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| Almost two-thirds of children worry 'all the time' | Almost two-thirds of children worry 'all the time' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| At nine, Tom was so worried about not being able to do his class work that he kept running out of the school gates. | At nine, Tom was so worried about not being able to do his class work that he kept running out of the school gates. |
| More than once he tried to escape out of a first-floor window, convinced his teacher was criticising him. | More than once he tried to escape out of a first-floor window, convinced his teacher was criticising him. |
| He is not alone - research among 700 children aged 10 and 11 for the mental-health charity Place2Be suggests almost two-thirds worry "all the time". | He is not alone - research among 700 children aged 10 and 11 for the mental-health charity Place2Be suggests almost two-thirds worry "all the time". |
| Concerns about family and friends and fear of failing at school are the top causes of anxiety, says the charity. | Concerns about family and friends and fear of failing at school are the top causes of anxiety, says the charity. |
| The school referred Tom and his mother for counselling sessions, run by the charity at the school. | The school referred Tom and his mother for counselling sessions, run by the charity at the school. |
| Anger control | Anger control |
| Tom felt he could not learn and his mother could not get a job as she was so worried about what would happen if he ran home from school and found her gone. | Tom felt he could not learn and his mother could not get a job as she was so worried about what would happen if he ran home from school and found her gone. |
| Tom was taught breathing exercises to control his anger and reduce his anxiety - techniques he used for the rest of his school career. | Tom was taught breathing exercises to control his anger and reduce his anxiety - techniques he used for the rest of his school career. |
| "It helped me get through," he said. | "It helped me get through," he said. |
| Eight years on he applied for a place on a performing arts course and says he owes his progress to the counselling sessions. | Eight years on he applied for a place on a performing arts course and says he owes his progress to the counselling sessions. |
| Place2Be surveyed children in the top primary year at 20 schools across England, Scotland and Wales at the end of 2016. | Place2Be surveyed children in the top primary year at 20 schools across England, Scotland and Wales at the end of 2016. |
| The entire year group in each school took part. | The entire year group in each school took part. |
| Their top concerns were: | Their top concerns were: |
| In addition: | In addition: |
| There was a gender divide, with 36% of girls worrying about being bullied, compared with 22% of boys. | There was a gender divide, with 36% of girls worrying about being bullied, compared with 22% of boys. |
| More girls (28%) worried about their looks than boys (18%). | More girls (28%) worried about their looks than boys (18%). |
| But boys (24%) were more likely to worry about being angry than girls (16%). | But boys (24%) were more likely to worry about being angry than girls (16%). |
| The most common coping strategies were talking to family members (72%) or to friends (65%), while 65% of boys calmed themselves by playing computer games compared with 39% of girls. | The most common coping strategies were talking to family members (72%) or to friends (65%), while 65% of boys calmed themselves by playing computer games compared with 39% of girls. |
| Join the conversation - find us on Facebook | Join the conversation - find us on Facebook |
| Adult help | Adult help |
| More than 80% of the children surveyed said the best way for adults to help was to listen sympathetically and pupils said it was important to be kind to anxious classmates. . | More than 80% of the children surveyed said the best way for adults to help was to listen sympathetically and pupils said it was important to be kind to anxious classmates. . |
| "I give them a hug and tell them not to worry and everything is OK," said one 10-year-old. | "I give them a hug and tell them not to worry and everything is OK," said one 10-year-old. |
| The charity's chief executive, Catherine Roche, said primary school was often characterised as innocent and happy. | The charity's chief executive, Catherine Roche, said primary school was often characterised as innocent and happy. |
| "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. | "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Some names have been changed. | Some names have been changed. |