{"id":54264,"date":"2021-08-18T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=54264"},"modified":"2025-03-13T17:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T17:09:22","slug":"how-to-help-a-child-with-anxiety-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/how-to-help-a-child-with-anxiety-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help a Child With Anxiety in the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the UK, anxiety disorders are estimated<\/a> to affect 5-19% of all children and adolescents. This means that in an average classroom there could be up to five children<\/strong> who are struggling with anxiety of some description. As a teacher, therefore, you may regularly encounter children experiencing anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article we will look at what anxiety is, how it may manifest itself in school age children, and some potential underlying causes of anxiety in children and young people. We will then provide some tips and strategies for helping to support children with anxiety in your classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although we refer to teachers and school settings, the advice in this article would benefit anyone working or caring for children and young people.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What is Anxiety?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety is a normal, human response to stressful situations. It is part of our fight or flight response; it triggers our brain\u2019s in-built alarm bell system, which tells us something isn\u2019t right, and that we need to deal with it. It makes us feel more alert, focuses our mind on the situation, and prepares our body physically – in case we need to run away.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a useful short-term reaction to high-stress situations. However, if we are experiencing it over a prolonged period of time – or as a response to most everyday situations – it can significantly impact our mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All children will most likely experience short-lived anxiety when faced with isolated stressful times, such as during exam time. Anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with everyday life, and it can persist, whether or not the child is aware of its cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Causes Anxiety in School Age Children?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like our physical health, our mental health fluctuates and many people, including children and young people, will experience periods of anxiety in their lives. Later in this article, we will look at some of the different types of anxiety disorders that may affect children \u2013 although not all anxious children will have an anxiety disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Risk Factors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are certain circumstances which have been identified as making children more vulnerable to anxiety, and mental ill health in general. <\/strong>Whilst these risk factors can indicate that a child might be more likely to experience anxiety<\/strong>, it does not mean they will.  Similarly, it is quite possible that an anxious child may not have any of these factors in their life, but still experience anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n