Sometimes a child may become terrified, trying every avoidance tactic in order to stay away from school. Parents should be aware that children who regularly say that they are too sick to go to school, could be doing so in order to avoid anxious feelings or could be using behaviors that will help them avoid attending school.

Children suffer what is called a separation anxiety which is fear of leaving the safety of their parents or home.

Child anxiety can present itself in a number of ways including but not limited to:

Fears about safety
Stomach aches, headaches, physical symptoms
Fear of leaving home
Fear of going to school and leaving parents
Fears and nightmares
Challenges sleeping

It is always challenging to go back to school for children when they have had a very long summer break, long vacations, divorce, moved to a new area, changing to a new school is may be also a huge inducer of anxiety.

A child with separation anxiety may display many behaviors or a few below:

Fear of being alone
Fear of the dark
Fear of danger
Nightmares

Child anxiety can lead into family problems, social issues, and more panic and anxiety if not treated. Counseling and psychotherapy that is best will address the child’s irrational thoughts as well as help the child create healthy coping thoughts. Helping the child overcome these fears is important and learning tools to stay calm and feel safe. Family counseling and involvement in counseling is vital and important in creating desired changes.
Lifeworksaz.com specializes in family counseling Phoenix, child therapy, and teen psychothrapy in the valley area.

Anxiety, Depression.