• Published by Aurel Saragih  

School is the most fun place for some children because they can meet friends while playing and learning. But there are also children who feel that school is not a comfortable place for them. When they don't want to go to school, children usually don't want to get ready to go to school. When uniforms and breakfast have been prepared, children usually just stay silent or even cry. Not only before going to school, sometimes children still want to get ready to go to school but refuse to go to class when they are in front of the school gate. Surely parents will ask "what is the cause?"

Children who do not want to come to school have several reasons. What is it? Let's see them one by one, okay?

1. Avoiding school situations in general or because of negative experiences at school

The general school situation can be a stressor for children. For example, class conditions that are too hot or too cold, trips to school that are jammed and make children bored, teachers who according to children are very fierce will teach that day, boring lessons, or even negative experiences such as bullying experienced by children. These things can be the cause of children not wanting to go to school. Children feel anxious, worried, or even afraid because they have imagined negative things will happen to them that day.

When experiencing this, not all children want to tell stories because they are also worried about the response of their parents. So, if the child does not want to come to school, perhaps avoiding the school situation for general reasons such as lessons and teachers or even an indication of bullying could be one of the causes.

2. Get away from social situations at school

In addition to boring lessons or teachers who are not fun for children, social situations at school are also things that can make children not want to come to school. Initiating conversations with new friends is something that may be difficult for children to do. This makes it difficult for children to join other children in making cliques.

Not only when initiating a conversation but being the center of attention in class is also something that makes children feel uncomfortable. For example, when they must answer the teacher's questions in front of the class, the child may find the stares from their friends to be unpleasant. In addition, when children must make groups do assignments, conversations with group friends may not make the child feel comfortable.

3. Want to get rewards directly

Children who don't want to come to school can also be caused by their desire to immediately play or go out with their friends outside of school. For example, when he comes home from school, he always plays football, so the child may think "instead of going to school, it's better to just play football" which makes him not want to come to school.

In teenagers, skipping school can be caused because they want to play with their friends, such as going to the mall, cafe, or other places they want to visit so they don't study at school. So try to pay attention to what your child likes, parents, it could be the reason you don't want to come to school.

4. Seek attention from the closest household such as parents, siblings, or babysitters

Attention from parents is a very pleasant thing for children. But this can also be the cause of children not wanting to come to school. For example, when the crying child does not want to come to school for 2 weeks, the child wants his mother to immediately say "yes, let's go to the playground". This allows the child to get what he wants immediately.

4 reasons children don't want to come to school, parents must pay attention to the intensity. How many times has your child refused to come to school? What are the reasons? Hopefully, the problem of not wanting to come to school can be found soon, parents!

Reference

Gonzálvez, C., Kearney, C. A., Jiménez-Ayala, C. E., Sanmartín, R., Vicent, M., England, C. J., & García-Fernández, J. M. (2018). Functional profiles of school refusal behavior and their relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychiatry Research, 269, 140-144.

Skedgell, K., & Kearney, C. A. (2018). Predictors of school absenteeism severity at multiple levels: A classification and regression tree analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 86, 236-245.

By: Sarah Aurelia Saragih, S.Psi. from BehaviorPALS Center

school refusal, cause of school refusal

Children 4 Years - 6 Years / 4 Tahun - 6 Tahun / Psychological Development / Tumbuh Kembang Psikologis / Education / Pendidikan / Child Refuses to Come to School? Know the 4 Causes, Parents!

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