Having an anxious child can sometimes be a challenging situation when trying to get your child to go to school.

Here are ten tips to help you and your child succeed.

1. Teach your child to recognize the signs of anxiety.
2. Talk to them about their worries. Most of the time, once they have voiced their fears, they feel more confident.
3. Sit with your child and plan the day ahead with them. They will feel more in control if they can contribute to this planning.
4. Try to stick to a regular daily routine. Children want to know what is next. Most anxious children do not like surprises.
5. Avoid becoming overprotective of your child. If you are anxious, this will only add to your child’s anxiety.
6. Practice simple relaxation techniques with your child, for example, taking deep, slow breaths in and blowing it out slowly. Do this three times.
7. Have a worry box at home. Your child can write down their worries and put them in the box. Then, at the end of the week, you can sit with them and discuss their concerns.
8. Show empathy with your child’s anxiety. For example, you can say: “It is ok to be scared. You can do this; I am going to help you.”
9. Don’t avoid situations just because it makes your child anxious. They need to learn to deal with all problems.
10. Respect your child’s feelings but don’t empower them. Instead, encourage them to feel they can face their fears.

At Hillside Akademie, we understand that large classes and big schools can intimidate an anxious child. That is why we only take 10 learners in a class. We invite new learners to come and visit the school to know the school and their class when they join the school. Most learners visit the school and typically come back the following day because of the relaxed atmosphere.

We would like to hear from you

Contact Number:   +27 72 225 8246
Email:  hello@hillsideakademie.co.za
Address:  390 Queen’s Crescent, Lynnwood, Pretoria, 0081