08/22/2026
Sometimes what we see is only the tip of the iceberg.
School anxiety can show itself through morning resistance, irritability, headaches, stomachaches, clinginess, meltdowns, withdrawal or dysregulation.
But behaviour is information.
Underneath may be sensory overload, learning struggles, social difficulties, separation anxiety, bullying, executive function demands, transitions, low self-esteem, family stress or simply feeling that school is too much to manage right now.
The important question isn’t only “How do we get them into school?”
It is also:
“What is making school feel so difficult for this child?”
When we understand what sits underneath the anxiety, we are in a much better position to support the child — ideally before anxiety progresses into significant difficulties with attendance.
