As schools across South Africa welcome back their Grade Seven and matric learners this week, the SAPS has put together several tips to help parents and caregivers deal with anxious children.
The tips are:
• Encourage the expression of feelings. Do not make assumptions about children’s thoughts, concerns or worries.
• Provide a safe place for children to talk about their feelings. Have discussions with children without external distractions, like cellphones or laptops.
• Help the child to label the different emotions he/she may have.
• Normalise feelings by letting the child know it is okay to feel irritable, sad or angry.
• Remind the child that it is not a good idea to take out negative feelings on other people.
• Encourage children to write their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a journal. This will provide them with an outlet to share what is on their minds.
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• Initiate the dialogue. Ask what the child has heard or seen. Follow up by asking what the child thinks and feels about what he/she has heard or seen.
• Discuss options of how to maintain routines and structure. It helps to normalise disruption and restore a sense of safety.
• Provide appropriate facts and information. Avoid “what if” fears by offering reliable, honest information.
• Communicate with adults in the child’s larger network who can help with the changes in the child’s life (for example, teachers, friends, parents, coaches).
• Encourage confiding in people or professionals outside the family. Some children are uncomfortable expressing strong emotions to their parents for fear of upsetting or hurting them.
• Remind your children to always wear their masks when at school, or out of the home, to wash their hands and practise social distancing.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.
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