School Phobia in Children
School phobia is experienced at three age groups, each with their own characteristics.
The first group is in the age group of 5 to 7 years old.
They suffer mainly from separation anxiety.
During this period of their lives it will probably be the first time they go to school.
It is the first time that they are away from the security of their home and the protection of the parents.
The second group is in at the age of 11 and 12, when the children leave primary school and will continue at secondary school.
The anxiety that these children feel is related to social phobia.
They have to leave the now familiar environment of their primary school where they knew the students and the teachers.
The secondary school where they will continue their education is a place full of new teachers and students.
The children will be overwhelmed by all this and may feel that they don't belong.
The third group is at the age of 14 to 16 and is linked to social phobia and other psychiatric disorders such as depression, eating disorders and other phobias.
Here the children have grown up and are now teens.
Their hormones are on the loose and are soaring through their bodies.
Social acceptance is very important for every age group but at the age of 14 to 16 it is almost the most important factor of their lives at school.
What are the symptoms of school phobia? Whatever may cause the anxiety some symptoms may be the following: o crying o diarrhoea o feeling faint o headaches o hyperventilation o trouble sleeping o nausea o stomachaches Children with a school phobia feel very sick when they have to go to school as soon as the threat of school is taken away all symptoms disappear.
For example, once the child has convince the parent that they are really unable to go to school because they are too ill, all symptoms will fade as if by magic.
Of course we should keep in mind that at the moment the child complaints about for example stomachache, she really feels her stomach ache, such is the power of the mind.
What to do if your child is afraid to go to school? First we should try to understand the underlying problems, maybe the child is being bullied or can't finish his homework, doesn't understand the lessons when the teacher explains, has problems concentrating, there might be a hundred reasons why the child is afraid to go to school.
Parents should talk to the teachers and school principal.
It is often hard for teachers and other professionals who work with children to understand why a child is so scared; teachers want the school environment to be seen as a safe, friendly place.
They can play a major role in the child's life, if the child's teachers can make the child's time in class without threats, rewarding and reassuring, the child may relax enough to take in some of the lesson.
And in doing so become more self assured and less afraid.
A child that is afraid to go to school is basically a child who has lost all confidence in himself and feels very insecure and scared.
In order to get the balance back in their lives, every opportunity rewarding the child should be taken so that his self-esteem is raised.
Being rewarded gives a nice warm feeling and children like to repeat the experience, so there if the child is regularly rewarded in school even for the most simple and basic things, he might start to see it in a more positive light and feel that he also can be a part of the school environment.
The first group is in the age group of 5 to 7 years old.
They suffer mainly from separation anxiety.
During this period of their lives it will probably be the first time they go to school.
It is the first time that they are away from the security of their home and the protection of the parents.
The second group is in at the age of 11 and 12, when the children leave primary school and will continue at secondary school.
The anxiety that these children feel is related to social phobia.
They have to leave the now familiar environment of their primary school where they knew the students and the teachers.
The secondary school where they will continue their education is a place full of new teachers and students.
The children will be overwhelmed by all this and may feel that they don't belong.
The third group is at the age of 14 to 16 and is linked to social phobia and other psychiatric disorders such as depression, eating disorders and other phobias.
Here the children have grown up and are now teens.
Their hormones are on the loose and are soaring through their bodies.
Social acceptance is very important for every age group but at the age of 14 to 16 it is almost the most important factor of their lives at school.
What are the symptoms of school phobia? Whatever may cause the anxiety some symptoms may be the following: o crying o diarrhoea o feeling faint o headaches o hyperventilation o trouble sleeping o nausea o stomachaches Children with a school phobia feel very sick when they have to go to school as soon as the threat of school is taken away all symptoms disappear.
For example, once the child has convince the parent that they are really unable to go to school because they are too ill, all symptoms will fade as if by magic.
Of course we should keep in mind that at the moment the child complaints about for example stomachache, she really feels her stomach ache, such is the power of the mind.
What to do if your child is afraid to go to school? First we should try to understand the underlying problems, maybe the child is being bullied or can't finish his homework, doesn't understand the lessons when the teacher explains, has problems concentrating, there might be a hundred reasons why the child is afraid to go to school.
Parents should talk to the teachers and school principal.
It is often hard for teachers and other professionals who work with children to understand why a child is so scared; teachers want the school environment to be seen as a safe, friendly place.
They can play a major role in the child's life, if the child's teachers can make the child's time in class without threats, rewarding and reassuring, the child may relax enough to take in some of the lesson.
And in doing so become more self assured and less afraid.
A child that is afraid to go to school is basically a child who has lost all confidence in himself and feels very insecure and scared.
In order to get the balance back in their lives, every opportunity rewarding the child should be taken so that his self-esteem is raised.
Being rewarded gives a nice warm feeling and children like to repeat the experience, so there if the child is regularly rewarded in school even for the most simple and basic things, he might start to see it in a more positive light and feel that he also can be a part of the school environment.