It is the fear of leaving their parents and starting school, which is generally seen in children who have just started school. These children find it difficult to adapt to new environments. There may be excessive reactions and crying at school. Families prefer to drop out and go to school. They think that they will get used to it, but in some, this fear is constant and the teacher cannot cope. He always wants to leave the classroom. There may be fear of not seeing the parents again. It usually happens in insecure children who are very attached to their parents.
When the child does not go to school, these problems disappear and become completely normal. Complaints start when you try to be taken to school. Apart from fear, there may be physical complaints such as nausea, vomiting, headache. Even the idea of going from home to school can trigger these symptoms.
School phobia is less common in children who went to kindergarten, as they get used to social environments at a younger age. However, fears may be present in the nursery period in children who start nursery school. Giving the child confidence and getting used to the environment usually solves the situation.
School phobia can also be seen in the years after starting school. It is seen even in high school years. Psychological diseases or traumas experienced by the child or adolescent trigger school fear. Phobias that begin later are significant and require treatment.
School fears in the school starting period are generally reduced with a few approaches. But those that last long need to be treated.
What Should Be Done:
The child should be approached reassuringly, and they should be reassured by talking about their fears. How long will he stay at school, how long will he see his parents?
Being a teacher with a soft approach and gaining the child’s love also facilitates the process.
Parents and neighbors should avoid topics and stories that scare children from school. Sometimes exaggerated memories of school can create fear in children.
In children who are afraid of school, parents may wait for a while until the child gets used to the school. It should be tried to introduce him to his friends and to attract his attention with games. It is important that the child likes the teacher. The teacher should act softly and try to understand. If there is no improvement in the child despite all these, help should be sought. Usually school phobia subsides within the first month.
