Question
My child has just started at a boarding school for two weeks. Every time they go to school, they cry, grind their teeth, stare with wide eyes, and tremble. They say that the ‘special pain’ they feel at school is particularly uncomfortable. I want to know if this situation is normal?
Answer
During infancy, the mother-child attachment relationship has an important impact on a child’s psychological development. A 9-year-old child’s separation anxiety at a boarding school and their reluctance to go to school may be due to early separation experiences with their parents, causing them to feel insecure and fearful. In this case, the ‘special pain’ the child feels at school may not be physical pain but rather psychological discomfort and anxiety. Continuing to have the child live away from home may exacerbate their anxiety and unease, which is harmful to them. It is recommended that parents seek the help of a professional psychologist to assist the child in dealing with separation anxiety and establishing a healthy school life.