Complete Idiot's Guide to Conquering Fear and Anxiety

Page 301One Day at a TimeIf your child is afraid of going to school, expose her to school gradually.Picturing: First have her imagine school as a positive place. Talk about all the good things that happen when you go to school.1. You can dress up and wear pretty clothes.2. You can giggle with your friend Susie.3. You get to play kick ball during recess time.4. On Wednesday, you get to eat pizza.5. If you feel frightened, you can rub your stuffed bunny or look at mommy's picture.Walking through: Take her on a tour through school.Staying there: Attend school with a young child and move slowly out of sight as she begins to settle in and gets comfortable­playing with a toy, sitting or playing nextto other children. With the older child, spend a few minutes with her at the beginning and end of school and let her stay only as long as she can tolerate being in schoolwithout becoming unduly anxious. For some, that may be only an hour, for others half a day. And it may not be in the classroom, but in the principal or nurse's office.That's all right. At least she's in school. The next goal will be class attendance.Finding surrogates: Drop your child off and have someone arrange to meet her, like the teacher, school counselor, principal, or nurse, and escort her to herclassroom.Increasing attendance: Gradually increase the length of time your child is able to remain at school.