School's Out! Is School Refusal Intervention?

Why Summer Matters: Planning for Success

Taking a break from school might feel like a relief for kids who struggle with school attendance. However, without school refusal intervention, the underlying issues—like anxiety, social fears, or academic overwhelm—don’t just disappear. Summer is a unique opportunity to work on coping skills, address fears, and gradually reintroduce the idea of school in order to prepare for the academic year to come.

Strategies for Addressing School Refusal During Summer

1. Keep a Routine

While it’s tempting to let summer be totally unstructured, maintaining a consistent routine can help reduce anxiety and prepare the child for the next year. Encourage families to keep wake-up times, meal schedules, and bedtime routines similar to the school year. Introducing other structured activities, including academic activities, is a great way to fade the child or adolescent into academic task exposures.

2. Address the Root Causes

Use this time to delve into the “why” behind school refusal. Is it fear of separation, academic struggles, bullying, or something else entirely? Working with families to identify and understand these triggers is essential for effective school refusal intervention. Use this time to support the child in developing coping skills, engaging in behavior activation, and challenging thought distortions. This is also a great time to work with families on addressing patterns of accommodation that pop up in other, non-school areas of their lives!

3. Gradual Exposure Activities

Plan outings that mimic aspects of the school environment, like visiting the school playground, attending summer programs at the school, or practicing the morning routine. These gradual exposure activities are effective school refusal strategies to reduce avoidance behaviors.

4. Practice Social Skills

Many kids experience social anxiety related to school. Encourage participation in low-stakes social settings, like playdates, summer camps, or community events, to build comfort with peer interaction.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Work with the family to set small, achievable goals related to school. Examples include driving by the school once a week or practicing a morning routine without the expectation of attending school.

6. Teach Coping Skills

Summer is an ideal time to build a toolkit of coping skills, including deep breathing, grounding exercises, and positive self-talk. Practice these skills regularly so they become second nature when school resumes.

Looking Ahead: Transitioning Back to School

As summer winds down, gradually reintroduce more school-like routines. Visit the school building, practice walking the hallways, meet with their teachers, engage in a practice school day without peers, attend orientation nights. These steps can reduce the shock of returning to school full-time.

Finally, emphasize the importance of celebrating successes, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and resilience, helping children feel more prepared for the challenges ahead.

Final Thoughts: A Team Effort

Managing school refusal doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By leveraging the summer months to build routines, practice coping skills, and address the underlying causes of anxiety, we can help students feel more empowered when it’s time to return to school.