How to stop sleepover anxiety on residentials
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Aug 9 2023
Talk about the trip
Knowing what to expect can help ease some of the anxiety around the trip for both students and their parents or guardians. Organising a pre-residential meeting a few weeks or months before the excursion will give you a chance to speak to your pupils’ caregivers and provide an opportunity to ask questions and learn more. You can also supply a copy of the suggested itinerary so that they know what their children will be getting up to. This is a great way to assist parents in finding out if there’s anything their child is worried about and deciding if they’ll need adjustments so they can take part. If needed, teachers and parents of particularly anxious children can also arrange a pre-trip site visit and speak to our instructors.
Having a copy of the schedule can help your pupils get excited about the residential! Explain to them what some of the activities involve and encourage them to look forward to the trip. You can also remind your class in the run up to the trip that you, their classmates, and the instructors are there to support them.
Think about food
If you have a copy of the menu, this can also be a helpful resource. Some autistic and neurodivergent people have a restricted diet, where they might only eat a small range of food. Equally, anxiety can also impact eating behaviour. Making parents and children aware of what foods will be on offer can help get everyone on the same page about what foods will be available, so you can make alternative arrangements if necessary.
Get your pupils involved
Involving your pupils in the planning of their residential can give them a sense of control and lessen their anxiety. This can be as simple as asking them to curate a class packing list or organise who’s sharing rooms or tents. You can use our example kit lists to get started. If you’d rather be in control of these elements, you could even inspire them to think about their dream holiday. Thinking about going away will encourage your class to think of the residential as an adventure, rather than something to be nervous about.
Share your knowledge
Building up your knowledge around anxiety and neurodiversity can also be helpful. Exploring online resources to remind yourself of how your students with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental differences can be supported in new situations is a great refresher.
Not only will this help you guide your class on their residential, but it’s a perfect opportunity to teach children about neurodivergence and mental health. Teaching your pupils about the differences in how everyone’s brains work and how they feel can be an invaluable tool. Not only will it help them learn about their own brains and emotions, but it’ll hopefully mean that they’ll be understanding if their friend feels anxious or homesick while they’re away.
Pack comfort items
Sleep can be a nightmare, particularly for neurodivergent children. Studies have shown that 50-85% of neurodivergent children have sleep difficulties. While good sleep hygiene, including consistent routines and calming sleep spaces can help with this, being away from home and in an unfamiliar environment makes this tricky. Usually, when children can’t sleep, they’ll search for positive associations and comfort items to help soothe them. At home this might be things like a trusted adult or calming music. While they’re away from home, cuddling up with a favourite toy or looking at a picture of a caregiver can have the same impact.
If your students have extra sensory needs, bringing their normal bedding and favourite pyjamas can also help ease any textural issues and remind them of the safety of home.