The number of children refusing to go to school has “rocketed” since the pandemic, a leading psychotherapist has warned.
Stella O’Malley said many of the teenagers and children she works with are feeling “overwhelmed” by school and are "point blank refusing to go," leaving some parents at crisis point.
She believes the problem has worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic meant many children had become used to doing their schooling at home for long periods.
“When Covid arrived, it went into children’s minds that they didn’t have to technically go to school,” Ms O'Malley told Newstalk Breakfast.
“Since then, it has really rocketed, and in each family that it happens in, it’s often a private tragedy for that child.
“They’re often out of sync with their peers and they think there’s something wrong with them.
“It’s become such a large problem that we need to look at this in the large scale, so many children are refusing point-blank to go to school.”
Frustrated Parents
The author of ‘What Your Teen is Trying to Tell You’ said the issue can be extremely frustrating for parents.
“Parents are wracking their brains trying to do anything they can,” said Ms O’Malley.
“They're throwing water at them, shouting at them, being kind to them, wooing them, everything - but they still can’t get the kid into school.”
Ms O’Malley said impacted parents must try to find the root cause of the problem – adding that social anxiety is often at the heart of it and some children just “don’t like being around other people”.
“That’s one that can really overwhelm a kid who wants to be left to it and just finds it more comfortable at home," said Ms O’Malley.
“Another type of kid could be very bothered by the academic pressure, sitting in class thinking ‘I can’t keep up here’. They absolutely hate it.”
Education Options
Ms O’Malley said there is an over-focus on school in Ireland.
“If so, many children are saying we hate it [schooling], then maybe we need to think that school doesn’t suit some kids,” she said.
“We can be completely fixated on it, but the problem is, without school, you can be out of sync with your peers; there is no other serious option.
“You’re putting yourself out of your tribe and it’ll be very hard to get back in, you’re out of sync forever.”
The psychotherapist said that this is the first generation where education is the only option for young people.
She believes other avenues such as apprenticeships and jobs should be explored as additional options to the current schooling system.
“Some of these kids have really lost their way and they need a way back," added Ms O’Malley.
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