It might be linked to anxiety or worries about leaving home, a phobia, learning difficulties, social problems at school, or depression. School refusal might start gradually or happen suddenly. It can happen at the same time as or after: stressful events at home or school or with peers.
High levels of anxiety, peer rejection, or bullying can play a role. Then, of course, there is the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students with ADHD have “good reasons” for avoiding school beyond virus concerns. Delayed brain maturity, undiagnosed learning problems, and executive skill deficits make schoolwork difficult.
Very often, their cognitive abilities and natural curiosity develop idiosyncratic interests which can be more cosmopolitan than their peers. As a result, they can become socially isolated, feel frustrated, and be perceived as 'quirky'.
Most kids cry when they are taken to school because of the separation anxieties, the very thought of getting away from their parents makes them cry. Dragging the kids to school forcefully does no good as that would mean that there must be something to worry about which makes the child more scared and they start crying.
Anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.
For some children, the fear and worry associated with school anxiety are related to a specific cause, such as being bullied or having a bad experience at school. For others, the anxiety may be more general and related to social or performance anxiety.
Studies show that gifted children have a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Because gifted children have different capabilities than their peers, other children may find them intimidating.
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Gifted children may be more likely to experience existential depression, as their minds tend to be more attuned to contemplating the big life and death issues facing the world.
Giftedness can create problems and conflicts; being a gifted child can also mean difficulty socializing with age peers, thinking styles that don't always mesh well with the demands from the environment, even children who see themselves as little adults, challenging teachers and parents.
The symptoms of ADHD, such as inability to pay attention, difficulty sitting still, and difficulty controlling impulses, can make it hard for children with this diagnosis to do well in school. Accommodations to lessen the effect of ADHD on their learning.
Children with ADHD struggle more with boredom and putting mental effort into challenging tasks. Virtual learning or in-person school with more rules may lack the novelty and excitement. Teachers may need to find new ways to keep children with ADHD from being bored and keep them engaged in learning.
Finding solutions to school refusal
Tell your child that you're going to work together with their school to help them go to school. Talk with your child about seeing a counsellor or psychologist if they feel they can't manage their worries or fears about school.
It could be against the law. All Australian school-age children are legally required to attend school everyday. Unexplained absences can cause legal problems for your family, including financial penalties. Legal requirements are different for every state and territory.
Gifted trauma stems from childhood issues with feeling like you don't belong anywhere because of your gift. Bullying, starving for mental stimulation, school mismatch, and other issues specific to the life experience of the gifted child may also contribute both to the main mental health issue and gift-specific trauma.
Gifted children are born with natural abilities well above the average for their age. If your child is gifted, you might notice these natural abilities in the way they're learning and developing. Children can be gifted in any area of ability, and they can also be gifted in more than one area.
Too much stress can lead to kids feeling overloaded, exhausted, and burned out. Having a negative or indifferent attitude can be a sign of burnout. Burnout can keep a child from staying motivated to work on challenges.
ADHD AND GIFTEDNESS are sometimes described as having the same or similar characteristics. However, one diagnosis is considered a disability and one, a gift. Neither assumption is ideal in supporting the child identified with either ADHD, giftedness, or both, often referred to as twice exceptional or 2e.
Signs of giftedness can appear as early as infancy and continue during the toddler and preschool years. Testing for giftedness and high IQ, however, usually takes place around age 5.
While in the classroom and at school, teachers are able to observe children in a range of situations that parents and clinicians are not exposed to, so it's not uncommon for teachers to notice signs of anxiety in children that parents are unaware of.
You can calm back-to-school anxiety by doing some test runs. Go to the school several times before school starts to let your child walk around the halls, find their classroom, and meet their teacher if possible. Repetition will give them a chance to be comfortable with the routine.