Managing Children's Fears and Anxieties in Classroom Settings

• Published in: Early child development and care Vol. 158; no. 1; pp. 51 - 69
• Main Authors: Akande, A., Osagie, J.E., Mwaiteleke, Rb, Botha, K.F.H., Ababio, E.P., Selepe, T.J., Chipeta, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.1999
• Subjects: Anxiety; Behavior Modification; Child Behavior; Child Development; Children; Desensitization; Elementary Education; Emotional Development; Emotional Problems; emotions; Fear; Foreign Countries; Guidelines; Management; parent; Phobia Treatment; Relaxation Training; School Phobia; self-esteem; South Africa; Student School Relationship; Teacher Student Relationship; Theories; South Africa
• ISSN: 0300-4430; 1476-8275
• DOI: 10.1080/0300443991580106

Fears are among the most common and the most treatable of all anxiety disorders. This article explores the fears and phobias of childhood from a behavioural perspective. Current research reveals that, fears and phobias are separate but interrelated concepts and experiences. Many childhood fears are mild, age-specific and transitory. Others are more extensive and persist beyond normal developmental periods. School phobia is a complex phenomenon which children evince for a number of reasons, including separation anxiety, fear of the school environment, and situation and other school-related worries, Unlike most childhood phobias which are overcome with or without professional help, severe school refusal is difficult to manage. Despite vast literature on the efficacy of behavior modification, reports of success in the South African context are rare, where the emphasis still appears to be on medico-physiological "treatments".