Is your child showing signs of heightened anxiety as the end of term approaches? Don’t worry; this is typical behaviour for many children. The fear of the unknown, coupled with the teacher’s well-meaning attempts to prepare children for next year, can exacerbate anxiety at this time of the year.
End-of-year anxiety is common in significant transition years (kindergarten to year one or year 6 to year 7) but can happen any time.
Read on if you are wondering how to manage your child’s anxiety levels during this stressful time.
Understand and acknowledge that anxiety levels are rising
Anxiety is a human response to a perceived threat or overwhelm. The resulting fight-flight-or-freeze reaction can be exaggerated in a child with ASD or sensory processing disorder. Your child may refuse to go to school, have a meltdown when you try to leave, or not listen to their teacher. Or they may display more physical behaviours such as biting or hitting.
Show empathy
Let them know that change is hard but having a new teacher and new friends will be fun. Acknowledge their feelings and let them know that whatever they are experiencing it’s okay and that you are there for them.
Your child may not recognise they are feeling anxious, so you consider prompting their understanding by saying something like, “are feeling a little nervous about next year? It’s hard to make changes, isn’t it?”
Just acknowledging your child’s feelings goes a long way to helping them feel better about the situation.
Make expressing your feelings part of everyday
There are some fantastic sensory tools for autism available to help your child express what they are feeling. While you don’t know what next year will bring, you can reassure your child that you are there for them and will support them in their journey.
Be kind
Your child is doing the best they and the more understanding and empathy you demonstrate, the more you can help at this tricky time of year. Creating a calming environment at home can help them reset during stressful moments, as will providing them with a range of tactile sensory tools.
Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety. It’s about giving them the skills to manage anxiety so it doesn’t get in the way of them enjoying every moment of their life.
Sister Sensory is your one-stop-shop for sensory learning tools in Australia
Sister Sensory is Australia’s number one choice for sensory toys and tools. We understand children with autism and other special needs require a unique range of options. As a registered NDIS provider, we stock a great range of Australian autism sensory tools for those coping with ADHD and anxiety.
Contact us today for more information.
