Education and exams can be stressful no matter your age. But it is easy to forget that children feel the same pressures and anxieties as adults, whether it is in relation to physical or mental challenges, academic performance or school exams. Children understand the impact their education has in determining the schools they attend and their future careers. That is why it is vital we make ourselves available to support and nurture their talents during some of the toughest periods of their lives yet.
As parents, carers or guardians, we should be prepared to talk with our children and be alert to their thoughts and feelings. We should be on hand to offer advice and reinforce that we are here to help. Some children require more encouragement or extra academic aid.
Mental health in younger children
Even young children feel stressed, sad or anxious, and these emotions can affect their long-term mental wellbeing. It is possible for them to respond negatively to their daily life or education, so we must monitor and manage them as carers. Many may think that mental health is less of a worry in young children. But like any other age, we must keep a close eye on this aspect of their lives.
It is possible to use reablement techniques to maintain support for younger children. Reablement is a type of short-term rehabilitation service that helps people after a hospital stay, illness, or injury. Young children who have experienced stressful situations, as well as illnesses that have affected their ability to perform both educational and daily activities, may benefit from this.
Reablement helps children regain skills and independence. It usually involves aiding a child’s everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet independently. It might also include rehabilitation exercises to regain physical strength and mobility. These techniques will give your child the future confidence to carry out fundamental tasks.
“Mental Health Epidemic”?
Today’s children are faced with myriad pressures and distractions. They feel the expectation for them to succeed in exams at all levels, whilst being bombarded with messages about the climate crisis and gloomy economic forecasts in the news, that suggest their generation’s overall prospects aren’t bright. They also often feel enormous pressure to be constantly available and visible online, and alarming numbers of children are being diagnosed with mental health disorders.
According to NHS data, as quoted by the Young Minds website, 1 in 8 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder; that’s roughly 3 children in every classroom. Even taking into account the possibility asserted by BBC’s Reality Check team that these numbers may be amplified by proportionately more children seeking help than before, this is an alarming number. It is also a huge challenge to educators and parents alike.
Even a quick think about the factors affecting our children’s wellbeing might yield a long list of negative influences. Here are just three of the key areas of concern:
- Online Life
The ubiquity of online technology is often cited as a threat to mental health and the number of children constantly connected continues to grow. A recent Childwise report, based on interviews with over 2,000 children in the UK aged 5 to 16, shows the pivotal place of the mobile phone in young lives. It reveals that an increasing number of children feel lonely and that a quarter of 9-16-year-olds would like more time away from their mobiles.The BBC have reported on these findings, noting that over half of children keep their mobile phones beside their beds overnight, 42% never switch off their phones, and 44% feel “uncomfortable if they are ever without a phone signal”. This is a worrying statistic, with its implications of dependency and extreme fear of missing out. It’s perhaps not surprising to anyone who’s heard “What’s the WiFi code?” being the first thing children say as they arrive at friends’ houses and coffee shops around the country. It’s not easy to encourage children to unplug occasionally, but it could be an important step towards reclaiming some family time and improving their sense of wellbeing. - Unsuitable Content
The OFCOM Children’s Media Use and Attitudes Report 2019 has involved conducting around 3,500 interviews with children and parents nationwide. The findings included that children are now more likely to see hateful content online, with half of 12-15-year-olds who go online having seen hateful content in the last year, and 45% seeing content which might encourage them to harm themselves.
OFCOM have highlighted parents’ rising concern about children seeing unsuitable content online at a young age. This can be difficult to deal with emotionally and can lead to mental health difficulties in the years that follow such exposure. And this is without even mentioning the sometimes-overwhelming daily pressures of social media: to ensure any photos look perfect, to gather Likes and to always have a witty comment to add.
What can parents and teachers do? The OFCOM digital protection guide for parents is a useful resource for parents trying to protect their children from any negative effects of being online. Global initiatives such as the Safer Internet Day on 11 February also provide information and support to both parents and educators. Other valuable information about staying safe online can be found on the Thinkuknow and NSPCC websites. - Academic Pressure
n addition to the pressures of modern life and technology, there are of course well-documented effects of mental health problems arising from the pressures of modern schooling and exams. The NSPCC have reported a surge in the numbers of children contacting them because of exam pressure they feel is coming from their school, their parents and even from their own high expectations. Recent reports have included high stress levels felt by primary school children facing SATs, but numbers peak with GCSE and A Levels. The NSPCC figures show that Childline gave 2,795 counselling sessions about exam stress in 2018/19, most commonly with students who were preparing for GCSEs.
Mental health during exam season
Exams are some of the most stressful times in a child’s life. They are yet another pressure on top of a society growing in concerns for the health of the planet and our living situations. Consider whether your child needs tutoring to give them the confidence they need to prepare for their exams, be it in advance of national exams or entrance exams as your child makes to move to a secondary school. That will involve learning more about your child’s thoughts and feelings and being aware of the actions you can take to alleviate as much stress as possible.
Communicate clearly and openly with your child. Make sure they know they can come to you at any time for help. Cooperate with them to explore different ways to cope with stress when times get tough. Ensure they are not suffering from any external stresses you can control. Encourage them to take breaks from revision if they find themselves overworked, and to enjoy physical exercise, hobbies and healthy eating.
If you’re looking for ways to help your child cope with exam stress, check out our guide on how parents can reduce exam anxiety. It offers practical tips and advice on how you can support your child throughout their exam preparations and ensure they stay calm and focused.
Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
As parents, one of the most important things we can do is support our child’s mental health, especially during challenging times like exam season. Here are a few simple tips to help your child maintain good mental health and manage stress:
- Maintain open communication and let your child know they can come to you for support
- Encourage regular breaks from studying to avoid burnout
- Promote healthy eating, exercise, and sufficient sleep
- Set realistic expectations and avoid putting undue pressure on them
- Offer reassurance and praise, especially when they’re feeling stressed
- Limit screen time and encourage offline activities to help them unwind
- Create a quiet, organised space for studying to reduce distractions
- Teach resilience by encouraging them to learn from setbacks and challenges
Seeking Professional Help
Loving and supporting your child no matter their struggles and providing a safe, stable environment are key ingredients in maintaining good mental health – but in some cases this may not be enough. If your situation is escalating and you recognise severe mental health symptoms, seek medical help from a professional.
There are several types of medical professionals who can aid in maintaining a stable mental health: a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, a clinical social worker or a counsellor. Ask your local GP, paediatrician or school counsellor for the best option to suit your child’s situation.
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