FFFSchool Refusal

No. 7; Updated June 2018

Going to school is usually an exciting and enjoyable event for young children. However, for some it can cause intense fear or panic. Parents should be concerned if their child regularly complains about feeling sick or often asks to stay home from school with minor physical complaints. Not wanting to go to school may occur at any time but is most common in children ages 5-7 and 11-14, times when children are dealing with the new challenges of elementary and middle school. These children may suffer from a paralyzing fear of leaving the safety of their parents and home. The child's panic and refusal to go to school is very difficult for parents to cope with, but these fears and behavior can be treated successfully, with professional help.

Refusal to go to school often begins following a period at home in which the child has become closer to the parent, such as a summer vacation, a holiday break, a long weekend, or a brief illness. It also may follow a stressful occurrence, such as the death of a pet or relative, a change in schools, or a move to a new neighborhood.

The child may complain of a headache, sore throat, or stomachache shortly before it is time to leave for school. The illness subsides after the child is allowed to stay home, only to reappear the next morning before school. In some cases, the child may simply refuse to leave the house. Since the panic comes from leaving home rather than being in school, frequently the child is calm once in school. 

Children with an unreasonable fear of school may also:

  • Display clinging behavior
  • Display excessive worry and fear about parents or about harm to themselves
  • Shadow the mother or father around the house
  • Have difficulty going to sleep
  • Have nightmares
  • Have exaggerated, unrealistic fears of animals, monster, burglars
  • Fear being alone in the dark
  • have severe tantrums when forced to go to school

Such symptoms and behaviors are common among children with separation anxiety disorder. The potential long-term effects (anxiety and panic disorder as an adult) are serious for a child who has persistent separation anxiety and does not receive professional assistance. The child may also develop serious educational or social problems if their fears and anxiety keep them away from school and friends for an extended period of time.

When fears persist the parents and child should consult with a qualified mental health professional, who will work with them to develop a plan to immediately return the child to school and other activities. New refusal to go to school in the older child or adolescent may be related to peer/social problems (could even be due to being bullied), developing behavioral health concerns, and often requires more intensive evaluation and treatment.

Your child's school should support your family and your treatment provider's plan for successful school attendance through the development of a 504 plan or Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Excessive fears and panic about leaving home/parents and going to school can be successfully treated.

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