The NHS defines anxiety as: “a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe”. Anxiety UK suggest that 1 in 6 teenagers will experience anxiety. This means that on average there will be around 5 children in any given classroom experiencing anxiety. Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. […]
3 ways that anxiety affects our bodies Read More »
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a disorder which is categorised into two parts: Inattention (concentration and focus) Hyperactivity and impulsivity Whilst most people with ADHD have difficulties in both areas, some only fall into one category. ADHD was first identified in 1846 by Heinrich Hoffman, and the scientific presentation by Sir George Frederic Still
ADHD and Sleep Routines Read More »
When we become overwhelmed, our brain can quickly signal to our body that ‘something is wrong’ or that we are ‘not safe’, which quickly triggers: Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure Sweating Trembling Short of breath Hot flashes Catastrophising Repetitive worries Fear of being out of control or unable to cope Sense of danger Sometimes,
5 techniques to help calm down panic or worries Read More »
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where a child, teenager or adult has reoccurring thoughts and negative behaviours which they cannot control. There are many misconceptions about OCD and frequently, people will refer to themselves as having OCD when they do not. Whilst frequently a throw away comment ‘I’m a bit OCD’,
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Read More »
When children struggle with anxiety, it can feel like the kindest thing to allow them to avoid the situation that is affecting them. However, we quickly discover that the list of things that they need to avoid becomes bigger and bigger, and their world becomes smaller and smaller and smaller. Safety Behaviours When we use
Why supporting avoidance is not kindness Read More »
Previously, I spoke about the child behaviour iceberg (find it here), so in this article, I want to look at the ABC of behaviour. When I started my career working as an early years practitioner, later as a Nursery Manager and then a lecturer of early years, (before eventually finding myself as an inspector) I would
Why we need to look beneath child behaviour Read More »
How often, when you have been faced with a challenge, crisis or struggle, have you been bombarded with comments to be ‘more positive’ and ‘look at the bright side’ and felt completely minimised or dismissed? In this article, I want to explore the concept of ‘Toxic Positivity’ and some of the risks that it holds
The Dangers of Toxic Positivity to Connection Read More »
We frequently discuss that behaviour can be likened an iceberg. However, from my experiences as both a teacher and a therapist, this can unintentionally be forgotten when it comes to managing and responding to children’s behaviour. The iceberg analogy gives us an opportunity to consider all the contributing factors which may be affecting a child’s
The importance of looking beneath the iceberg Read More »
Fight – Flight – Freeze – Fawn Many people are familiar with the concept of the fight – flight response. When our central nervous system involuntary responds to a perceived threat, an acute stress response kicks in and each individual, depending on their own programming will respond accordingly. Fight or flight, in its simplest form,
Fight – Flight – Freeze – Fawn, How do you react? Read More »
In a world that seems to never stop what do we do when it all catches up with us? After the last 2 years of constant change, expectations and challenges to navigate, a frequent comment that I hear from children, teenagers, parents and professionals is that they feel ‘exhausted’. There has been so much to
5 ways to manage emotional exhaustion Read More »
