Two thirds of children worry all the time

Research conducted by mental health charity Place2Be has found that around two thirds of children regularly feel anxious throughout the day.

The charity surveyed 700 children aged 10-11 in 20 primary schools across England, Scotland and Wales at the end of 2016. It found the childrens’ top concerns included: family well-being (54 per cent); well-being of friends (48 per cent); and school work (41 per cent).

It also indicated that: 40 per cent felt their worries got in the way of school work; almost 30 per cent said that once they started worrying they could not stop; and 21 per cent said they did not know what to do when worried.

Common cooping strategies included: talking to family members (72 per cent) talking to friends (65 per cent), while 65 per cent of boys calmed themselves by playing computer games compared with 39 per cent of girls.

Catherine Roche, chief executive of Place2Be said: “We like to think of primary school as an innocent, happy time, but in reality we know that young children can worry about a lot of things – whether it’s something going on at home, with their friends, or even about bad things happening in the world.

“It’s perfectly normal to worry from time-to-time, but if these worries become more serious or persistent, it’s important that children know where they can turn for help.

“What’s really positive is that many children already recognise the importance of being kind to each other when times are tough. Even seemingly small things, like asking someone how they are or listening to them, can make a big difference.

“Schools and families play a crucial role in ensuring that children learn to look out for each other, and know how to get help if they need it. These are skills that will last a lifetime.”