Under pressure

Since lockdown, many more children have been showing signs of stress, says PACEY President Penny Tassoni. These can manifest as difficulty sleeping, tantrums, clinginess or aggression. So what can practitioners do?

Look for ways of reducing noise and visual distraction in the environment: for example, noisy toys or children running around Too much choice can be stressful for some children to start with – be ready to guide children with their play Recognise that some children need to play alone before being ready to join others.

Children who are stressed also need a lot of predictability: Create routines for individual children Aim to be consistent in your responses so that children do not need to second-guess your reaction

Give children plenty of warning when something is about to change Use visual storyboards or talk through what is going to happen next.

Finally, it is vital to consider whether there is more going on than just the fallout from the pandemic. For example, a child may have a language delay, or a specific special need that is at the heart of the stress responses being shown – it is important to holistically consider what else may be going on for the child. CP