Category: School
How to help a child who is finding school difficult
Some children find school difficult, and if it continues to be distressing, it could result in school refusal. This article discusses how to help your child who finds school difficult, before it leads to a larger issue.
School refusal: how to support a young person
For many young people, school can be a mixed bag. Whether it’s the nuts and bolts of course work, exam pressure or social anxiety, bullying, or struggles with mental health, difficulties at school can lead to difficulties in getting your young person out the door in the morning.
School refusal comes hand in hand with low self-esteem and distress and it can be tough to know how to help a young person who is unhappy in school.
Understanding
School refusal isn’t just about skipping classes or avoiding homework, it can be linked to issues such as anxiety or difficulties with learning. Some common signs include:
- Frequent complaints of headaches or stomach aches, especially on school days
- Sudden changes in mood or behaviour
- Avoiding school-related conversations
- Increased anxiety or distress when discussing school
- Declining school performance.
Recognising early signs can help you intervene in a supportive way.
How to Support a Young Person
- Listen Without Judgment
A young person struggling with school needs to feel heard and understood. Try to create a safe space where they can express their feelings without fear of being dismissed or criticised . Use open-ended questions like, “Can you tell me what’s been difficult for you at school?” to encourage conversation and try to get them to be specific.
- Acknowledge Their Feelings
It’s important to validate their emotions rather than downplay them. Saying things like, “I can see this is really hard for you” or “That sounds really stressful” can help them feel understood and supported. It can be hard for a parent or guardian to put themselves in the shoes of a young person, it’s important to show compassion for your young person.
- Work Together to Find Solutions
Once you understand their concerns, collaborate on possible solutions. This might include:
- Talking to a teacher or school counsellor
- Exploring alternative learning options
- Setting small, achievable goals to help them re-engage with school
- Adjusting expectations to ease pressure.
- Encourage Healthy Routines
A regular sleep schedule, balanced diet, and physical activity can help manage stress and anxiety. Encourage them to take breaks, get outside, and engage in activities they enjoy.
Know When to Seek Help
It can sometimes feel that we need to have all the answers for our children, but even on our best days we can’t do everything. Speak to the school and other parents who may be able to offer advice.
If school difficulties are linked to mental health concerns, consider reaching out for additional support. Engage with your young persons school to find out what supports are available for them.
Remember there is help out there- if you young person is struggling with their mental health, consider contacting their GP or Jigsaw.
Moving Forward
Supporting a young person through school difficulties takes time, patience, and understanding. Keep communication open, reassure them that they’re not alone, and remind them that with the right support, things can improve.
NEART – For school staff
Mental health and wellbeing in school is everybody’s business. The relationship that school staff develop with students is a key influence on wellbeing development. Your role as someone who can guide and support students and/or teach about wellbeing in the classroom is central to supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Of course, your own wellbeing and self-care is also an essential element of a whole-school approach.
Sign up here to receive information as these supports are released.
NEART – For school leaders
As a school leader, you know that young people learn more effectively and have better academic outcomes if they are happy in their work, believe in themselves and feel acknowledged and supported in their schools. No doubt your school has already developed innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing promotion. Your role is critical in encouraging and facilitating your whole school community to engage with the NEART programme of supports.
Sign up here to receive information as these supports are released.
Goal setting
We are often asked about our ‘goals in life’ when it comes to careers or discussions about the future. ‘Squad goals’ or ‘couple goals’ appear in many Instagram posts, but what does this really mean? Are personal goals something we want to be, or want to have?
In this article, you will find help to set and achieve your goals:
- What is a goal?
- The purpose of goal setting
- Is the goal SMART?
- How to increase your chances of success
- Ciara (19) shares a goal that she achieved
The transition from primary to secondary school
Moving from primary school to secondary school is an exciting time for many. But for young people and those around them, it can also be an anxious time.
In this article we will discuss how best to support young people while they are making this transition. As a parent, there is a lot you can do to support their mental health during this process.
How to stop stressing about exams
It’s not unusual to feel a bit stressed as it comes up to exam time. This can be a good thing sometimes as it motivates us to study.
For some of us though, exam stress can really interfere with our day-to-day lives and hinder work and concentration levels.
Covid-19 brought about many changes for everyone. Students, in particular, were heavily impacted by the closure of schools and colleges, and this hasn’t helped the last few years.
A parent’s guide to Leaving Cert stress
It’s a nail-biting time watching your young person prepare for the Leaving Cert. In 2021, students were given the choice between sitting the exam, receiving an accredited grade, or both. Approximately 58% of students chose to sit the exam in some capacity.
2022 sees the Leaving Cert return to a more traditional format, while incorporating more choice for students. This document has the adjusted assessment arrangements for taking state exams in the 2021/22 school year. These adjustments are designed to take account of the disrupted learning experienced by students during the pandemic.
We asked Jigsaw clinicians how they support and advise parents and young people finding it hard to cope with Leaving Cert stress. They suggested the following strategies and tips to support your young person and cheer them up. They also advised how to keep yourself and your home calm during these challenging times.
How to deal with stress
The last couple of years have turned people’s plans upside down. Young people, in particular, have been heavily impacted.
Job insecurity and uncertainty about the future can lead to challenging situations. Stress is one of those words we use so often it has almost lost its meaning.
This article covers: