A Child’s Fear of School: Everything You Need to Know About Scolionophobia

Did you know that a child can develop a fear of school?

It’s true—and no, we’re not talking about a child’s normal reaction to avoiding class.

according to Cleveland Clinic, Scolionophobia (being scared of schools) affects approximately 2%–5% of children. That’s 1 in 20!

Fear of school is most commonly seen in younger and middle-school-aged children and during transition times, like when a child moves or enters high school.

So how can parents tell the difference between a child who just doesn’t want to attend class and a genuinely afraid one? How can a parent spot the signs and symptoms of Scolionophobia, and when should a child seek treatment?

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about a child’s fear of schools and Scolionophobia.

Contents:

• What is Fear Of School? 
• Why Your Child is Scared to Go to School: Causes of Scolionophobia
  • Children 4 to 6
  • Children 13 to 15
• What are the Symptoms of Scholionophobia? 
• Scolionophobia: A Real Phobia or a Child’s Trick?
• How is Scolionophobia Diagnosed
• How Can My Child Overcome a Fear of School?
• When to Ask for Help? 
• How is Scolionophobia Treated?
• Overcoming School Phobia

What is Fear Of School?

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Here’s the definition of Scolionophobia:

Scolionophobia (also known as Didaskaleinophobia) is a phobia of going to school, an intense fear of school, or a refusal to go to school that a child feels over a long period of time.

Children with Scolionophobia may become physically ill but often feel incredibly anxious or insecure about attending class. They might also miss a large number of school days for unknown reasons.

Scolionophobia isn’t a clinical diagnosis. However, many medical professionals believe there’s a connection between this phobia and anxiety disorders like panic disorders, separation anxiety, and other generalized anxiety disorders.

Why Your Child is Scared to Go to School: Causes of Scolionophobia

Children can offer many reasons for not wanting to go to school. For children with Scholionophobia, fear is caused by something deeper than a strict teacher or bullies on the bus.

Children 4 to 6

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This phobia is generally caused by or linked to separation anxiety for this age group. If a child recently experienced their parent’s divorce, they might be afraid that they’ll never see their mother again if they go to school.

Young children who experience more significant trauma, like the death of a loved one, can also reinforce this disorder. Children in this situation might recreate the fear response over and over again in their minds to try and protect themselves from experiencing any further trauma.

Children 13 to 15

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As the intensity of learning in school increases, middle-school children often feel pressure. While dealing with complex subjects like science and math, these children also begin to experience changes in their bodies associated with puberty. Raging hormones combined with more significant challenges can cause a child to develop a fear of school or going to school.

Unfortunately, unsafe school environments can impact children in middle school. When other children bring weapons or violently bully others, it can trigger Scholionophobia in middle-school children.

More potential factors contributing to school avoidance:

1. Separation Anxiety: For younger children, leaving the comfort and security of home to attend school can trigger separation anxiety. This fear of being away from parents or caregivers can lead to resistance or distress.
2. Social Pressures and Bullying: The school environment can sometimes expose children to social pressures and bullying, leading to feelings of isolation and fear.
3. Academic Stress: High expectations and academic pressure can evoke fear of failure or inadequacy, especially in subjects that a child may find challenging.
4. Peer Relationships: Struggles with making friends or navigating social interactions can make school a daunting place, causing anxiety.
5. Unresolved Trauma: Past traumatic experiences, whether related to school or not, can influence a child’s perception of school as an unsafe or anxiety-inducing environment.
6. Learning Differences: Children with learning disabilities or difficulties may feel overwhelmed in a classroom setting, leading to avoidance.
7. Change or Transition: As we already mention, major life changes, such as transitioning to a new school or grade, can trigger anxiety as children adapt to unfamiliar surroundings.
8. Negative Associations: Previous negative experiences at school, such as conflicts with teachers or peers, can contribute to ongoing fear.

It’s essential to communicate openly with your child, listen to their concerns, and collaborate with teachers and school counselors to create a supportive and nurturing environment. By addressing the underlying causes of school avoidance, you can help your child develop coping strategies and gradually overcome their fear of going to school.

