A child with school avoidance anxiety is more than just a little reluctant to go to school and consistently avoids going to school or, if they do manage to get there, has problems staying in school. This is a child who avoids school because of feelings of fear, dread and doom, not because of rebelliousness or delinquent behavior.
School refusal or school avoidance anxiety is usually a sign of a deeper problem, and if not dealt with right away it can have long term effects. This can cause problems in the areas of normal social behavior, confidence and self-esteem, as well as home life and academics. Recognizing the problem and getting help early is the key to the positive outcomes for school avoidance anxiety or any other types of anxiety disorders.