6 signs of anxiety in students for teachers to lookout for

Anxiety among children has become increasingly common over the last decade.

And 2020 has proven to be a challenging year. We know that childhood anxiety rates have increased to every second child now (UNICEF), and Gheorg is on a mission to help these kids.

Schools and teachers are in a unique and vital position to identify signs of anxiety in children. Teachers have an understanding of what constitutes typical behaviour for students and have experience with a wide range of children’s behaviour.

While in the classroom and at school, teachers are able to observe children in a range of situations that parents and clinicians are not exposed to, so it’s not uncommon for teachers to notice signs of anxiety in children that parents are unaware of.

When children struggle to cope with their worries and fears, they miss out on opportunities to learn and interact with their peers at school.

Early detection of anxiety can make a huge difference to children’s wellbeing. By identifying early signs of anxiety, kids and their families can seek appropriate help, and teachers and parents can make the necessary accommodations to support a child’s growth and development.

As there are many types of anxiety, it’s important to note that anxiety doesn’t look the same for different children.

As a teacher, here are six of the most common signs of anxiety in children that you can look out for.

1. Difficulty concentrating in class

When kids are feeling anxious in class, their worries can often get in the way of their ability to focus on the lesson. In such cases, it can be easy to misinterpret poor concentration and fidgety behaviour as a sign of ADHD, when it is in fact anxiety that’s triggering a child’s inattention and restlessness.

2. Avoiding participating in class discussions

Some children with anxiety don’t like having attention drawn to them. They will refrain from raising their hand to ask the teacher a question in front of the whole class. They may also try to avoid being called on to answer questions by breaking eye contact with the teacher, keeping their head down, or pretending to be busy working on something else. In the case that they are called on to answer a question, they may freeze up and struggle to respond, even if they do actually know the answer. You may find an anxious child doing well on homework and tests but faltering when it comes to speaking in the classroom setting.

3. Disruptive behaviour 

On the other hand, some children with anxiety are not afraid of drawing attention and may act out when they’re feeling upset or threatened and don’t know how to handle their feelings, so their protective “fight or flight” response is activated. Anxious kids may throw a tantrum to avoid doing certain tasks they find uncomfortable or difficult, whether it be giving a presentation or being told to stop working on something because time’s up. Other outbursts that are more aggressive, such as throwing things or kicking a chair repetitively, are often a result of the “fight” response taking over in reaction to the feeling of being unable to control the situation.

4. Perfectionism

When children are overly self-critical of their work, this may be a sign of anxiety. Anxious kids may lack confidence in their abilities, which leads to second guessing and the desire to seek frequent reassurance by asking many questions that are often repetitive. You may also notice that a child with anxiety feels easily overwhelmed or excessively worried about assignments and tests. Another possible indicator of anxiety-induced perfectionism is a failure to complete homework, which sometimes gets mistaken for laziness when it is in fact the opposite that’s true.

5. Trouble interacting with other children

Some kids with anxiety will shy away from socialising or group work. This is typically caused by a fear of making a mistake or being judged by others. When children with anxiety see other kids that are comparatively louder and more confident, this may increase their anxiety around interacting in group settings. As a teacher, you may also notice that they find it much easier to open up and ask you questions and in a one-on-one setting.

6. Frequent trips to the nurse or bathroom

Anxiety can also manifest through some physical symptoms. A pattern of unexplained headaches, stomach aches, nausea or even vomiting, could be a sign of anxiety. Other symptoms that arise include tense muscles, sweating, and excessive fatigue, tense muscles.

What to do when you notice signs of anxiety in your students 

It’s important to remember that your role as a teacher is not to diagnose a student with anxiety, but rather, to look out for the signs of anxiety or other issues, provide the appropriate support you can as an educator and then direct parents to the appropriate resources. 

If you notice a student showing signs of anxiety and you have a good relationship with them, we recommend speaking with the student and encouraging them to share their feelings.

Remember that every child is different and when you speak with them, they might not see how their behaviour is different.

We recommend, where possible, to speak to the parents about your observations and encourage them to seek professional support from a doctor or psychologist, who can provide a diagnosis and assist the child with overcoming anxieties.

As a teacher, you can also help children handle anxiety at school by creating a classroom environment that supports students with anxiety. If you’re interested in using Gheorg in your classroom, please get in touch here.

More about Gheorg

Our friendly robot Gheorg encourages children to check-in daily, share their emotions and learn strategies to manage challenging feelings. Gheorg helps kids to take steps towards opening up about their feelings so that they can work through them in a healthy way.

Learn about how Gheorg works here or download the app to trial for free via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.