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There are many reasons that a child might report more concerns about worry or sadness on a check-in.

Feeling anxious or sad can be a normal response to certain situations. There’s no reason to be alarmed, but it might be useful to know a little more about internalising problems to help you decide whether you should seek some extra support for your child.  

Internalising problems refer to difficulties children may experience with managing their inner thoughts and emotions such as excessive worry, feelings of sadness or loneliness, or being overly self-critical.  

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Children with internalising problems may have difficulty expressing their concerns and pinpointing exactly what is troubling them.

They may experience physical symptoms such as stomach aches, muscle tension and tiredness. It’s their body’s way of alerting them and expressing how they are feeling.

All children feel worried or sad at different times. However, some children experience feelings of worry or sadness more often than others their age. These feelings may begin to affect their willingness and ability to do things they need or want to do, such as participating in class, making new friends and doing homework (such as avoidance or spending too much time perfecting it).   

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Fact Sheets

Anxiety in primary school age children

Information about how to recognise and understand anxiety in primary school-aged children.

5-12 years
emergingminds.com.au

Managing emotions in children

Information about children’s emotional development

3-8 years
raisingchildren.net.au

Shyness in children

 

Tips for managing shyness in children

6mo-6 years
raisingchildren.net.au

Programs

The Brave Program

An interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent anxiety.

Referral required
No

Costs
Free

3-17 years
brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au

Cool Kids Online  

An online cognitive behavioural program with therapist support for childhood anxiety.

Referral required
No

Costs
Yes

7-12 years
mq.edu.au

Cool Little Kids 

An online cognitive behavioural program with therapist support for childhood anxiety. 

Referral required
No

Costs
Yes

3-6 years
mq.edu.au

Fear Less Triple P Online 

An online program for caregivers to teach them skills in managing their child’s anxiety. 

Referral required
No

Costs
Free

6-14 years
triplep-parenting.net.au

Service Finders

Head to Health

Provides resources to help your child understand and manage what they’re feeling and connect them to mental health support

headtohealth.gov.au

Find a GP (General Practitioner)

Find a GP suitable for your child’s needs, with options to search for bulk billing practices, opening hours, access needs, and location

healthdirect.gov.au

Find a Psychologist

Find a psychologist suitable for your child’s needs, with options to search by issue and location. Your child may wish to see a GP prior to making an appointment with a psychologist, to gain a referral or Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from the GP

psychology.org.au

Need urgent help?

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Emergency assistance

Call 13 11 14

Lifeline 24/7 crisis support

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More information