Anxiety is the most common mental health concern in Australian children. Most kids feel worried sometimes — about a test, a new teacher, a sleepover. Anxiety becomes a problem when it stops your child doing the things they want and need to do, or when it follows them long after the situation has passed. The good news: anxiety is highly treatable, and with the right support kids learn to manage it.

Sleep, screens, and mornings are closely connected. When one of these areas becomes difficult, the others often become harder too. When they are working reasonably well together, many daily challenges become easier to manage.

This is not about creating the perfect routine. It is about making small changes that help your child start and finish the day feeling more rested, regulated, and ready to cope.

School refusal is when a child experiences significant distress about going to school and struggles to attend or stay there regularly. School refusal is not about defiance or laziness. Most children who reject school actually do want to attend but often feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. School refusal is usually linked to anxiety or emotional distress, rather than behavioural problems.