December 1 2025
Supporting your child with anxiety
At Tute, we know that many children experience moments of worry, sometimes small and fleeting, sometimes big enough to impact their day. If you’re seeing signs of anxiety at home, you’re certainly not alone. So many parents and carers tell us they’re navigating wobbles around lessons, social situations, or new routines.
This guide is here to offer reassurance, understanding, and a few calm, practical ideas for supporting your young person, both during their learning with us and in the day-to-day moments at home.
Anxiety happens - and it’s okay
Children of all ages experience anxiety, just like adults. It doesn’t mean anything is “wrong”; it usually means their internal alarm system is being a bit overprotective. When you recognise that anxiety is normal, it becomes easier to support them without feeling like you need to “fix” everything. At Tute, we see students work through these feelings every day and they grow stronger for it.
Listening comes before fixing
When a young person feels anxious, what helps most is feeling heard. A gentle, calm, “I understand why that felt hard” can instantly help them settle. This validation is a powerful first step and often the key to opening a conversation about what they need next.
Routines bring comfort
Children learn best when they feel safe and grounded. Simple, steady routines around mealtimes, sleep, and lesson preparation provide a sense of predictability. Even small rituals – a check-in before lessons or a cosy debrief afterwards – help reduce the “unknowns” that often make anxiety feel bigger.
Keep conversations light and often
Talking about feelings doesn’t need to be a planned-out event. In fact, the best conversations are usually the casual ones:
• chatting about your own nerves before something tricky
• asking which part of their day felt the easiest or the hardest
• using creative language (“What colour do you think your worry would be today?”)
These small, frequent chats help children understand that emotions are normal, manageable, and safe to talk about.
Your calm helps them find theirs
Children instinctively read our emotional tone. You don’t need to be superhuman, just taking a slower breath, softening your voice, or saying “We can work through this together” can make your child feel supported. At Tute, teachers use calm, predictable communication for this reason. It helps students feel settled, even on their wobbliest days.
Make tasks feel smaller
Anxiety can turn simple tasks into mountains. Breaking things down into small, manageable steps can make a huge difference. Logging in early, preparing materials the night before, or doing a quick check-in before lessons can help children feel ready rather than overwhelmed.
The everyday basics really matter
Good sleep, hydration, movement, and screen breaks all support emotional wellbeing. These might feel like simple things, but when they’re steady, children are better equipped to regulate their emotions and manage moments of anxiety, especially during lessons.
Create a gentle “Worry Plan”
A worry plan gives children something to lean on when they feel unsettled. It might include:
• a grounding technique they can use before or during lessons
• a phrase they can say if they feel overwhelmed
• a trusted adult they can turn to (at home or through Tute support)
• a calming object or sensory tool nearby
These small supports help them feel prepared and capable.
Notice their strengths - they have many
Anxious children are often incredibly empathetic, thoughtful, creative and aware. These are powerful strengths. Reminding them of the qualities you see helps balance out the “what ifs” and builds confidence little by little.
You’re not doing this alone
Being the emotional anchor for an anxious child can be tiring. It’s absolutely okay to acknowledge that and to take care of yourself, too.
And remember – the Tute team is here to help. Whether it’s a concern about lessons, attendance, confidence or engagement, please reach out. Supporting your child’s wellbeing is part of how we support their learning.
Thank you for reading
Written by Natalie Hollins,
Parent Support Associate
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