giving messages to the child such as "don't be afraid", "don't worry", "what is there to be afraid of", "don't worry" reinforces the child's fear of school and encourages the child to say "be afraid", "wonder". This will cause the child to receive the "worry" message and internalize the message "that means there is something to be afraid of, worried about, curious about." He/she may also become anxious and think, "There is something to worry about, my mother/father is so worried" and may refuse to go to school.
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Time is needed to overcome this situation and parents must be patient. It should not be forgotten that he planted Anxiety about the school should be evaluated together with the school's guidance service, and professional support should be sought when necessary.
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