From the Principal's Desk
Assisting Your Child with Stress and Worry
There are times in every child’s life where they need to be equipped to deal with the stress and worry that can often result from the events or incidents in the adult world around them.
Children will react very differently to situations that arise which may cause stress or worry. It is important for the adults around them to never assume that they will behave or react in a particular way. Every stressful or worrying situation is different, therefore this information is designed to assist you, the parent or carer, to approach these times in an informative and reassuring way.
Help resolve worries through supportive talking
- Take worries and fears seriously. Short conversations with your child about their worries can often dissipate concerns.
- Listen to your child’s concerns, name them and validate the feeling. For example, ‘It sounds like you might be nervous about sleeping over at Holly’s. That makes sense, doing new things can sometimes be a bit scary’. Supportive talking helps your child to feel understood, increases their emotional vocabulary, and normalises the experience.
- Be aware of what you say. Anxious communication such as, ‘Be careful crossing the road’ can make you and the child feel panicky. Instead, be assertive, specifying the behaviour you wish to see. For example, ‘Remember, stop and look both ways before crossing the road’.
- Be the parent. Avoid turning to your child for their emotional support or friendship. If your child sees you stressed, reassure them that you are sorting things out.
Help your child to put his/her worries into perspective
- Focus on self-talk. What we think or say to ourselves directly influences how we feel. When we worry we are focused on the negatives and expect the worst outcome. The following strategies may help your child to put situations into perspective.
- Play detective. For example, if your child says ‘I’m going to fail tomorrow’s test’ ask, ‘Is this really true?’ It can help to list evidence or facts for and against the thought.
- Use a worry thermometer where 1 is 'not a worry' and 10 is the 'worst worry ever possible', like the one below, to illistrate the concept.
Ensure your child feels safe
- Shield children from distressing or adult issues. Increasingly, children are exposed to adult issues they are ill-prepared to manage.
- Keep discussions about disturbing events or adult topics out of earshot. This is extremely important. Children are not able to rationalise or understand adult topics as adults do so if you are going through a separation, job loss or other stressful event, minimize discussion about the issues while your child is around.
- If children see or hear distressing events in the media. Widespread media exposure may lead some children to worry about the safety of themselves, their families, and the future of the planet. This is particularly apparent following repeated replaying of events such as terrorist or hostage situations and severe weather.
Reduce your own stress or worry
- Regularly stop for a moment and pay attention to how you feel. This is the first step to regulating your emotions. Are you feeling worried, frustrated, excited, or perhaps just a bit annoyed? Becoming more attuned to your emotions and nuances in your feelings means you are less likely to overreact, and lose your cool. When we feel very emotional (e.g. very angry, stressed, or scared) we can become overwhelmed. Saying, ‘I’m feeling really annoyed’ or ‘I’m just a bit stressed,’ helps you understand what’s happening, and regain a sense of control.
- If you often feel overwhelmed, stressed or anxious talk to someone about how you feel, such as a partner, close friend, relative or someone you respect at your child’s school eg: class teacher, Assistant Principal or Principal. Alternatively, seek professional assistance from your doctor who can rule out health issues that may cause you to feel this way. If necessary, you can be referred to a psychologist or other mental health practitioner.
Our schools have the support of CatholicCare counsellors. If you feel your child needs support of this type, please do not hesitate to contact the school to arrange a referral. In addition, if you have any concern that you feel needs to be raised do not hesitate to contact the school principal.
(Adapted from Psych4Schools.com.au)
Fencing Work:
The anticipated start date for the fencing between the Parish carpark and the school is now scheduled for Monday 1 April due to the wet weather delaying the work of the contractor.
Leave Notice:
I will be taking some long service leave from next Wednesday 3 April until the end of the term one. During this time Mrs Smithers will be Acting Principal. I will be back at work at Good Samaritan at the beginning of Term 2.