Supporting Children with Anxiety: A Guide for Parents

Anxiety Is More Common Than You Think

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns affecting children and it’s rising. Whether it’s school-related stress, social worries, perfectionism, or something harder to name, many children are carrying quiet worries every day.

At Maidstone Learning Centre, we work with children who come to us with more than just academic needs. Some are withdrawn, some avoid eye contact, some panic over small tasks, and some seem “fine” on the outside but inside, they’re overwhelmed. In all of these cases, the right support can make a huge difference.

What Anxiety Can Look Like in Children

Childhood anxiety doesn’t always look like worry. It can be:

•  Avoiding school or tuition sessions
•  Angry outbursts or shutting down
• Refusing to speak or engage
• Frequent tummy aches or headaches
• Avoiding tasks they previously enjoyed
•  Excessive perfectionism or fear of mistakes

Anxiety isn’t “bad behaviour.” It’s a survival response and children often don’t have the words to explain it. That’s why spotting the signs and responding with empathy is so important.

How Anxiety Affects Learning

An anxious brain finds it hard to:

• Concentrate
• Retain information
• Take in instructions
• Make decisions
• Think flexibly

That’s why even bright, capable children may seem “off” when they’re anxious their learning systems are being hijacked by stress. If not addressed, it can lead to school avoidance, low confidence, and long-term academic gaps.

What Parents Can Do to Help

Here are a few small things that can make a big difference:

Listen Without Fixing

Let your child talk without jumping in with solutions. Phrases like “That sounds really hard” or “I’m here for you” build trust.

Teach Calming Techniques

Deep breathing, doodling, squeezing a stress ball, or having a “calm-down” routine can help ground them.

Prepare for Transitions

Give your child advance notice for changes in plans, new teachers, or upcoming lessons. Predictability reduces anxiety.

Break Tasks Into Small Steps

Tackling a mountain of homework or new material can be overwhelming. Break it down into bite-sized, manageable pieces.

Avoid “Just Calm Down”

Instead, validate their feelings:
“I know it feels scary right now, let’s figure it out together.”

What Not to Do

• Don’t dismiss their feelings with “You’re fine”
• Don’t compare them to siblings or friends
• Don’t force situations without preparation
• Don’t avoid everything that triggers anxiety, support them through it step by step

How MLC Supports Anxious Learners

We’ve designed our centre and teaching methods to ease pressure, build trust, and gradually help children find joy in learning again:

• Calm, quiet classrooms
• Tutors who are trained to notice anxiety cues
• Flexible teaching that adapts to the child’s emotional needs
• 1:1 or small groups for lower-pressure participation
• Gentle routines with no timed tests or public embarrassment
• Celebrating effort, not just outcomes

For many families, MLC is the first place their child says, “I actually like learning again.”

 Start with Safety, Then Skills

Before a child can learn, they need to feel safe. Safe to speak. Safe to try. Safe to make mistakes.

If your child is struggling with anxiety whether it’s around school, learning, or life in general know that you’re not alone, and they’re not broken. With the right environment and support, they can rebuild confidence, bit by bit.

And we’re here to help.