The big question that teachers ask us in and outside of the UK!

Parents, including myself, may have breathed a small, collective sigh of relief as school resumes after what can feel like a long summer break. Teachers, however, might not be. With 500 children a day being admitted to mental health services here in the UK, teachers are faced with the daunting task of working out how to help these hundreds of children whilst under their care.

This week we found that our UK staff are not alone. We have been astounded by consulting with teachers overseas with very different geographies and cultures that these issues and their questions are the same. And the question that comes up all the time is…

How can I identify if a child is anxious?

Here’s how we would suggest a teacher starts to think about this question. Look for clues in a child’s behaviour, as anxiety triggers our body's internal alarm system, manifesting in the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. Here are some behaviours associated with each response:

• Freeze Response: The child may appear overly compliant and difficult to get to know, consistently doing "the right thing" without expressing their own needs.
• Fight Response: The child may exhibit combative behavior, seek arguments, or frequently find themselves in trouble.
• Flight Response: The child may try to leave the situation as soon as it becomes challenging, including running out of the classroom.
• Fawn Response: The child may attempt to please everyone, rarely expressing their own needs or desires.

If the alarm system is the problem, then the solution involves learning how to deactivate it.