Many children find it hard to cope with the school routine when they first start school and may show a reluctance to go to school some mornings. There are many bewildering adjustments to make and it will take time for them to settle in.

However, some children may continue to be reluctant to go to school after quite a few terms or suddenly become reluctant to go to school pleading illness like stomach aches, nausea or headaches. This could indicate a problem that needs sorting out. This could involve one of the following:

Physical illness

If you feel it necessary, take your child to the doctor and have them checked out physically – sometimes there really are physical reasons behind some of these symptoms which seem psychosomatic in nature. Children can get low-level viral infections or other illnesses that can cause them to be run down for months.

Bullying

A frequent reason for school refusal is a simmering or more virulent bullying problem within the classroom or in the playground.
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