Why Your Child Refuses School: Understanding School Avoidance and the SPACE Protocol

About this episode

Dr. Courtney Lynn and Dr. Alex Littleton discuss school refusal and the SPACE protocol to help parents support their anxious children.

Morning stress, "tummy aches," and the desperate plea to stay home—school refusal is one of the most taxing challenges a family system can face. In this episode of Kids These Days , Dr. Courtney Lynn is joined by Dr. Alex Littleton to discuss the "School Refusal Trap." They dive deep into why our well-intentioned efforts to ease a child's distress can inadvertently reinforce their anxiety. Using the framework of the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) protocol, they provide a roadmap for parents to move from "managing" the morning crisis to becoming a "Secure Base" for their child's resilience. In this episode, we cover: Defining School Refusal: The difference between a "bad morning" and a persistent pattern of avoidance. The Accommodation Trap: How "rescuing" our kids from discomfort tells the brain that school is actually dangerous. The SPACE Protocol: Why treating child anxiety through the parents is often more effective than traditional therapy. Supportive Statements: The two-ingredient formula (Validation + Confidence) that shifts the internal narrative. Red Light vs. Yellow Light: Why negotiating with an anxious child only "speeds up" the anxiety…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Courtney Lynn

Guest: Dr. Alex Littleton

Topics covered

• school refusal
• anxiety
• parenting
• SPACE protocol
• child resilience
• supportive parenting

Keywords

• school avoidance
• parenting strategies
• child anxiety
• morning stress
• resilience
• accommodation trap

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