School Avoidance Awareness Week 2025
- Amy Dalwood-Fairbanks
- Sep 25
- 4 min read
Every year, during School Avoidance Awareness Week, we shine a light on a challenge many families face but often feel too ashamed or isolated to talk about, when a child simply can’t get to school.
Maybe your mornings feel like a battleground: tears, stomach aches, headaches, or your child hiding under the duvet, whispering, “I can’t.” Perhaps they seem fine one minute and completely shut down the next — silent, panicked, or angry in a way that feels out of character. You might feel torn between wanting to comfort them and feeling pressured by school to “just get them there.”
If this sounds familiar, please know this: you are not alone, and your child is not broken. School avoidance is not bad behaviour or laziness. It’s your child’s body and brain crying out, “I don’t feel safe. I need help.”
What Is School Avoidance?
School avoidance (sometimes called “school refusal”) isn’t simply being stubborn or not wanting to go. It’s when children feel so overwhelmed, by noise, expectations, sensory overload, or social stress, that school becomes a place that feels unsafe.
It often starts with small signs:
Difficulty getting up or out of the house
Stomach aches or headaches before school
Meltdowns at home after holding it together all day
Anxiety that spikes on Sunday evenings
Without support, these feelings can grow until school feels completely impossible.
The deeper causes are often emotional exhaustion, anxiety, sensory overwhelm, or a mismatch between what school expects and what your child can cope with in that moment.
Why It’s Not Your Fault
When a child stops attending school, it’s natural for parents to feel guilt, frustration, or even fear of judgment. But here’s the truth:
Your child’s alarm system (their fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response) is real and biological.
Their brain and body are working hard to protect them from overwhelm, not to be difficult.
School avoidance is a signal, not a failure — from you or your child.
Blaming yourself or your child only adds more stress. Understanding what’s happening opens the door to healing.
How to Help: Tiny Steps Toward Safety
Here are gentle, low-demand ways to support your child and begin rebuilding a sense of calm:
Listen to body signals - Help your child notice what their body is saying. Is their chest tight? Is their tummy swirling? Are they frozen and silent? These are signs that they’ve reached emotional overload.
Use calming tools - Simple strategies like star breathing, tree grounding, or naming feelings help your child regulate their nervous system.
Create safe communication - If speaking is hard, use drawings, feelings charts, or even a blank “help” card your child can hold up when they’re overwhelmed.
Support yourself, too - This journey is exhausting. Taking even five minutes to breathe, journal, or connect with other parents can make a difference for you, and for them.
Why This Week Matters
School Avoidance Awareness Week exists to raise understanding and remove the stigma families often face. It’s a reminder that these struggles are common, and that there are thousands of parents and children navigating similar paths.
With the right support, children can begin to heal and rebuild trust, even if school doesn’t feel safe right now.
The Magic of Small Steps
When a child is in survival mode, expecting big changes too quickly can backfire. Instead, focus on tiny, achievable steps that help your child feel safe and understood.
At Magic Minds, we use story-based hypnotherapy tools to gently guide children through overwhelm.One of our favourites is a calm, comforting audio story called The Mystery of the Missing Sparkle, which teaches children three simple strategies:
🌟 Star Breathing – to calm racing thoughts
🌳 Heavy Like a Tree – to feel grounded and steady
💬 Name It to Tame It – to express feelings safely
These tools don’t “fix” school avoidance overnight, but they give your child the confidence to listen to their body and take small steps toward balance.
What You Can Do Right Now
Pause and let your child know you believe them. Even saying, “I see you, and I know this feels hard,” can reduce fear.
Practice a calming tool together, like the Tree Grounding Exercise.
Download our free audio and parent guide to learn strategies that will help you both navigate this journey with more ease.
Download Your Free Support Pack
To help families during School Avoidance Awareness Week, we’ve created a free downloadable pack:
🎧 The Mystery of the Missing Sparkle Audio – a gentle, story-based hypnotherapy session for children.
📘 Parent Support Booklet – packed with practical tips, worksheets, and understanding to help you support your child and yourself.
👉 Download your free audio and workbook here: School Avoidance Kit | Magic Minds
Final Thoughts
School avoidance isn’t about refusing to learn or misbehaving. It’s a sign that a child is overwhelmed and desperately needs safety, connection, and compassion.
You and your child are not alone. With understanding and the right support, it is possible to reduce anxiety, rebuild trust, and rediscover that inner sparkle that shines when a child feels truly safe.
This week, and every week, let’s spread awareness, reduce judgment, and remind every parent and child:
You are not broken. You are enough. And you deserve to feel calm, connected, and contented.
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