How to deal with anxious children – police
With the first week of going back to school over, they encouraged learners to remember to wear their masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing.
SAPS has wished grade 7 and grade 12 learners good luck with going back to school.
With the first week of going back to school over, they encouraged learners to remember to wear their masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing.
The police said this could cause anxiety for children, parents or caregivers and have given the following tips to help children cope.
READ MORE: 38 Gauteng schools record Covid-19 positive cases
How to deal with anxious children:
– Encourage the expression of feelings. Do not make assumptions about children’s thoughts, concerns or worries.
– Provide a safe place for children to talk about their feelings. Have a discussion with children without external distractions.
– Help the child to label the different emotions he/she may have.
– Normalise feelings by letting the child know that it is okay to feel irritable, sad or angry.
– Remind the child that it is not a good idea to take out negative feelings on other people.
– Encourage children to write their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a journal. This will provide them with an outlet to share what is on their mind.
– Initiate the dialogue. Ask what the child has heard or seen. Follow up by asking what the child thinks and feels about what he/she has heard or seen.
– Discuss the options how to maintain routines and structure. It helps to normalise disruption and restore a sense of safety.
– Provide appropriate facts and information. Offer reliable, honest information.
– Communicate with adults in the child’s larger network who can help with the changes in the child’s life (e.g. teachers, friends, parents, coaches).
– Encourage confiding in persons or professionals outside the family. Some children are uncomfortable expressing strong emotions to their parents for fear of upsetting or hurting them.
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