7 Steps to helping your anxious child return to school
7 Steps to Helping Your Anxious Child Return to School.
Psychologist Michael Hawton provides parents and carers with seven simple steps to enable them to support their anxious children to return to school consistently.
It may seem overwhelming to try and balance supporting your child through anxious thoughts and feelings and wanting to provide them with the best education and social experiences in their development. Michael Hawton, a psychologist, father and trained teacher with 30 years' experience, walks parents and carers through some simple steps they can implement straight away to set their child on the right track to returning to school consistently.
For a more in-depth look at child anxiety and how to manage it in your family, head to our website and check out our online self-paced course The Anxiety Coach; for all parents wanting to support their child the best they can.
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Download the flow chart below to keep track of your steps toward success
The Paradox of Empathy
While parents are naturally empathetic towards their children, the challenges of stress and the need for compassionate expression often arise. So, how do you strike a balance between empathetic care and building emotional intelligence?
Read the article for simple tips on how to mirror your child's emotions and remain calm. Both approaches convey the message that "I am here, you are not alone, I hear you.
- Listening more than talking.
- Reflecting on what you hear using exact words or paraphrasing.
- Allowing moments of silence for children to process their emotions.
- Using phrases like "Sounds to me like..." or "Seems like..." to acknowledge a child's feelings.
- Acknowledging the intensity of a child's emotions, even if they seem out of proportion.
- Empathizing by putting yourself in the child's shoes and understanding their emotions and development.
Learn how to find a communication style that works best for you and your child. Enhance your parenting skills and nurture a deeper connection with your little ones.
Book recommendations
These books are here to help you navigate the beautiful journey of parenthood, offering insights, tips, and shared experiences.
Drawing on psychologist Michael Hawton’s 30 years of experience, Engaging Adolescents is a practical guide to help you steer your teenager through the challenging times with confidence.
Rooted in decades of clinical practice and research by leading child psychologist Dr. Stuart Shanker, Self-Reg realigns the power of the parent-child relationship for positive change.