Kiama, NSW, Australia - As the academic year kicks off, parents in Kiama are grappling with an issue that has gained prominence, not just locally but globally – school refusal. This phenomenon, often misunderstood and overlooked, is receiving attention from experts who aim to shed light on its complexities and offer guidance for concerned parents.

Professor Marie Yap, the lead of the Parenting and Youth Mental Health research group at Monash University School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, emphasises the need to address school refusal. She points out that the term 'school refusal' might not be universally accepted, as it implies child-motivated defiance. Instead, alternative terms like 'school can't' or 'school avoidance' may better capture the myriad individual, family, and societal circumstances contributing to a child's difficulty attending school.  And after a fabulous Kiama summer it is definitely hard for some to don that school uniform again!

In an exclusive commentary available on Monash Lens, Professor Yap discusses common misconceptions surrounding school refusal, outlines what parents should look for, and provides invaluable advice for tackling this issue. She stresses the critical role the school environment plays in fostering social and emotional development, and highlights the potential consequences of school refusal, such as missed education, difficulties with friendships, and long-term challenges in working life.

Anna Smout, a psychologist and PhD candidate in clinical psychology at Monash University's Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, further explores the complexities of school refusal. She notes that the issue is not new, but the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified its impact. School reluctance and refusal, she explains, are deceptively complex issues often misunderstood. While reluctance refers to a child unwilling to attend but still going to school, refusal involves difficulties attending or remaining at school due to emotional distress.

Smout emphasises that school refusal is typically a child's attempt to manage overwhelming difficulties related to attendance, not an act of disobedience. It is equally common among genders and often surfaces during significant transitions, such as entry into primary or secondary school.

As the school year unfolds in Kiama, parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these, and other expert perspectives, and engage in open conversations with their children about school life.  Of course if you are the teacher you do have to go to school!