Specialist Clinical Psychologist Aybige Üstüner from Biruni University Hospital said about school phobia in children, “School phobia can have many different causes such as separation anxiety, social anxieties, traumatic experiences and family dynamics. If school phobia persists for a long time, it can negatively affect the child's educational life and social development. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention are important.”
With the opening of schools just days away, families of children who are experiencing stress due to going to school have started to look for solutions to solve this situation. Specialist Clinical Psychologist Aybige Üstüner from Biruni University Hospital explained the causes of school phobia and offered solutions. Üstüner stated that school phobia, also known as school refusal, is a child's extreme fear of going to school.
Noting that this situation is usually encountered with a strong anxiety and avoidance behavior against school, Üstüner said, “In some examples, a situation or event that the child experiences at school can be effective in the emergence of school phobia, while in some examples, it is frequently encountered in the case of starting school.”
“Physical symptoms may be experienced”
Üstüner noted that there are many symptoms of school phobia, which can be divided into several categories as psychological, physical, behavioral and emotional, and listed the symptoms as follows:
“Within the scope of psychological symptoms, they may experience intense anxiety and fear. They may also exhibit avoidance behavior. For example, they may make various excuses for not going to school. In physical symptoms, they may experience stress and anxiety-induced psychosomatic symptoms such as nausea, headache, abdominal pain. Behavioral and emotional symptoms may include sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, outbursts of anger, and social withdrawal. In the face of insistence on going to school, crying, tantrums, and even panic attacks may occur.”
“Readiness for primary school depends on individual cognitive, emotional and social development”
Pointing out that the age at which children start their educational life is of great importance in terms of their physical, mental and emotional development, Üstüner said, “Children can usually start preschool education between the ages of 3-5. This age group is a critical period for children to socialize, develop motor skills and acquire basic learning skills. In order to start primary school, it is enough for children to complete 69 months, but I recommend completing 72 months to avoid difficulties in learning and focusing on lessons. Because readiness for primary school depends on individual cognitive, emotional and social development. Factors such as attention spans, fine motor skills, emotional maturity and social interaction skills play an important role in determining the age of starting primary school.”
Emphasizing that starting school at an early age can have various drawbacks, Specialist Clinical Psychologist Üstüner stated that children may experience academic and emotional difficulties, lack of attention and concentration, difficulty in social skills, increased anxiety and stress, and physical inadequacies.
“Encourage going to school in small steps”
Üstüner, who advised parents to help children with school phobia, noted the following:
“Listen to your child to understand their fears and anxieties. Do not minimize or ignore his/her feelings. Make your child feel that these feelings are normal and that you are with them. Encourage them without underestimating their fears. Encourage going to school in small steps. At first, you can set small goals such as just visiting the school and meeting the teacher. Help the child get used to going to school by gradually increasing the time they go to school.”
“It is also important that the teacher is supportive and understanding”
Stating that the child's daily routine should be organized, Üstüner said, “Follow steps such as getting up in the morning, breakfast, preparation and going to school clearly and consistently. Routines can help the child feel safe and gain a sense of control. Remind the child of their favorite activities and friends. Talk about activities he/she might enjoy at school and focus on the positive aspects. Cooperate with the teacher and school administration. Inform them about your child's situation and work together on solutions. It is also important that the teacher is supportive and understanding. Thus, the child can feel more comfortable.”
Drawing attention to the importance of preparing for school to prevent school phobia, Üstüner explained that these preparations will allow the child to adapt to school easily and make a happy start to his academic life.
“It is very important to see the school in advance”
Üstüner shared the following points about what can be done during the school preparation process:
“If the child has no previous school experience, if school is a place full of uncertainties for him/her or if he/she is anxious about separation from the family, he/she may be afraid. For this reason, families can share information about what to expect and what will happen at school. Knowing what to expect will reduce anxiety. It is very important that the child sees the school in advance. Care should be taken to shop for school supplies together with the child and his/her choices should be respected. Parents can share their own day of starting primary school. They can talk about the emotions they felt that day and show photos if they have any. If your child has fears about school, they can be included in school-themed games and normalized by reading books. If possible, it is very important for your child to meet and adapt to his/her teacher before school starts. At least one week before the school opens, the child's habits such as nutrition, sleep and technology use can be organized.”
Stating that children with long-term school phobia should definitely seek expert support, Üstüner said, “School phobia can have many different causes such as separation anxiety, social anxieties, traumatic experiences and family dynamics. If school phobia persists for a long time, it can negatively affect the child's educational life and social development.”
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