School Refusal

If your child refuses to go to school, you might feel that school nights and mornings are a ‘battle of wills’.
Your child might:

• cry, throw tantrums, yell or scream

• hide or lock themselves in their room

• refuse to move

• beg or plead not to go

• complain of aches, pains and illness before school, which generally get better if you let your child stay at home

• show high levels of anxiety

• have trouble sleeping

• threaten to hurt themselves.

School refusal can be an issue for children in both primary and secondary school, but it’s more common in children aged 5-6 years and 10-11 years.

Raising Children Australia

There’s rarely a single cause of school refusal. It might be linked to anxiety or worries about leaving home, a phobia, learning difficulties, social problems at school, or depression.

School refusal might start gradually or happen suddenly. It can happen at the same time as or after:

• stressful events at home or school or with peers

• family and peer conflict

• starting or changing schools

• moving home

• bullying or teasing

• problems with a teacher

• poor school results.

By not going to school, a child might be able to:

• avoid scary things – for example, tests, certain teachers, the canteen and so on

• get out of social situations with peers or teachers

• keep an eye on what’s happening at home – for example, if a family member or pet is ill.

Raising Children Australia