Table of contents:
- When can your little one be said to have this disorder?
- Why can your little one experience such anxiety?
- 1. Genetic factors
- 2. Your child's emotional level
- 3. Parenting style
- 4. Changes in the environment
- What to do if your little one doesn't want to go to school?
- What to do if your little one still doesn't want to go to school?
When your little one doesn't want to go to school and the main reason is because you don't want to separate from you, you have to think about several possibilities, whether your little one experiences separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety, otherwise known as Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a condition in which your child experiences anxiety when separating from a figure attached to him or her, such as a parent, grandfather, grandmother, or caregiver. This anxiety can even cause your little one to experience unrealistic fear.
Apart from worrying about separating, your little one is often afraid of being rejected at school, afraid of sleeping alone, having nightmares, and other physical problems.
When can your little one be said to have this disorder?
Your child can be said to have SAD if they have experienced this in a minimum period of four weeks (one month). Symptoms include:
- Excessive anxiety about having to leave the house and separate from your parents.
- Worries caused by unrealistic thoughts and fear of losing a parent (for example, the child is afraid that he will not be picked up again after school).
- Unrealistic worry about bad things that can happen to parents (for example, the child is afraid that the parent forgets his way home, gets lost, gets lost, and ends up not seeing the child again).
- Don't want to go to school or go to another place because you don't want to be separated.
- Do not want to do something alone, unless accompanied or accompanied by an adult figure.
- Don't want to sleep alone.
- Having a nightmare with a farewell theme.
- Experiencing physical complaints when there is separation such as headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Why can your little one experience such anxiety?
There are several factors that can cause anxiety like this in your little one, including:
1. Genetic factors
Having a history of having experienced panic disorders, anxiety, and depression in the parents can increase the likelihood of your little one experiencing this anxiety disorder. Parents who had similar problems as a child are also more likely to have children with the same condition. In addition, low self-confidence in your little one will also increase this excess anxiety.
2. Your child's emotional level
The ability to regulate emotions is an important key in reducing anxiety. In those who can experience this kind of anxiety, they are unable to regulate their emotions. In fact, they often do not realize that what they are imagining is unrealistic.
3. Parenting style
Parenting that is too often critical and too protective of your little one can limit your little one's self-freedom and make him insecure. This will make the child want to stick with the parent.
4. Changes in the environment
Environmental changes, bad memories, or psychological trauma will make your little one experience this. For example, the experience of parents who died, parental divorce, or the death of a loved one outside their parents (for example, a sibling, grandfather, grandmother, or friend).
What to do if your little one doesn't want to go to school?
This generally occurs when your little one starts school on the first day and week. Here are some tips you can do when your child doesn't attend school.
- Come to school a few days or weeks before your little one will go to school. Let him know that your little one often experiences anxiety for the teacher.
- Invite your little one to talk about positive things at school.
- Calm your little one by saying, for example, “Dad will always pick you up after school, 12 o'clock sharp. So you don't have to worry, huh. "
- Give your little one a photo or text that can be put in your little one's bag. This will make him calm and comfortable because he feels there is a figure of yourself in the photo or message you give. In some cases, it can help to bring along a favorite doll or child's favorite toy.
- Make sure your little one gets enough sleep.
- Invite your little one to play on the playground at school. Make school a fun and enjoyable place for your little one.
What to do if your little one still doesn't want to go to school?
If your little one is still worried, give him interesting and fun pictures from school. You can also convey calm words to your little one. For example, "I know you can definitely get through all this because you are brave!".
You can also try giving cute stickers and tell your little one, whenever he thinks of you and feels worried, look at the cute stickers and remember that you will remember your little one too and all will be well. You can also provide photos or messages of encouragement that your little one can see whenever your little one is feeling anxious.
Don't forget to give your little one hugs and kisses when they leave for school. When your little one comes home from school, invite your little one to talk about what fun and exciting experiences they have had at school.
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