School Refusal: What to Do When Your Child Won’t Get out of the Car
You’ve made it through breakfast, packed the backpack, and driven to school… only to face the ultimate standoff: your child refuses to get out of the car.
This heart-wrenching moment, known as school refusal, is more common than many parents realize. It often stems from anxiety, not stubbornness. With the right mix of empathy, structure, and collaboration, kids can learn to face the school day, even when it feels scary.
School refusal = usually anxiety, not avoidance
School refusal is a recognized behavior in 5–15% of clinic-referred youth and is rooted in fear, not stubbornness. (McLean Hospital)
When school is uncomfortable due to factors like social stress, performance anxiety, or sensory overload, kids may resist simply because they feel unsure and unsafe.
Here’s what to do if you getting kiddo to school feels like an everyday battle:
Validate feelings before problem-solving 💙
Before offering solutions, say: “I know this feels scary, and I’m here with you.” This empathy helps the child feel seen. (Crisis Text Line) (Child Mind Institute)
🚫 Avoid dismissive lines like, “You’ll get over it.” Instead, open gentle space for processing and communicating about their emotions.
Break the morning into small steps ✅
Rather than tackling “going to school” in one leap, divide it into:
Getting dressed
Eating breakfast
Getting in the car
Walking to the door
Celebrate progress each stage. Even arriving near the school counts. (Stony Brook Medicine Health News)
Establish a calming car ride routine 🚗
At home, teach coping tools like grounded listening, breathing exercises, or creating calming playlists. Bring these tools into the car ride; put the playlist on, do some breathing exercises as you get close to drop-off, and so on.
As a bonus, create a “comfort bridge” with a keychain or a special note in their bag, or even just a quick text to let them know you’re thinking of them while they’re at school, without it feeling too much like babying.
Keep attendance consistent 🏫
Avoid letting anxiety win. Partial attendance or even arriving late builds familiarity and momentum, and it only gets harder and harder to get back on track from there.
Q: Is school refusal common in middle school?
Yes! Major transitions like moving to middle school often trigger anxiety and school avoidance. Early collaboration with staff is especially important at times like this, if needed.
Q: Should I force my child to go if they’re refusing?
Force fuels anxiety. Instead, use supportive routines, emotional validation, and gentle exposure to help them return on their own terms.
Help your child see that anxiety isn’t a signal to stop, it’s a cue to take smaller steps with support. With empathy, routine, and collaboration, most children learn they can face the day, even when it feels hard.
Back-to-School Parent FAQ 🍎
We’ve gathered all of your back-to-school questions (and expert-backed answers) about routines, school avoidance, and more into one easy-to-read FAQ with quick, practical tips.
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