For many families, the start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement and nerves. For children who have struggled with anxiety, however, returning to school can feel overwhelming. Whether a child experienced school refusal, missed significant time due to anxiety, struggled socially, or simply became accustomed to avoiding situations that felt uncomfortable, school re-entry can quickly become...[ read more ]
When a child refuses to go to school, it is easy to focus on the most visible problem: attendance. Parents often find themselves worrying about missed assignments, falling grades, and how much school their child is missing. While these concerns are understandable, school refusal is rarely just about getting a child through the school doors. In most cases, school refusal...[ read more ]
The back-to-school season can bring excitement, but for many kids, it also stirs up anxiety. Worries about new teachers, making friends, or handling the workload can make mornings tough. As a parent, it’s natural to want to step in and make things easier, but sometimes the very things we do to help can unintentionally make anxiety worse. At The OCD...[ read more ]
Is your child feeling anxious about going back to school? The start of a new school year can be nerve-wracking for children and parents alike. However, there are strategies to help support your child as they return to the classroom. Whether it’s first-day nerves or ongoing anxiety about school, here are some simple tips to make the transition smoother. Recognizing Signs...[ read more ]
As a parent, you don't want to see your child deal with issues we most commonly associate with adulthood, especially when those issues are anxiety or depression. We often think about the childhood years as being completely carefree. If only that were the case. Children, unfortunately, also deal with anxiety, worries, and stress. Childhood anxiety most often stems from three...[ read more ]
It seems as if every time you turn on the news, something terrible is happening in the world. School or college is supposed to be your escape from all of that. Granted, sometimes you need a break from school itself. But, for the most part, it's the safe zone where you are sheltered from all the terrible things happening in...[ read more ]
School anxiety and school refusal are experienced by around 28% of children and can negatively impact both academic and social functioning. As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the incidence rates of school refusal have increased within the last few years and prevalence rates of school-related anxieties surged once students were able to resume in-person learning. Our school and mental...[ read more ]
On March 9, Dr. Zayed, Dr. Butterfield, and Stacy Gronek, LCPC gave a three-hour presentation at the Regional Office of Education in Wheaton on School Anxiety and School Refusal. They provided information about how to identify anxiety and how to help children get back into school when they are struggling with anxiety. The approach includes working with the child, with...[ read more ]
