School Refusal and School-Related Anxiety

This presentation will focus on evidence-based but counterintuitive strategies parents can use to help their children and teens who experience high levels of anxiety.

Learn more and register at https://www.apsva.us/special-education/parent-resource-center/prc-events/

Presented by: Dr. Jonathan Dalton

We know that today’s children and teens are facing higher levels of anxiety than previous generations.  For example, anxiety disorders affect approximately 38% of girls and 26% of boys prior to the age of 18, and today’s youth are between 5 and 8 times more likely to show symptoms of an anxiety disorder than their same-aged peers did during WWII and the Great Depression.  Much of this anxiety is experienced in relation to school, and can also interfere with school performance and attendance.  This presentation will focus on evidence-based but counterintuitive strategies the parents can use to help their children and teens who experience high levels of anxiety. Specifically, we will outline a toolbox of parenting skills including how to use attention and praise to reduce anxiety, when anxious behavior should be ignored or redirected, how to teach effective cognitive coping strategies, and how to build grit and resilience in vulnerable children and teens.