Supporting anxious children: what every school community needs to know. Sign up for our five-part series on managing child anxiety.

Anxiety in children is on the rise. Nearly one in three young Australians aged 16 to 24 now experiences some form of anxiety. But signs of anxiety often begin much earlier, with many students in upper primary and lower secondary showing symptoms that go unrecognised or misunderstood.

As a school, you’re probably already seeing it:

• The student who avoids sport, group work or presentations

• The frequent health complaints or visits to sick bay

• The child who refuses school altogether

• The families requesting exemptions, adjustments or ‘special treatment’ to help their child cope.

While some support is important, it’s also possible to over-accommodate anxiety. When we do, we unintentionally teach students to avoid discomfort, which only strengthens the anxiety over time.

At Parentshop, we believe there’s a better way. One that helps students stay engaged in learning while building their resilience.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing practical, research-informed tips that school communities can use to better support anxious students, without lowering expectations or burning out staff.

In this series, you’ll learn:

• What anxiety really is (and what it isn’t)

• How to recognise early signs in the classroom

• Why avoidance makes anxiety worse

• What works when supporting students at school and home

• How teachers, parents and school leaders can respond with confidence.

Would you like to receive the full series to use in your school newsletter or wellbeing updates? Register your school to receive the five-part series here.