Use the Findmykids app with GPS locating and Sound Around features to find out how your child feels at school and on the way to it.

What are the Symptoms of Scholionophobia?

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Children display symptoms of Scolionophobia in emotional or physical outbursts, including:

Anxiety Attack

Young children who don’t quite have the language skills to tell their parents about their fear of going to school will often experience an anxiety attack at the idea of going to school. This symptom could also be displayed when a child pretends to be sick or cries all night.

Panic Attacks

Schoionophobia can also be a panic attack in children, with heart palpitations, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, and excessive sweating.

Constant Thoughts About Death or Dying

Some children become consumed by the thought of someone they love dying while they’re at school. They become very attached to a parent, sibling, or friend to the point where they follow that person everywhere.

Depression

Older children, like a teenager or a teen diagnosed with depression, can also exhibit symptoms of Scolionophobia. In this situation, avoidance behaviors like fake illnesses and made-up excuses can indicate an underlying fear of school.

Other Phobias and Disorders

Other symptoms of fearing school in children can be seen in other behaviors. For example, a child can become afraid of the dark, being left alone, or even monsters and ghosts. These fears can lead to Schilonophobia.

If parents see some signs and symptoms of Scolionophobia, speaking to a medical professional is crucial. Fear of school is often a disorder that develops from severe anxiety or other trauma and must be addressed.

Scolionophobia: A Real Phobia or a Child’s Trick?

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It’s a classic student trick to try and get out of school by making up an illness. For some children, going to school is something they want to avoid because they’re being bullied, have difficulty understanding school assignments, or are having difficulty adjusting to a new environment.

In most situations, children learn to adapt to these challenges. Parents and schools can provide support to help the child feel better about attending school.

However, for children with Scolionophobia, it’s not just an intense dislike of school. When children with this phobia think of going to school, the result is an intense emotional response to school. Even though Scholionophobia isn’t a clinical diagnosis, it’s a phobia that many children can develop if they have other disorders like general anxiety disorder.

So if a child who says they feel ill starts exhibiting signs of social anxiety or panic attacks or throws a tantrum about homework or tests that seems extreme, it couldn’t hurt to look a little closer at whether the child is simply attempting to trick parents into letting them stay home from school or if they’re genuinely afraid to go to school.

Here’s a great ABC news segment that further explores Scholionophobia:

How is Scolionophobia Diagnosed

according to the American Psychiatric Association, a medical professional can only diagnose a phobia when the fear of something is so persistent and intense that it disrupts a person’s ability to function and quality of life.

A child can only receive a diagnosis of Scolionophobia if their anxiety about school can’t be explained through another mental health, physical, or substance use disorder. This is why diagnosing anxiety, stress, or other disorders in children is more common.

Despite this, a genuine fear of school isn’t something people should ignore. The only way to better understand a child’s fears is to take them to a medical professional who specializes in mental health and who can properly evaluate the child based on the following:

• The symptoms the child experiences
• When the symptoms appear
• Whether specific interactions or events trigger symptoms
• How long do the symptoms last
• What helps the symptoms dissipate

How Can My Child Overcome a Fear of School?

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Providing formal treatment is the best way to help a child overcome a fear of school over time.

To supplement or help support a child going through formal treatment, parents can help children develop coping strategies. Strategies include,

• Breathing exercises
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Affirmations (positive statements)

All the above strategies help children to decrease stress and anxiety and learn how to manage their emotions better. As a result, many children overcome their fear of school.

Have you tried the Findmykids app? It is a parental control app that can help your child feel safe when going to school. Knowing that a parent can keep track of where they are or even respond to an SOS call can be part of how a child overcomes their fear of school.

