insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 112

EDUCATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH NHS England are also urging parents to look out for signs of anxiety and low mood during a child’s re-introduction to school and in the weeks following. Children may not simply explain how they feel; they may not even have the words for it, so the NHS has provided some symptoms to look out for. ‘You might find they find it hard to manage their emotions, and they may appear anxious or distressed, withdrawn or tearful. They may have increasing trouble with sleeping and eating, and may report worried or negative thoughts about themselves or their future. For younger children, there may also be an increase, or a regression back to bed wetting.’ In order to help your child get through these challenging times, while feeling as supported and understood as possible, Barker recommends firstly acknowledging how they are feeling, and reassuring them that it is okay and normal that they have worries. Positive activities such as regular exercise, listening to music, singing, and dancing can also lift children’s spirits. She also points out how important it is to look after yourselves in a time like this; ‘Children mostly take their cues about how to deal with situations from the adults around them. Be mindful of your own stress levels and anxiety and be sure to look after you too.’ She also recommends these tricks for getting your child ready for September. ‘Younger children can benefit from having a worry teddy or doll, that they can tell their worries to before going to sleep. With older children let them know you are there for them and encourage them to talk to who they feel most comfortable with. In the household, try to limit the news coverage of the pandemic, and encourage your child to talk about what they like doing at school to remind them of all the great activities they are involved in and all the wonderful friends they have.’ In addition to this advice, rest assured that schools are well aware of the significant need for more pastoral care, and a focus on the mental health of pupils once school starts again. St Edmund’s School in Canterbury has been at the forefront of mental health advocacy in the wake of COVID. Headmaster, Edward O’Conner has committed that his school will adjust to the new normal with bigger and better support methods to tackle mental health. “At St Edmund’s, maintaining the safety and well-being of our community is our first priority. The school is doing all that it can to support our community, not least by implementing a series of systems designed to help those facing acute personal, emotional and mental health challenges. Among many other things, one-to-one and year group support will be offered and the BSA's COVID-Safe Charter has been adopted by the school, with shared resources for pupils on managing mental health and COVIDspecific resources available. Our tutor programme will also be adapted to cope with the bubble approach and to respond to COVID-19 concerns. This approach is true to our identity as a caring and compassionate school." September will bring its own challenges for both parents and children, and in such unprecedented times the only things we can do are try our best, communicate, and be there for our children, so they can come out the other-side happy and healthy. If you are concerned for your child’s mental health and wellbeing please reach out to one of the resources below or visit your doctor: www.daretodiffer.org www.giveusashout.org www.childline.org.uk www.youngminds.org.uk www.anxietyuk.org.uk www.samaritans.org nhs.uk www.minded.org.uk 112