School
Refusal.

• Morning battles
• Stomachaches
• The nurse’s office
• Absences
• Falling behind
• Sunday dread

School refusal usually starts small: stomachaches on Monday, a few late arrivals, trips to the nurse. Then whole days are missed and getting out the door becomes a daily fight. It is rarely about not wanting to learn. Behind it there is often anxiety, bullying, a learning problem that makes the classroom humiliating, sensory overload or social difficulty. An evaluation finds what the child is avoiding and gives the school and family a plan to get them back.

Start with a phone consultation. The sooner school refusal is understood, the easier the return, so reach out early.