When your child says “I hate school”, “I have no friends”, or “I can’t do it” — here are calm, ready-to-say words that help. Pick a moment, read the script, and make it your own. A SEND-friendly version is included wherever it helps.
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A gentle 7-day plan of tiny “micro-wins”. Each day your child does one small, doable thing that helps them feel capable, brave, and proud. Every day has a parent script — the words to guide it.
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Three things that make any script work
1 · Connect before you correct
Get calm and close first — kneel to their level, soften your voice, maybe a hand on the shoulder. A child can’t take in advice until they feel you’re on their side. The feeling comes first; the fixing comes later (often the next day).
2 · Name the feeling, don’t rush to fix it
“You’re really upset about this” lands better than “Don’t worry, it’s fine.” Naming a feeling actually calms the brain. Let the feeling be there for a moment before moving to solutions.
3 · Stay the calm one
Your calm is contagious — so is your panic. Lower your voice, slow down, breathe. You don’t need the perfect words. A steady, kind grown-up who stays present is the real “script”.
Using the SEND-friendly versions
Where you see a blue SEND-friendly box, that version uses shorter, more literal language, fewer questions, more choices, and lower demand. It suits many neurodivergent children (autism, ADHD, PDA profiles, anxiety) and honestly works well for most children when they’re overwhelmed. Use whichever fits your child in the moment.
Tip: read a script before you need it. In the heat of the moment you’ll remember the shape of it, even if not the exact words. Tap the ★ to save the ones you want to find fast.
A gentle note. This is an educational wellbeing resource, not therapy or a crisis service. If you are struggling, please speak to your GP or call NHS 111. Samaritans 116 123 · text SHOUT to 85258 · Childline 0800 1111 (under 19s) · 999 in an emergency.