When Children Refuse School

Abstract

When Children Refuse School: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach, Parent Workbook is designed to help parents work with a therapist to help their children who currently have difficulties attending school. This workbook defines school refusal behavior, describes how situations might be evaluated, and shows what parents and therapists can do to get children back into school with less distress. Parents should use this workbook with a qualified therapist who is concurrently using the therapist guide to treat the child’s school refusal behavior. Problematic school absenteeism is the primary focus of the treatment program covered in the workbook. Youths who complete high school are more likely to be successful at social, academic, occupational, and economic aspects of functioning than youths who do not. Youths with problematic school absenteeism are at risk for lower academic performance and achievement, lower reading and mathematics test scores, fewer literacy skills, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, grade retention, involvement with the juvenile justice system, and dropout. The treatment program presented in this guide is designed for youths with primary and acute school refusal behavior. The program is based on a functional model of school refusal behavior that classifies youths on the basis of what reinforces their absenteeism.