Objective: This study aims to elucidate the process by which students with continuous school attendance refusal decide to return to school while attending Free School (an alternative school). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six children who resumed school after a school attendance refusal, and interview data were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results: Children with continuous school attendance refusal felt that "it was not optimal to maintain their refusal" while "finding a place in their home," regained self-confidence, and decided to "prepare attending an alternative school and breaking with" the school attendance refusal. When they began attending the school, they felt "the weight of onlookers' gaze," a "difference between them and classmates" and that "the alternative school was not appropriate for them," but "changes in family relationships" occurred. With "the awareness of taking small steps," they "decided to go back to school" being "encouraged to resume school or advance to a higher school year" searching for "the meaning of their school attendance refusal." Conclusions: The findings suggest the importance of understanding the situations in which children gradually gain experience and self-confidence, and assisting them in finding opportunities for personal growth and development.