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Most kids plead against going to school at some point, and many parents have received that call from school later in the day about their child's coincidental stomachache. Some parents end up wondering: does school actually make kids sick?
The psychological term for school-induced illnesses related to attempts to dodge school is "school avoidance," although this is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis. It affects boys and girls equally, especially at the ages of 5, 6, 10 and 11, according to a 2003 article in the journal American Family Physician by Dr. Wanda P. Fremont of the SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Symptoms, which often follow a vacation or holiday (such as summer vacation), include crying episodes, temper tantrums, panic, nausea, fatigue, headaches and abdominal pain. The longer the child stays out of school, the more difficult it is to return, Fremont wrote.
However, even if children start to complain about stomachaches and other ailments, parents should still send their children to school unless they have symptoms of fever or a contagious illness, said Lori Crosby, associate professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
"It would probably be helpful to schedule a visit with the child’s pediatrician to rule out a 'true' medical problem, which may give the parent the confidence to send their child when in doubt," Crosby said.
As many as 5 percent of children in the United States suffer from school avoidance. The American Family Physician article states that school avoidance should be considered when a student will not go to school and experiences emotional distress of physical symptoms.
Crosby says there are several reasons why a child may begin to display characteristics of school avoidance, including: being bullied or isolated, having problems with learning, tests or giving presentations, or worries about family issues. Many young children also experience school avoidance when they learn that they will be spending a lot of time away from their families and their familiar settings.
School avoidance is not out of the ordinary, but parents can seek professional counsel if they want to help their child overcome their fears associated with attending school.
"Brief counseling with a psychologist or social worker may be helpful," Crosby said. "In addition, parents should talk with school personnel. Psychologists are very familiar with such issues and can be very helpful with implementing a plan for the child."
Crosby says that children who have school avoidance issues usually go back and forth between liking school and not liking it.
"Often children with these histories wax and wane in that they have good phases and more avoidant phases," she said. "Children usually start the year off with a great outlook about attending school, and after a brief honeymoon of high hopes and good attendance that lasts for a few days to a few months, they slide back into some school avoidance behaviors characterized by illness complaints."
Children may not outgrow school avoidance, but Crosby says parents can address the issue by remaining consistent with getting their child to school and establishing a regular routine.
"The routine should be very predictable and consistent in the morning," she said. "Children benefit from having everything ready and set out before they go to sleep which reduces the morning rush."
Parents also need to be aware of their own anxiety related to sending their child to school, she said, because children pick up on subtle messages and may use them to their advantage.
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