Spot the clue. Know what to do.
School Refusal
Refusing school is reporting something.
Spot the clue: School Refusal
| The clue you see | What it means | Do tonight |
|---|---|---|
| Sick every school morning, fine on weekends | Something at school hurts. | Ask at a calm time: "What's the hardest part?" |
| Cries or clings at drop-off | Separation feels unsafe right now. | Short goodbye. Same ritual. No sneaking off. |
| Begs to stay home after a hard day | Yesterday at school isn't finished yet. | Ask what happened. Write it down for the school. |
| Grades drop and they stop caring | Shutting down beats failing in public. | Document it. This is an IEP conversation clue. |
| Fights the bus or car ride | The hard part may be before class starts. | Ask about the ride, not just the classroom. |
Then do Monae's 3 steps: 1. Stop ✋ 2. Breathe 🌬️ 3. Say what I need 🗣️
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