An unexpected reason why children don"t want to go to school has been revealed

School anxiety epidemic: nearly a third of American children miss classes due to fear. Shocking data from a new study showed the scale of the problem facing families around the world. According to a nationwide Ipsos survey commissioned by The Kids Mental Health Foundation, 30% of parents reported that their children were absent from school for more than a week due to anxiety. The alarming statistics were published by Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The study revealed a disturbing picture: among schoolchildren avoiding classes, 42% complained of poor physical well-being, and one in five (20%) claimed they were too tired to attend lessons. Specialists are sounding the alarm: behind these symptoms often lie not real illnesses, but deep emotional problems.

The scale of the problem is staggering: according to the US National Institutes of Health, up to 28% of children refuse to go to school. Critical periods are the ages of 10-13 and moments of transition to a new educational institution. Among the main triggers of school anxiety are bullying from peers, panic fear of speaking in front of the class, academic difficulties, and unnoticed learning disorders that turn each school day into a real ordeal.

Psychologists strongly recommend parents to establish an open dialogue with children and not to indulge the desire to avoid frightening situations.

"The more we avoid what causes anxiety, the stronger it becomes. Sometimes a parent thinks they are giving the child a 'day off to rest,' but in reality, this only exacerbates the problem," warns child psychologist Ariana Hoet.

Experts advise not to delay seeking specialists if a child categorically refuses to leave home for several days in a row. In the fight against school anxiety, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recognized as the most effective, helping to reduce anxiety levels and gradually return the child to normal academic life.