Educators Seeing Increase In Students Anxiety

Local educators seeing an increase in students having issues with regulating their emotions.

Sheila Barker is the Putnam County School System Social Wellness Coordinator. She said an increase in anxiety and inability to figure out how to cope has had many students, particularly kindergarteners, struggling.

“Knowing where they are and what they’re doing and being able to handle the changes throughout the day and being able to adapt and working with other kids,” Barker said. “And you see that in kindergarten kids, but you also see an increased inability to be able to manage that.”

Barker said while it was exacerbated by the pandemic, educators had seen these trends starting before the lockdown.

Barker said anxiety manifests itself differently in different students. She said some students may become inattentive, while others strive for perfection.

Barker said it’s normal to have some anxiety and stress. She said when it starts to affect students’ daily lives, parents should seek help from a professional.