The casts are gone, but what’s broken now?

Once, a walk through any school would reveal arms in casts and knees covered in plasters – evidence of tree climbs, rough games, and adventures. Bandaged knees were medals. Plasters were everyday fashion. Broken limbs meant you’d been brave. Casts came with bragging rights and a collection of signatures you wore with pride. Childhood was noisy, physical, and beautifully messy.

But something has shifted. Today, the injuries are quieter, harder to spot, and often, far more lasting.

A new kind of wound

Today’s children come home carrying invisible burdens: worries too complex for their age, questions they’re afraid to ask, and mounting pressures. Children may look unharmed, but in reality, many are battling anxiety, bullying, or a deep sense of disconnection.

These wounds don’t come with bandages or X-rays. They don’t need surgery. But they do need understanding and attention. We now live in a time where it’s not uncommon to hear that a child has been diagnosed with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or anxiety. What was once misunderstood or even dismissed is now being seen for what it truly is: neurodiversity and mental health challenges that need care.

Anxiety: The heavy backpack no one sees

More children than ever are struggling with anxiety. Not the occasional worry or nerves before a test, but a constant, sometimes crippling weight that affects sleep, appetite, behaviour, and learning. It often shows up in ways adults overlook:

• School refusal
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability or withdrawal
• Headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue 

Anxious children may seem well-behaved or quiet, but inside, they’re overwhelmed. And for many, that feeling doesn’t go away.

According to recent data, around 11% of children aged 3 to 17 are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. These numbers don’t just reflect individual challenges. They point to something deeper: a world becoming harder for children to process.

Bullying: The quiet threat that follows them home

Alongside rising anxiety, bullying continues to harm children. Only now, it looks different. Bullying no longer ends when the school bell rings. It follows children home through phones, social media, and group chats. Children can be tormented silently while their parents sit just metres away, unaware.

A rumour can spread overnight. An awkward photo taken in passing can be turned into a meme, shared for laughs, and replayed until it chips away at a child’s confidence. Many children don’t speak up. They’re scared of overreacting, losing their phone, or becoming even more of a target.

For children already feeling anxious or uncertain, bullying confirms their worst fears: that they’re different, not good enough, or don’t belong.

What children need now

Children today are growing up in a world that’s fast, competitive, and always connected. Here’s what makes a difference:

• Emotional education: Teach empathy, self-awareness, and coping skills alongside academics.
• Clear values: Model kindness, respect, and responsibility – both online and offline.
• Belonging: Create spaces where every child feels accepted as they are.
• Protection: Set clear rules around bullying and ensure adults take it seriously.
• Someone to trust: Every child needs an adult who listens without judgment.

A new kind of care

We can’t protect children from every challenge, but we can shape the world they grow up in. We can check in, listen actively and patiently, and create homes and classrooms where it’s okay to talk about tough feelings – spaces where kindness is expected, not optional.

Mental health isn’t a side issue; it’s the foundation for how children learn, connect, and grow. They don’t need perfect adults. They need present ones who see them, hear them, and show up when it matters most.