CHILD EMOTIONAL ABUSE

12. Reluctance to go Home
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    Information:

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    Reluctance to go home including:

    • unusual focus on home time

    • anxiety increases as home time approaches

    Some children who are emotionally abused or exposed to domestic violence will show a reluctance to go home because they quite simply don’t feel safe and loved in their homes – it’s not enjoyable for them and they are afraid of what might happen at home.

    We’re not talking about kids who are just having too much fun and just don’t want to leave. We’re talking about kids who will be unusually focused on what time they’re getting picked up and usually this happens throughout the day not just prior to pick up time.

    So from the time they’re dropped off they may be asking questions like, “When is Mummy coming” or “is it time to go home soon” or “will Mummy be here after my sleep”.

    Their anxiety level will tend to increase as the time to go home approaches – and you may notice changes in behaviour then also.