School anxiety is a very real problem and affects thousands of school-age children. It has been estimated that the rate of children aged 5 to 15 suffering from anxiety went from 3.9% in 2004 to 5.8% in 2017. Anxiety is something that can be difficult to pinpoint and deal with when it’s a child, and you’ll have to take a different approach. You also have to be ready to seek some help. Let’s take a look at a few things that you can do to prevent or reduce school anxiety in students.
Start with the Basics
Anxiety often starts with lifestyle choices and the good news is that you can have more control over your children’s choices when they’re younger. Make sure that they get the sleep they need first. Also, make sure that you have a clear curfew for screens. All screens should be off at least 2 hours before they go to sleep. If they protest, try to introduce them to audiobooks and they’ll become part of their routine. It would also be a good idea to synchronise your sleeping time with theirs.
Feed them the Right Food
Nutrition is also something you’ll have to be careful with, especially with younger children. The most important here is making sure that they don’t get a sudden rush of energy followed by a crash. This is why you should avoid things like white bread or white carbs in general and go for complex carbs instead. Go for whole-grain bread instead of regular and be careful with sugary juices and drinks. Also, make sure that they get plenty of protein as it enhances concentration and cognitive abilities.
Know the Root of the Issue
You also want to know what the issue is so you can the proper course of action. Performance anxiety is very different from dealing with a bully, for instance. Teachers usually know everything that goes on between their students and they’ll be better placed to tell you what’s really going on.
Assess and Prepare
Another thing you should do is to prepare your children for tests like the CAT4 and ISEB. There are many services that will allow them to take practice tests. This will allow you to not only get them ready, but you’ll also be able to see where they’re doing good and where they could improve. This will give you the chance to help them develop these skills so they can become more confident.
Don’t Think that You Can Negotiate their Mental State
One of the worst things you could do is assume that they’re simply being difficult or don’t want to go to school. You have to understand that anxiety is hardwired in humans and is a natural response to imminent danger. If your child sees a threat of any kind, then it will be normal for them to feel anxious. Forget trying to be tough with them, negotiating, or worse, punishing them.
Get them Accustomed to Socialising
If your child is still very young, one good idea would be to enroll them in some sort of group activity. Make sure that it’s something that they enjoy. They will be too busy having fun to feel anxiety and it’ll alleviate a lot of their social fears. This could also help them build a small circle of friends, and this can build confidence.
As you can see, there are many things that you can do to help a child dealing with school anxiety. Follow these few tips, and always remember to pay close attention to your child’s attitude, performance, and behavior.
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