• Knowledgebase: Behavioral, Developmental, and Emotional Problems

    Questions about behavioral and emotional problems, Autism, developmental delays.

    15. School avoidance and school problems - Top

    Every year when school begins, I deal with 2 basic problems: school avoidance and school problems.

    For most children going to School is at least a tolerable activity and some children downright enjoy going to school. However, for some children, going to school is a very negative experience for a multitude of different reasons. Many times these children’s bodies may rebel against thin negative experience by developing symptoms (aches, pains, fatigue, etc). The body develops these symptoms in order to avoid the negative experience and we therefore call this "School Avoidance Syndrome. n The most common group to experience this is children in kindergarten or children moving to a new school or new level (middle school or high school). These children may be why, not very independent, or sensitive to new situations. These children can be a challenge to their parents and their doctor. They are not Making up. their complaints. Their body is actually doing this to them. Once it is determined that there is no definite physical illness, the treatment is for the child to deal with this negative experience t school) until they feel more comfortable at which time the symptoms will disappear. Another smaller group that may experience this syndrome are children that have experienced an isolated negative occurance at school. Examples are : being locked in the bathroom, being picked on by older kids on the bus, having an embarrassing accident at school and many more. To help these children, you need to identify the negative situation and help them move past it. The last group that may experience school avoidance are children who are struggling with the academics at school and their body wants to avoid thin negative experience.

    School problems is a lump category for children with either academic problems and/or classroom behavioral problems.

    Academic problems can be related to four potential avenues; the first is a child with reduced ability. Most teaching approaches are aimed at the average child, therefore, a child with below average ability will struggle in this setting. The second is a child with a specific learning disability who may have normal intelligence but who has specific areas of difficulty in processing the information they are given. The third in the child with attention or focusing problems (commonly lumped under Attention Deficit Disorder) who also may have normal intelligence but cannot stay focused long enough to take in all the information to learn properly. Fourth is a group of children who do not have the initiative, desire or drive to learn. For this small group, school makes no sense and education has no value for them.

    Behavior problems may have a multitude of causes, but for me, they fall into five basic groups. The first is the child who is Acting out. to avoid one of the academic problems previously listed. The second is a child with Attention Deficit Disorder who have impulse control problems and therefore respond to all of there physical impulses. Unfortunately, in a classroom setting their behavior is usually inappropriate and disruptive. The third group are the children with lack of exposure to discipline or experience in group settings. The fourth and generally a small group are children with true emotional disorders. The final group are Bright children who, in the average classroom setting, are not being stimulated academically and therefore become bored. This boredom can then lead to Acting outs problems.

    This is just a cursory overview of some potentially very complex issues. However, when dealt with quickly and appropriately, can make a major difference in a child's educational experience as well as the job of parenting. If you feel your child is experiencing any of these problems, contact their doctor for an evaluation, guidance or referral for these things.
    - Updated: March 23, 2001

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    • James L Horwitz, MD

    David C. Thomas, MD

    Barbara Lindberg, PNP