Enabling all to flourish St. Paul’s C of E Primary School Support for Anxious Children October 2018

Enabling all to flourish Our Core Purpose: We aim to provide a safe and nurturing environment, based on Christian values, where all feel confident to learn, face challenges and take risks. We ensure that all are motivated, engaged and supported in becoming the best possible version of themselves.  

Enabling all to flourish   ‘Anxiety problems are extremely common among children, they can present a serious problem, and they can be overcome’. Cathy Creswell (Clinical Psychologist at the university at Reading)

Enabling all to flourish What are fears and worries?   What are fears and worries? Have an expectation that something bad is going to happen Fight and flight and bodily changes. So if its normal why are we so concerned by it?

Enabling all to flourish Common fears and worries: Specific phobias Social phobias Generalized anxiety Separation anxiety Panic disorders Post traumatic disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder Research: 5-10% of children will have a diagnosis of anxiety (1in 20 children) Peer groups and academic performance Half of people suffer from anxiety also experience symptoms of low mood or depression https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BwC-AXKv-c

Enabling all to flourish Will my child grow out of this problem?   Will my child grow out of this problem? Research shows that spontaneous recovery is slow and symptoms generally persist Treatments for childhood anxiety however have excellent success rates ‘If your child is experiencing anxiety problems it is very important that it is recognised and dealt with’.

Enabling all to flourish   How are fears and worries developed in children? Rare to be just one thing normally a variety of influences Genetics and inherited personality characteristics (genetic influence and characteristics) Learnt experiences from others and events Anxiety Characteristics Speed at which we jump to action in response to a situation How generally emotional we are Experiences Crucial influence on how fears and worries develop Doing what others do / Watching others react Parental passing on fears intentionally or not Coping experiences- need the opportunity to learn Genes Learning and life experiences

Enabling all to flourish   What keeps children's fears and worries going? Vicious cycles Anxious thinking revisited Bodily changes revisited Anxious behaviour revisited How others respond Breaking the cycles

Enabling all to flourish     What’s your role… Rather than solving problems for your child , or reassuring them that everything will be fine , your role is to be both coach and cheerleader. Our responsibility as adults to take he lead, motivate, encourage and be a good example. Role is mainly focussed on asking questions and keep written records

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach Step 1: Learning to spot your child's anxious thoughts Step 2: Helping your child to evaluate the thought and consider other points of view Step 3: Encouraging independence and ‘having a go’ Step 4: Developing a step by step plan with your child Step 5: Problem solving

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach Step 1: Learning to spot your child's anxious thoughts Ask your child how they’re feeling in the moment/during the event Make the way you ask show interest and support Keep an open mind and don’t assume you know Open questions; what and why If necessary make suggestions- what might worry you about this situation Repeat back your understanding of your child's fears for clarity.

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach Step 2: Helping your child to evaluate the thought and consider other points of view Show that you are interested in there point of view and take it seriously Discover what makes your child hold their thought Help your child consider other points of view Help your child to conduct experiments to put their fear to the test Hold back reassurance Be creative and make it fun where possible.

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach Step 3: Encouraging independence and ‘having a go’ Be on the lookout for your child having a go Praise and reward having a go Set your child a good example of how you manage your fears Give your child clear messages that he or she can have a go and can cope.

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach ’ Step 4: Developing a step by step plan with your child Know that avoidance keeps the fear going Help your child face fears gradually Have a step by step plan Help your child come up with their own helpful thoughts Praise and reward attempts made If a step is too much and too soon break it down Practice, practice, practice

Enabling all to flourish   Overcoming your child's fears and worries: 5 steps approach Step 5: Problem solving Help your child to define the problem clearly Encourage your child to come up with as many solutions as possible Ask your child questions to keep them thinking about the consequences of their suggestions and how practical they are Ask your child to rate/score each solution and then choose Recognise the enormous step they are making in becoming an independent problem solver.

Enabling all to flourish Managing your own anxiety   Managing your own anxiety Own fears and anxiety- write them down Encouraging helpful thinking-everyone has fears and everyone feels scared. Share how you deal with fears What is happening? What am I thinking? Evidence and alternatives What happened in the end?

Enabling all to flourish Managing your own anxiety   Managing your own anxiety Worries about your child What do you expect of your child? Giving negative or positive information Encouraging problem solving Seek further help for yourself

Enabling all to flourish   Keep it going Things I have done that have been helpful for reducing my child's anxiety Keep practising the skills Keep working towards new goals Reward yourself for the work you have done and the progress you have made.

Enabling all to flourish What is the problem? List all he possible solutions What would happen if I choose the solution ? (to my anxiety in the long or short term ) Is this plan doable? Yes/ No How good is this plan? rate 0-10 What happened ?  

Enabling all to flourish   Relaxation Relaxation is good for children who experience lots of physical symptoms of anxiety Use these techniques regularly Build them into a routine

Enabling all to flourish St. Paul’s C of E Primary School Support for Anxious Children Thank you for coming