When working or raising children and young people we can become attuned to looking for physical signs of things being ‘amiss’ or of concern. However, not all issues are equal, and like the first aid scenario, we can frequently find that there are not any physical signs observable by the naked eye. Consider…. Some children […]
Recognising Trauma in Young People Read More »
How busy is too busy? How quiet is too quiet? Whilst we recognise that spending all our time at home, not interacting with others is not beneficial to children’s mental health. What happens when they over-schedule their time and have little time to do nothing? The issues that often arise are either: Teens whose diaries
Why Time Management Matters to Mental Health Read More »
Exams and assessments frequently bring with them stress and anxiety. Whether it is about the exam itself, finding motivation or the fear of failure, many young people struggle with the impending timetable. Whilst some stress is motivational (it shows us that our exams matter to us) we can reduce the unnecessary stress by taking control
10 Revision Tips for Children’s Exams Read More »
Distraction techniques are strategies used to take your mind away from your current emotions. They are a method of resetting your emotions rather than absorbing all your energy into challenging feelings. They help you to focus your mind and attention. Focussed breaths Focus your breath on the inhale and exhale. For instance, counting in
Distraction Techniques for Panic and Anxiety Read More »
Motivation is the word on everyone’s lips right now, at its fundamental core, as the world becomes a peculiar place and boredom and monotony sets in, removing us from the from the initial novelty factor how do we help our children and teenagers (as well as ourselves) to get motivated, and most importantly, is that
Creating Motivation in Young People Read More »
Managing anxiety When children experience anxiety they can quickly start to avoid activities, not wanting to aggravate the uncomfortable feelings. This leads to a situation where their world becomes smaller and smaller, whilst their worries when they need to step out of it grow bigger and bigger. Whilst allowing them to avoid things can feel
Growing Children’s Comfort Zones Read More »
Bedtime routines and sleep can affect a wide number of children and adolescents. Whether it is: Difficulties getting to sleep Difficulties staying asleep Restlessness at bedtime Nightmares Night terrors Separation anxiety We all know how it feels when we have not had enough sleep… and when children do not get enough sleep the impact can
Sleep, bedtime and how many zzzz children need Read More »
Having a child who is not the first in queue to do new things, meet new people or sit and chat, can feel that there is something wrong. However, for some children, being introverted or sensitive can mean that, rather than think that there is something wrong with them, we need to identify how we
Supporting Introvert and Sensitive Children Read More »
What is it? When a child feels emotionally overwhelmed it means that they feel smothered by their thoughts or emotions to the point that they feel that they cannot function. Overwhelm is an intense emotion and causes a flood of emotions and stress in the body. It can create a fight-flight-freeze-faint response which can cause
Signs and Symptoms of Overwhelm in Children Read More »
Helping children to manage their emotions and learn to regulate them can be a daunting task. Children’s rapid brain development means that whilst they develop logic and reasoning from the age of 5, they can often be impulsive, as the frontal cortex of the brain, which controls logic develops much later. In fact, the frontal
Strategies to Support Children – Homemade Sensory Boxes Read More »
