Q How long does it take for back-to-school syndrome to improve? My child increasingly doesn't want to go to school and I'm worried.
A Most children adapt naturally within 2-4 weeks of school starting, but if school refusal recurs or physical symptoms persist for more than two weeks along with reduced appetite and weight loss, professional evaluation is needed. The earlier the intervention, the faster the recovery.
Detailed Answer
Mild back-to-school syndrome often subsides within 2-4 weeks as the child adapts to the new environment. However, if the child completely refuses to go to school, or if physical symptoms persist for more than two weeks together with reduced appetite and weight loss, it is necessary to also have a checkup with a child and adolescent psychiatry or pediatrics department. In particular, if the same pattern recurs every year at the start of term, an anxiety-disorder tendency should be evaluated rather than treating it as a simple adjustment problem.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we treat the first month as an intensive treatment period and check changes in digestive function and liver-energy stagnation on a weekly basis. When physical symptoms decrease with Korean medicine treatment and the number of days the child can attend school increases, the child tends to build positive experiences of school on their own, and anxiety eases quickly. If symptoms persist, we recommend collaborative care with the relevant specialty department.
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