As all children will be returning to school in September, some children may be worried about returning to school. The NSPCC has published some advice to help our children on their return to school.
There are lots of reasons why a child might be worried or anxious about going back to school. They may be nervous about the changes they’ll face – from different teachers to less freedom. They may not enjoy school and are happier at home. They may have experienced bullying or are worried about being bullied.
Whatever their worry, it’s important to talk to your child and let them know you’re listening.
- Encourage your child to talk to you or another trusted adult about how they’re feeling. They have got tips on how and where to have difficult conversations. Remember, this doesn’t always have to be face-to-face – they might find it easier writing their thoughts down.
- For younger children, play can be a great way to help them talk about their worries or give them a good distraction when they’re upset.
- If a child is worried about bullying, they have got advice to help them support .
- You might notice some changes in your children’s behaviour. Younger children may start thumb sucking or bedwetting and older children may have mood swings and be irritable. You might also notice changes in appetite or sleep patterns. These can be ways your child is experiencing stress. It takes time to adjust to change and children may need lots of support and reassurance to help them through it.
- Rolling news and social media can cause a lot of anxiety. Remind children of the facts and explain what false or sensationalised information is. It’s important to allow your children to ask questions about the things they see online. And if you don’t know the answer, letting them know that some things aren’t certain or known yet is okay.
- Share Childline’s Calm Zone with children of all ages. It’s designed to help children find what works best for them – whether that’s breathing exercises, activities, games or videos to help let go of stress.
