Plenty of children say they do not want to go to school. School phobia, often called school refusal, is different. It is real anxiety, not boredom or bad behaviour, and it can be hard for parents to tell the two apart.
What it can look like
- Tummy aches, headaches or feeling sick on school mornings
- Tears, panic or tantrums before leaving the house
- Feeling fine at weekends and in the holidays
The physical symptoms are real. The body is reacting to the stress, even when there is nothing medically wrong.
What can cause it
There is often a trigger. It might be bullying, trouble with schoolwork, a change at home, or a worry the child finds hard to put into words. Quieter children can bottle things up until the anxiety comes out this way.
Why it matters
Missed days add up. Children fall behind, feel more pressure, and can become cut off from friends, which feeds the anxiety. Parents feel the strain too, and it is easy for everyone to end up frustrated.
What helps
- Stay calm and listen, without forcing the issue
- Talk to the school early so they can help
- Speak to your GP to rule out anything physical and ask about support
- Get specialist help if it carries on or gets worse
The sooner it is tackled, the easier it usually is to turn around.
Want help with a phobia?
Take the free phobia test to see how strong your fear is, or book a £49 consultation call and we can talk it through.
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