The Youth Fairy Bath

19/09/2026

🧚The Youth Fairy SCHOOLS programme🧚offers a number of options that support the mental health education and wellbeing of children and teachers.

Areas we can have a positive impact on include:
✨Attendance
✨Behaviour
✨Performance (exam, sports, stage)
✨Engagement
✨Retention
✨General wellbeing
✨And we can tailor the programme to focus on your school’s needs at any given time.

My wellbeing programmes, combine solution focused talk and techniques with guided relaxation, actively encourage students to re-focus more on the positive aspects of their lives, identify strengths and capabilities, build confidence and engage in more positive interactions with others.

To find out more see the Youth Fairy website, or drop me a message 🧚

19/09/2026

18/09/2026

When a child is experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), the words we choose matter 🥹

In the middle of anxiety, children aren't looking for solutions or long explanations. The goal isn't to make their anxiety disappear, this isn’t realistic, it's to help them feel supported enough to take the next small step.

Simple, calm phrases like the ones in this reel can help your child feel heard while encouraging them to open up to you and build their confidence.

Try to:
👉Acknowledge how they're feeling without dismissing it.
👉Focus on one small step at a time rather than the whole school day.
👉Remind them that feelings change and won't stay this overwhelming forever.
👉Let them know you believe in them, even if they can't believe in themselves just yet.

Supporting a child with EBSA can be incredibly challenging, and it's important to remember that you're not expected to have all the answers. Your calm presence, patience and reassurance can make a bigger difference than you realise.

If school mornings have become filled with tears, worry or panic, I am here to support you 🧚 Children can begin to rebuild confidence and move towards attending school again, one step at a time, with understanding and solution-focused therapy.

Save this reel for those difficult mornings, or send it to another parent who might need these words today 🧚🥰

18/09/2026

Testimonial 👇👇👇👇
It is really lovely to hear back from parents with good news about how their child is managing after working with me and the Smile Programme. Frankie was a delight to work with.

*Names have been edited for confidentiality.

17/09/2026

For a child experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), this invisible emotional load can make even the simplest parts of the school day feel impossible 😫

So when you, as a parent, see what looks like defiance or reluctance to go to school, your child may be battling overwhelming emotions on the inside.

Changing the question from "Why won't they go?" to "What are they carrying today?" can make all the difference 🙂

If your child is struggling with school attendance, you don't have to navigate it alone. I provide solution-focused support for you and your child to work through whatever anxieties are present.

Check out the website today for information on my services and to find my contact information, or send me a message here on Facebook 🧚

16/09/2026

💛 On the Blog 💛

This week I am shining the spotlight on Emotional Based School Avoidance - something I support young people and parents with, and is something which sadly is increasing.

😞 Emotional Based School Avoidance or EBSA used to be known as ‘School Refusal’ and is really a kind of school phobia or school-specific anxiety. The negative connotations that went along with the term ‘school refuser’ implied in the past that the child was choosing to refuse to go to school, when we know very clearly that this is not the case. Often parents are reporting that their child is unable to physically attend school.

ESBA manifests as a pronounced physical anxiety response towards attending school.

Signs may include:
😞 Inability to go to school
😞 Physical illnesses like tummy ache, headache, vomiting
😞 Excessive worry or crying especially when thinking about school
😞 Panic attacks in school or on the way to school
😞 Hiding in the toilets at school
😞 Inability to sleep
😞 Depression
😞 Low self- esteem

Remember these symptoms are very real for your child, otherwise they would be going to school happily. Many children struggling with ESBA report that they really want to go to school, but that they cannot.

ESBA may be affected by a variety of factors:
😔 Experiencing being bullied in school
😔 Transitioning from one school to another
😔 Experiencing a school ethos or environment that they find frightening
😔 Having a diagnosed mental health difficulty
😔 Having special educational needs
😔 Being Autistic or Neurodivergent
😔 Having a physical illness

Our blog this week covers:
👉 some statistics on the prevalence of EBSA
👉 tips on how to cope for families whose children are experiencing EBSA
👉 and signposts for where to find additional help and support.

So, grab a cuppa ☕️ and head on over to the Parent Pad to read this week’s blog in full.

Take a read here: 👇👇👇
https://www.theyouthfairy.com/emotionally-based-school-non-attendance/

15/09/2026

As parents you want to protect your children and stop them feeling upset, but some habits can unintentionally keep anxiety going 🫣

👉Leaving and coming back repeatedly ("boomerang exits") - this can increase uncertainty.
👉Promising unrealistic return times - trust grows through honesty, and your child will learn not to take you at your word if you mislead them.
👉Avoiding every situation that causes anxiety - children need solvable challenges and opportunities to build confidence.
👉Trying to reason while they're overwhelmed - their brain is in survival mode, connect first, then you can help them regulate their emotions.

Stay calm, stay consistent and keep building confidence one step at a time.
Are you having separation anxiety issues at the moment? How have you helped your child? 😊🧚

14/09/2026

"I want to go...I just can't." 😫😫
Those few words perfectly capture what many children experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) feel every single day.

EBSA isn't about laziness, or defiance or a lack of discipline; it's when overwhelming feelings of anxiety or fear make attending school feel impossible, even when your child desperately wants to be there.

Children experiencing EBSA may complain of feeling sick, become distressed before school, or seem unable to leave the house. These emotions are very real, and understanding what's happening beneath the surface is the first step towards helping them 😊

If your child is struggling with school attendance because of anxiety, please know you're not alone. With empathy, understanding and the right support, children can begin to rebuild confidence and move forward 🥰

If you're worried your child may be experiencing EBSA, I am here to help. Find more information on the Parent Pad on The Youth Fairy website.

Drop me a message here on Facebook, or find my contact details in my profile if you'd like to chat about support for your child 🧚

13/09/2026

A 9 year old client of mine recorded how her 3Ps were helping her change her sad emotions to happy emotions .

12/09/2026

Now the celestial light switch has been flicked off for summer 2026, what is the best thing so far about the new autumn season?