The worry tree

Using a worry tree can help children to learn how to notice the difference between the worries that they can do something about and the worries that they can’t. Try giving this a go together, starting at the top, and working your way down the tree.

Using a worry tree can help children to learn how to notice the difference between the worries that they can do something about and the worries that they can’t. Try giving this a go together, starting at the top, and working your way down the tree.

Ruby (Practitioner)

The benefits of listening

Listening to your child helps them feel heard, supports them to process their own emotions, and builds trust in your relationship.

Listening to your child helps them feel heard, supports them to process their own emotions, and builds trust in your relationship.

Annie (Practitioner)

The worry box

For those worries that they can’t do anything about, creating a worry box can give you and your child the opportunity to talk through their worries and can also help to create a little distance between your child and their fears.

For those worries that they can’t do anything about, creating a worry box can give you and your child the opportunity to talk through their worries and can also help to create a little distance between your child and their fears.

Ruby (practitioner)

How to support your child when they share difficult feelings

The theme for Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 is ‘my voice matters’, focusing on encouraging and empowering children to freely express their feelings, thoughts and opinions, and to be listened to and acknowledged.

The theme for Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 is ‘my voice matters’, focusing on encouraging and empowering children to freely express their feelings, thoughts and opinions, and to be listened to and acknowledged.

Ruby (practitioner)

Talking about feelings

If you think there might be something on your child’s mind, try engaging them in a gentle activity that you both enjoy and start a conversation from there.

If you think there might be something on your child’s mind, try engaging them in a gentle activity that you both enjoy and start a conversation from there.

Annie (Practitioner)

Morning routine

Help and encourage your child in the morning by breaking tasks down into smaller steps using a visual timetable. You could even get creative and design one together.

Help and encourage your child in the morning by breaking tasks down into smaller steps using a visual timetable. You could even get creative and design one together.

Annie (Practitioner)

Reassurance seeking

It can be tempting to repeatedly reassure children when they feel anxious. You might notice it can help them feel better in the short term. Over time, however, they may begin to rely on repeatedly seeking reassurance about the same fear instead of using new information to learn that they can cope.

It can be tempting to repeatedly reassure children when they feel anxious. You might notice it can help them feel better in the short term. Over time, however, they may begin to rely on repeatedly seeking reassurance about the same fear instead of using new information to learn that they can cope.

Ruby (Practitioner)

Cycle of anxious checking

Sometimes, what kids do for reassurance, may limit their discovery of their own coping skills. Supporting your child to reduce repetitive checking behaviours over time can help manage their anxiety.

Sometimes, what kids do for reassurance, may limit their discovery of their own coping skills. Supporting your child to reduce repetitive checking behaviours over time can help manage their anxiety.

Ruby (practitioner)

Using praise to support your child’s self-esteem

Parents, praise and encouragement can help build your child’s self-esteem and nurture the bond between you and your child.

Parents, praise and encouragement can help build your child’s self-esteem and nurture the bond between you and your child.

Annie (practitioner)

The avoidance cycle

Avoiding a situation can keep the anxiety cycle going. By helping your child face a feared situation, they can learn how to cope with it and learn whether or not it really is as bad as they expect. Try encouraging your child to have a go at the thing they fear in order to break the cycle of anxiety.

Avoiding a situation can keep the anxiety cycle going. By helping your child face a feared situation, they can learn how to cope with it and learn whether or not it really is as bad as they expect. Try encouraging your child to have a go at the thing they fear in order to break the cycle of anxiety.

Ruby (practitioner)