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Some Helpful Videos about School distress
Some Helpful Videos about School distress
(Pooky Knightsmith Mental Health, 2021)
(Anna Freud, 2023)
(Northwestern Medicine, 2019)
School distress is simply very distressing for everyone involved.
It seems like it should be simple to get your child organised and to school on time.
But for those experiencing school distress, it is not.
It's hugely stressful, time-consuming and anxiety-ridden for everyone involved.
You are not alone if you are feeling:
You are not alone if you are feeling:
unsupported
judged about your parenting
blamed by the school
like you are a terrible parent
exhausted
nervous and anxious about getting your child to school
like you have no one to turn to
stressed out and burnt out
You may have noticed that your child has done some of the following things:
You may have noticed that your child has done some of the following things:
They may have complained about:
having a sore head
having a sore tummy
feeling anxious
They may have said
"they don't want to go"
"school is too hard"
"I hate school"
They may have:
refused to get dressed in the morning
hid when it came time to go to school
had to be dragged to the car or into the school
melted down completely at the prospect of school or at school
cried
refused to get out of bed
fought you or showed aggression when asked to go
called you halfway through the school day to return home
They may not be:
sleeping
eating
coping
There are many other whānau who have experienced this distressing and frustrating phenomenon.
There are many other whānau who have experienced this distressing and frustrating phenomenon.
To help support you, it's good to know that:
School distress is likely to occur at points of major transition (Meredith et al., 2023; Ingul et al.,2019; Baker & Bishop, 2015)
Beginning of school - within the first two years at school - between ages 5 - 7 years old.
Starting intermediate and the pre-pubescent period (age 11)
During the early years of high school (age 13 - 16)
Things that are stressful at home may be contributing such as:
whānau stressors such as dysfunction
parental separation
health challenges
mental health issues within the immediate whānau
accommodating anxiety instead of helping them overcome it.
Things that might be going on at school are:
a poor child-teacher relationship
bullying
fear of unstructured time and areas
noisy or disruptive classrooms
feeling isolated
avoidance of people
avoidance of performance (such as tests, speaking in front of others)
Undiagnosed Health conditions that are known to cause school distress:
Unfortunately, the longer school distress goes on, the more time it will go on.
Children who miss too much school find it harder to return.
Where to next:
Where to next:
I want to know more about neurodiversity
I need some support to know what to do
I need to know more about anxiety
I need to know more about wellbeing
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