"No. No. I'm not going. I feel sick. You can't make me." It is the third time in as many days that seven-year old Chris has refused to go to school. It's a new phenomenon. Last year, Chris, a Grade one student, seemed happy, if not eager to go off to school.

Chris's mother, Miriam, as she stands watching her son, his eyes brimming with tears, believes she understands the root of her son's problem. Last year, Chris, a sweet but shy child, attended school in the neighborhood where he had spent his entire life. But during the summer, the family had moved to a new city and now Chris has found himself going to a school where he knows no one. Miriam suspects that the summer that she and her son spent almost exclusively in each other's company has not helped the situation.

She's right on all counts. Young children of Chris's age sometimes react to events such as the death of a relative or pet, a major change or an extended period of time spent with a single caregiver by developing a full blown case of separation anxiety. At its most extreme, such a child will refuse to leave the house.

Outside help in the form of pediatric or family counseling is almost always recommended to help a worried child get back on track. Left unchecked, a young child's refusal to leave home to go to school can have lasting negative consequences.
Teenagers who have high school absentee rates are similarly at risk. Statistics show that truancy is directly associated with dropping out of school, poor academic performance, crime and unemployment.

Parents dealing with an older child who skips school are best advised to work with their youngster and their youngster's school to combat the problem. If your child is missing too much school, ask if he is worried about his grades or if he is being pressured by friends to cut classes. Find out if drugs or bullying is involved.

Once the reason for the problem is known, everyone involved can begin to work toward a solution. Many schools have found that programs such as attendance tracking or tying attendance to privileges often does much to encourage young people to attend class regularly.

© Algoma Family Services