This problem, generally called school phobia, is explained as a fear of school, not wanting to go and resistance for this reason. It is known that many children, adolescents and adults, especially school-age children, do not fulfill their responsibilities towards school due to this syndrome and turn this event into a phobia. This syndrome, which is generally very common at the age of starting school, can also occur after a long summer holiday, semester, holiday or even on the weekend.
Children, adolescents and adults react to these events. To give an example of some common reactions: including headache; It shows symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, stomach cramps, nausea, back pain, crying, shaking, sweating...
How Is It Seen in University Students - Adults?
Although this phenomenon is seen much more frequently in adolescents and children, it has recently started to be seen in adults as well. Especially university students show common symptoms of this situation. Some of these symptoms are physiological and some are psychological. For example; While symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and headache manifest themselves here, they also generally do not go to school as a reaction because they will make decisions more easily and freely, and thus the phobia will grow more and more each day. Subsequent failures will lead to the process of dropping out of school.
How Does School Phobia Start in Children?
Unfortunately, the biggest factor that starts this phobia is parents. This phobia manifests itself in most children of families that have a strong protective instinct towards their children and continues for years.
The family approaches their child in an overly protective manner and after telling them things like "don't eat these things at school, don't be friends with everyone, the tables are dirty, don't touch them too much, don't use the toilets...", the child gradually begins to see the school as a dangerous area and feels fear. Such conversations continue as the time to start school approaches. Moreover, not only the parents but also other relatives and grandparents are involved in this incident. School has become very difficult and scary for them and they will not want to go. That's why most children cry on the first days of school, He faints or wants his mother and father next to him. This is how school phobia begins and continues this way if left untreated. Sometimes it goes out, sometimes we think it disappears, but in the face of a negative event, it will immediately become active and begin to negatively affect life.
Why Doesn't the Child Want to Go to School?
One of the reasons for school phobia; The child starting school has a younger sibling. Because he thinks that when he goes to school, the house will only belong to his little brother, and while his brother eats whatever he wants at home, plays the way he wants, and most importantly, is with his family, he thinks that he is not like that at school. (From the child's perspective)
Another reason may be that the classes are crowded and not as fun as desired and do not seem that way.
The other biggest reason for the phobia is the fear of losing one's mother. This fear is very strong in children, especially those who are very attached to their mothers, and they begin to feel it at the slightest thing.
The Temperament and Character of the Child May Reveal School Phobia; Some common characteristics that are prone to it are as follows:
Shy,
Easily hurt,
Tiny,
Exposed to bullying by friends at school
Fear of failure…
What Should Be Done to Prevent This Situation?
In general, the school closest to home should be chosen. The reason for this is that starting the child's education in an environment where he/she has not been unfamiliar before will help him/her to overcome this fear easily.
When you go to school with the child, you should not give him too much information about the school, or rather, not tell him what he will experience. it would be better. Otherwise, the child's anxiety level increases and he begins to feel fear.
It is necessary to explain to him in a nice way that school is a responsibility and that they will be reunited at the end of education.
If the fear or phobia is very strong; It is necessary to stay at school for a while the first time and reduce this situation day by day. (Determining the level of fear and the methods to be chosen for this advice should be done with the help of an expert.)
For school phobia, this situation should be constantly discussed with the child. The thing to be careful about is not to treat this situation as if it were something ridiculous. Otherwise, other disorders may occur.
The most important thing is to handle this situation with the help of an expert.
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