What a Calm Dynamic Mind makes possible
When your child is in this space there are many benefits, here are three:
Below I outline the second point and go into the difference between whether a worry is a snake or a stick.
- Improves parent-child communication and connection, which reduces the pressure on parents to guess accurately what is happening.
- Being able to clearly identify the barriers to School Success and deciding on the best course of action.
- Opens up access to tasks that are too difficult in an anxious state.
- Going to school
- Engaging in learning
- Planning and organising homework
- Problem-solving
- Making decisions
- Asking for help
- Practising school presentations
- Trying out for a team sport
- Making friends
- Participating in drama club, and
- Standing up for their rights at school.
Below I outline the second point and go into the difference between whether a worry is a snake or a stick.
Entering your Calm Dynamic space does not make School Stress disappear
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Remember that School Anxiety has alerted your child to something not being right.
Taking the NEON pathway doesn't make the school stress disappear. Something is threatening your child's physical or psychological safety. You've helped them identify this, now it's time for a closer look. |
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Remember, You're Not Alone. Helping your child through school anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to go it alone. The NEON Pathway is a great starting point, and you can make an appointment for support at any time.
Placing School Stress in Perspective: Is it a 'Stick' or a 'Snake'?
When your brain is clouded by anxiety, making a distinction between a 'real' danger and something that is not a threat is hard. In the Calm Dynamic state you can help them work out why the alarm bells are going off in your child's head so that you can come up with a plan of action.
It's a snake
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An imminent threat includes physical, emotional or mental health danger, including a worsening of a diagnosed mental health condition, a likelihood of reduced functioning or an increase in school disengagement/refusal.
Bullying is a significant problem and your child may be experiencing physical, emotional, social and/or digital bullying. When this exists, it's time as an adult to take the lead. Your aim here is to secure a safe environment for your child and to minimise the risk of harm. |
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A school is an unpredictable place because it's full of kids and/or teenagers, so it's impossible to avoid risk or stress. However, this risk must be minimised to help promote a feeling of safety in students.
It's a stick
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When it's a worry that causes alarm, inconvenience, discomfort, and stress, but when prodded is not a stick, don't rush in with full on mumma bear.
It may be beneficial to discuss with their teacher as a means of quiet support, but it's not as essential as it is when their anxiety is caused by a snake. A graded level of support is important in helping your child develop self-confidence and belief in their ability to manage anxious feelings. |
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In these moments of stress, your child can be helped to see this as a challenge, an opportunity to test themselves and grow.
It's not all about you
Students learn better when they feel welcomed and part of a school community (as do parents). Connection and engagement in school are key factors in reducing school refusal and decreasing school anxiety. And many schools have prioritised connection and engagement.
There may be points in the journey where your child's school needs to intervene, such as when a 'snake' is uncovered. There may also be times when assessment, modification, accommodation is needed, or support around strategies would be useful. This is something the school and/or outside professionals need to do.
Professional support can also be invaluable in helping teach your child the full range of skills encompassed in the NEON pathway model. From increased awareness of signs and symptoms of anxiety, emotional expression skills, calming strategies, problem solving, perspective taking, and communication skills
The Centre for School Anxiety believes that when parents, teachers, and professionals work together the outcome for students and their likelihood of achieving School Success increases. Using the NEON process to break down the shame of school anxiety, normalise school stress and being able to articulate needs can strongly underpin this.
There may be points in the journey where your child's school needs to intervene, such as when a 'snake' is uncovered. There may also be times when assessment, modification, accommodation is needed, or support around strategies would be useful. This is something the school and/or outside professionals need to do.
Professional support can also be invaluable in helping teach your child the full range of skills encompassed in the NEON pathway model. From increased awareness of signs and symptoms of anxiety, emotional expression skills, calming strategies, problem solving, perspective taking, and communication skills
The Centre for School Anxiety believes that when parents, teachers, and professionals work together the outcome for students and their likelihood of achieving School Success increases. Using the NEON process to break down the shame of school anxiety, normalise school stress and being able to articulate needs can strongly underpin this.
