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Publication #FAR1707

 

School Refusal or School Phobia1

Diana Converse and Kate Fogarty2

Figure 1. 
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When a child says she or he feels sick, has a headache, stomachache, or a sore throat right before it's time to leave for school, and does this frequently, this is a likely case of "school phobia" or "school refusal." However, the problem does not always lie with school; rather, it's a form of separation anxiety that children have from their parents and the home.

Unlike truancy, parents know their child is not in school with school refusal, so it's important for parents to explore the true reason the child is staying out of school. Family problems may play a part, such as a new baby in the house, or illness of a parent. Bullying at school and problems with schoolwork are also common reasons for school phobia.

If your child appears anxious about going to school or even has been allowed to stay at home because of school refusal, make sure your child knows you are there to support them and available to talk. This will help your child to know that their problems are being taken seriously. Involve your child in planning how to best overcome the problems they are having with school.

Because missing a lot of school can be damaging, keeping your child out of school will make the problem worse. Once you have investigated the possible causes and offered your support as a parent, you may have to "push" your child out to school. Don't make staying home (where a child can watch TV and play all day) become more rewarding than going to school.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

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References

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2004). Facts for families: Children who won't go to school (separation anxiety). Retrieved November 22, 2005, from http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/noschool.htm.

Carr, A. (2000). What works with children and adolescents? A critical review of psychological interventions with children, adolescents and their families. London: Brunner-Routledge.

Rutter, M., & Taylor, E. (2002). Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (4th ed). London: Blackwell.

Scott, A., Shaw, M., & Joughin, C. (2001). Finding the evidence: A gateway to the literature in child and adolescent mental health (2nd ed). London: Gaskell.

United States Department of Education and United States Department of Justice. (1996.) Manual combat truancy. Retrieved November 22, 2005,from http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Truancy/index.html.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR1707, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 313 in January 2007. Published on EDIS September 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Diana Converse, Extension agent III, Hillsborough County, and Kate Fogarty, assistant professor, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.