Overcoming School Avoidance

Overcoming School Avoidance tackles one of the fastest-growing issues facing families everywhere: the increasing number of children who are refusing or reluctant to attend school. Often misunderstood as defiance or opposition, school avoidance can be a sign of deeper emotional or mental health challenges. Yet, many parents find themselves unprepared when these behaviors arise and struggle to find the right support. 

In this first-of-its-kind guide, Jayne Demsky—founder of the School Avoidance Alliance—provides a comprehensive roadmap for parents who feel isolated and overwhelmed by their child’s school avoidance. Demsky offers practical strategies that help parents work with school administrators, navigate truancy laws, and most importantly, provide the structure and emotional support their children need to return to learning.

Drawing from years of experience as an advocate, Demsky explains how to strike the delicate balance between discipline and compassion, offering advice on how to set boundaries while addressing underlying mental health needs. This book serves as a lifeline for parents, guiding them through the school system and helping them advocate for their child’s unique needs—because too often, the system itself is unprepared to provide the right solutions.

Through expert interviews with mental health providers and insights gathered from the School Avoidance Alliance’s large and active parent community, Overcoming School Avoidance sheds light on this complex issue. Parents will find not just guidance, but also support in understanding the behavioral cues of school avoidance, strategies for communication, and tools to help children re-engage with education at their own pace. This is more than just a how-to book—it’s a compassionate and timely resource that aims to restore confidence and hope to parents and help children return to a productive and fulfilling school life.

• “What an achievement! . . . an empowering resource for families.”
  Dr. David Heyne, Deakin University, Founding Director, International Network on School Attendance, Founder, Excellence in Attendance Support