Unfortunately, children don't always know and can't always tell us what's troubling them. Stillman, coordinator of the Children, Youth and Family Consortium at the University of Minnesota . Look for anything from headaches and stomachaches to not eating or sleeping well, or any other complaint that is not typical of this child and intensifies over time. Sympathy is appropriate, but in the absence of a fever or other serious symptoms, send him to school. With a fourth grader or older, you may see cranky behavior that reminds you of a temper tantrum, excessive dawdling before school, extreme irritability after school, and sleep difficulty.
Regression tends to pass within weeks.
Children of all ages tend to take their frustrations about school out on siblings, says pediatric and family psychologist Peter Goldenthal. What the squabbles look like can tell you a lot. If you were in the classroom, you'd see him picking a fight as class breaks into study groups or during a particular subject. Her research shows something else, however. This is the trickiest clue, especially in a preteen who typically wants more privacy.