Any tips on how to stop worrying about kids?

[Simplynow]

Any tips on how to stop worrying about kids?

I don’t used to be a parent that worried unless a particular cause for concern happened…. But now my child is older (11 and in year 7) I’ve noticed the worry seems to be constant.

It started when she was around 9 and had body confidence issues and then it was about secondary school and would she get bullied etc (I also worry about racism as she is biracial)

I do everything I can to build her up and she does seem resilient but she is also just a child and the world can be a very harsh place.

Her first term of secondary has been bumpy and there’s been a few incidents (inc racism) that has been dealt with with the school, an again she does express her emotions about it all but seems to bounce back.

I worry about what’s in store for her when she’s older if things are bad now….. the older she gets the lesss she’ll come to me and less control I’ll have to keep her safe.

I do know that they need independence etc so I’d never hold her back or show how much I worry but I also for my own sake, want to stop worrying so much! As i feel on edge all the time…

Anyone who is going through or has been through similar have any tips?

She’s my first child to reach this stage and I must admit, I’m finding it very challenging!

Thanks in advance x

Would you say you’re an anxious person? I’m wondering if it’s just this time that’s making you anxious, or if you’re generally anxious and your anxiety needs to find a way to come out,

I’m a secondary school teacher and run the transition. It is a worrying time but you can mitigate this with a few simple solutions.

My main advice is to make sure she hasn’t got any social media. If she has WhatsApp, make sure she cannot be automatically added to any groups, and that unknown numbers can’t send her messages (this is easy to do in settings). This way, she (and your family) will avoid 99.9% of all drama, because only her friends will ‘know’ her and her business.

If your child has nice friends and you enable lots of wholesome activities and family time, she will do really well.

As an aside, make sure she has all the equipment she needs for school; encourage her to do homework alongside you (the recommendation nowadays is that it is completed in a family area, not children’s rooms).

I think every new stage of childhood can be difficult for a parent to navigate, especially the first time. Do you have a good relationship with your children? This is the key because then whatever the situation they will know they can come to you.