Knowing your child is unhappy or stressed can leave you feeling anxious and helpless, even frustrated or angry. Recognising difficulties is the first step to getting help for you and your child, but it’s easy to miss the signs, particularly when your children don’t want to talk.
Younger children may show signs of stress by developing worrying new habits like thumb sucking or hair twirling, experiencing nightmares or becoming suddenly clingy. Signs in older children can include new, bullying behaviour, acting unusually defiant or beginning to lie or steal. Look out for :
Practical and emotional support is available to support you and your family, from a parent support ‘drop in’ at school, learning new parenting skills, having one to one counselling or taking part in a family group conference where skilled workers give everyone the chance to talk with each other in a positive and constructive atmosphere.