SCHOOL AVOIDANCE

School avoidance is the inability of a child or adolescent to complete some, or all, of a regularly scheduled school day. About 5-28% children will refuse to go to school at some point in their lives. Children avoid school for several reasons, including but not limited to anxiety they feel in school, attention from parents or care givers when not attending school, and the benefits of engaging in recreational activities outside of class. The longer avoidance persists without treatment, the more difficult it is to transition back. 

Through Commack's continued partnership with Northwell Health, parents and families whose children are struggling with school avoidance can enroll in a workshop specifically designed to help understand what the driving force behind a student's school avoidance may be. Please see below for more information on Northwell's School Avoidance program, and also for a presentation on what to look out for regarding school avoidance.