Supporting a sibling through school refusal—often termed —is a journey of radical empathy. Rather than viewing it as a choice or defiance, experts emphasize that school refusal is a physical and emotional response to overwhelming distress.
Act as "worry detectives" together. Ask questions like, "If you could change one thing about school, what would it be?". 30 days with my school refusing sister new
School refusal: children & teenagers | Raising Children Network Ask questions like, "If you could change one
School refusal is a symptom of something deeper, such as undiagnosed anxiety, learning differences, or social issues like bullying. Reach out to her guidance counselor or teacher
Use empathetic language like, "I can see this feels really hard right now," rather than trying to fix it immediately.
Reach out to her guidance counselor or teacher. Be honest about her anxiety being the cause of absence rather than just saying she is "unwell".
Consult a pediatrician to rule out underlying medical issues that might be contributing to her discomfort.