 Scared children need calm adults. Take a breath and try to appear cool, calm and in control of the situation. Knowing what they can expect of you and what you expect of them removes a lot of anxiety for children. Rules, routines and rituals are your friend here. Communicate simply and clearly using words and media that they connect with and check for understanding. Every child needs to know they matter to someone. Something as simple as a smile across a corridor can make a big difference to a child who feels scared and alone. Get curious about the child and really hear what they have to say. Build bridges via any special interests and explore different coping strategies. A lot of kids feel unloved. Break this negative narrative by caring out loud. Kids with low self-esteem might need you to love them enough for the both of you for now.