Here are some additional practical pieces of advice to help parents address their child’s fear of going to school:

1. Role-Playing: Engage in pretend play scenarios at home where your child gets to be the teacher or the confident student. This can help them feel more in control and less anxious about school situations.
2. Positive Visualization: Encourage your child to imagine themselves having a successful and enjoyable day at school. Visualizing positive outcomes can help reduce anxiety.
3. Small Goals: Break down the school day into manageable segments and set achievable goals. Celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how small, to boost your child’s confidence.
4. Transitional Objects: Allow your child to bring a comfort item from home to school, such as a small toy or a family photo, to provide emotional support during the day.
5. Lunchbox Notes: Slip a heartfelt note or a small surprise into your child’s lunchbox to remind them that you’re thinking of them throughout the day.
6. Buddy System: Arrange for your child to have a “buddy” at school, such as a friendly classmate or a teacher, whom they can turn to for support.
7. Visit the School: Arrange visits to the school during non-school hours to familiarize your child with the environment. This can help reduce the fear of the unknown.
8. Practice Problem-Solving: Discuss potential challenges your child might face at school and brainstorm together on how to handle them. This can give them a sense of preparedness.
9. Establish a Relaxation Routine: Teach your child relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation or simple yoga stretches, to help them calm their nerves.
10. Create a Safe Space: Designate a specific spot at home as a safe space where your child can unwind and share their thoughts and feelings after school.
11. Encourage Self-Advocacy: Teach your child to express their needs and concerns to teachers or school staff, empowering them to seek help when necessary.
12. Use Positive Affirmations: Help your child create positive affirmations to repeat when they feel anxious. Phrases like “I am brave” or “I can handle this” can be empowering.
13. Plan Reward Systems: Set up a reward system where your child earns small treats or privileges for attending school without excessive anxiety.
14. Connect with Peers: Arrange playdates with classmates outside of school hours to strengthen social connections and build a sense of belonging.
15. Encourage Journaling: Provide a journal for your child to write or draw about their school experiences, allowing them to process their emotions.

Remember, consistency and patience are key when implementing these strategies. It’s important to create a supportive environment where your child feels understood and encouraged to gradually overcome their fear of school.

When to Ask for Help?

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It can be tricky to know when a child needs help dealing with a phobia like Scolionophobia (fear of school or even a phobia of teachers) to ask for help.

Here are a few tips to help parents know when to ask for help:

• Talk to teachers and other caregivers about expected behaviors and whether the child is meeting expectations.
• If the child asks for help or expresses their fears about school in a way that seems unusual.
• If a child seems to react strongly to going to school (panic attacks, excessive sweating, crying all night, etc.), talk to them. Try to determine the source of their fear.
• Self-help isn’t working, and the anxiety or stress is getting worse.
• If the child is already diagnosed with another disorder and begins to exhibit symptoms of Scolionophobia.

One thing to remember is that the earlier you can diagnose a child with a phobia, the better it is for the health and success of that child. When in doubt, seek help.

How is Scolionophobia Treated?

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Depending on the severity of the child’s Scolionophobia, their symptoms may benefit from working closely with a teacher or other caregiver. It may also benefit the child to take advantage of several other treatments, including,

• Medication: Some children take medication to help with other conditions. For example, a child taking antidepressants might benefit from switching to one that also helps treat anxiety.
• Talk Therapy: Most often known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), talk therapy helps children identify untrue and unhelpful thoughts and replace them with rational ones.
• Exposure Therapy: Slowly exposing a child to their fear (a little at a time) often helps to make going to school less scary. This treatment usually starts by visualizing positive interactions before attempting to enter the environment physically.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This treatment helps children understand how thoughts can sometimes influence behaviors. Changing how a child thinks about school will allow them to feel less afraid and want to attend class.

When dealing with mental health disorders, it’s crucial to listen to the advice of a medical professional. It’s not healthy or wise to self-diagnose a child or offer them medication without first speaking with someone who can help.

Overcoming School Phobia

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Not all children will develop a phobia, but for the ones that do, parents need to take action.

Most children with a fear of school live with existing anxiety disorders or even depression. Addressing the real issue with a medical professional is the best way to help a child and get them the treatment they need to overcome this phobia.

Helping a child receive a proper diagnosis can help turn around their feelings about school, leading many to return to class eventually. Providing a child with the right tools like talk therapy, meditation, a parental control app like Findmykids, and exposure therapy can help them overcome their fear of school.

What do you think? What symptoms of Scolionophobia have you seen or experienced? How would you help your child, and what resources would you use? Let us know in the comments!

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