Understanding and Overcoming School Anxiety in Children

A child who is scattered, apathetic, frequently skips classes, or, conversely, is fixated on grades and afraid of even a "9" - such data may signal school anxiety. In this article, we explain what it is and how to help a child.

School Anxiety in Children - What is It?

In simple terms, school anxiety is a child's emotional discomfort associated with academic performance, evaluation of their behavior at school, and the child's relationships with teachers and other children.

The child seems to be constantly expecting bad treatment because of a low grade, second place in a competition, or an imperfect performance at a school concert. Children are afraid that their parents will punish them, teachers will condemn them, and peers will not want to play together or even start bullying.

Causes of School Anxiety

The causes of school anxiety are different for all children. The main thing is this: the problem arises at the moment when the child, their behavior or academic performance does not meet the expectations of other people (primarily significant adults).

The level of school anxiety increases for the following reasons:

• Transition to a new school. The child is worried about how relationships with new classmates and teachers will develop.
• Mismatch between the level of the program and the child's abilities. In this case, the child is regularly evaluated as unsuccessful.
• Regular evaluation procedures at school, to which important significance is attached. The child must be constantly ready for this or that test, which will affect their grades, status, and future.
• Bullying from children or a teacher.
• High demands placed on the child by teachers and/or parents.

Signs of School Anxiety

The manifestation of school anxiety in children is extremely diverse. But the main signs can be distinguished:

• frequent somatic diseases;
• headaches and abdominal pain (often on the eve of tests or exams);
• refusal to answer at the blackboard or answer in a quiet, weak voice;
• excessively thorough completion of homework;
• distraction in lessons;
• reluctance to go to school (up to truancy).

These manifestations are noticeable even without additional school anxiety tests. The list can be continued, but the idea is clear: you want to avoid encountering school difficulties, truancy and illnesses help you stay at home. Another approach is to insure yourself against mistakes: prepare for each lesson too carefully.

There is another characteristic "symptom" - an obsession with grades. After all, it is a high grade that can protect the child - they say, according to objective criteria, I am successful. But here a paradox often arises: the higher the academic performance, the higher the anxiety. Because it is scary to lose the achieved level. And it is this argument, unfortunately, that we very often hear from teachers who are thus trying to "motivate" children.

How to Determine the Level of School Anxiety?

You can independently diagnose school anxiety by carefully observing the child.

If you see that they do not want to go to school and every time before the test there is a surge in temperature or colic in the stomach, then, most likely, it is it.

If the teacher complains that the child cannot normally tell any poem, and at home they read one after another by heart without stopping - the same thing.

If the child is scattered and gets tired quickly, if they say that they do not understand anything and do not want to go to school - you are again dealing with the problem of anxiety.

The degree of severity of symptoms can only be assessed by a specialist. But at the first stage, the Phillips School Anxiety Questionnaire will help to determine the level of school anxiety in children and its causes.

The text of the Phillips School Anxiety Questionnaire and the keys to it are publicly available on the Internet. However, it should be remembered that it works best in children in grades 4-8, and gives significantly less accurate results in high school students and children from elementary school. The Phillips Questionnaire will help you conduct an "unofficial" diagnosis of school anxiety, but not solve the problem.

How to Reduce School Anxiety

It is difficult to correct school anxiety, because it is based on emotional reactions that are rigidly coupled with school events. And if there are manifestations that worry parents - it is better to consult a psychologist and receive appropriate recommendations in each specific case.

What is the basis of school anxiety correction

The child needs to learn to name those feelings that they feel in situations that are painful for them: for example, at the blackboard and before the test - fear; when receiving a low grade - disappointment; in conflict with classmates - resentment. This already makes the child much stronger.

It is important for parents to emphasize not the grade, but the knowledge and its benefits, the child's interest in studying certain subjects. Such a shift in focus sharply reduces school anxiety - the child's переживания about the need to meet external criteria (the teacher's opinion is one of them) are reduced.

It is extremely important for adults and children to understand that mistakes are normal. They should not be afraid of them, they should be corrected.

What else can parents do

Children often cannot realize their condition and ask for help. Therefore, parents become the main helper during the correction of school anxiety.

• Take into account the capabilities of children, praise them every day even for small successes. If it is difficult for a child to give a task, it is better to help, and not intimidate with punishment.
• Avoid competitions and speed tasks. Do not compare the child with their "successful" classmates or friends.
• Start to delve deeper into the child's problems. Discuss situations from school life together, look for a way out. Thus, the child will have confidence: they can always turn to you for help.
• Teach the child (and learn yourself) to relax. Breathing exercises, meditations, practices that help to express negative emotions without aggression or auto-aggression come to the rescue.
• Trust the child and be consistent in your actions. You should not forbid them without any reason what you allowed earlier.

And the simplest and most important advice: sometimes you can help a child overcome feelings of anxiety by simply hugging them, gently stroking their head.

What is the danger of school anxiety

If school anxiety is not corrected, the problem can lead to somatic diseases (from gastritis to hormonal disorders), the problem can affect the adequacy of behavior. This includes outbursts of anger and behavior aimed at obtaining certain benefits.

It is worth contacting a specialist if you are concerned about the child's health, constant fatigue, inattention, if they develop tremors or tics.

But it is better not to wait for manifestations of neglected school anxiety, but at its first signs to contact a psychologist or at least a teacher at school. Discuss with specialists the manifestations of school anxiety that concern you - and think about how you can help the child.