When he started preschool, I was dreading drop-off. I knew he would have a hard time saying goodbye to me. Sure enough, he started crying on the first day of school when I got out of the car. He clung to me and begged me not to leave.

I knew I had to be strong for him, so I hugged and kissed him and told him I would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. Then, I turned and walked away. As I walked away, I could hear him crying behind me. My heart broke. I felt so guilty for leaving him.

My son’s drop-off anxiety continued for the first few weeks of school. It was incredibly draining that drop-off anxiety didn’t seem to have an end in sight.

I researched about the highly sensitive traits, and I found some simple but effective strategies that helped my son cope with separation anxiety.

The key is to know what these strategies are about and to test which ones work for you and your child ahead of time (before big drop-off meltdowns).

Before we begin, we thought you might like our Time for Adventure FREEBIE. This fun activity can encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and try new things, which, in turn, can boost their self-confidence.

Why does a highly sensitive child struggle with school separation anxiety so much?

Highly sensitive children are often more sensitive to their environment and easily overwhelmed than their peers. This can make drop-off anxiety particularly challenging for them.

Here are some of the specific challenges that sensitive, deep-feeling children face with drop-off anxiety:

• Sensory overload. Deep-feeling kids are more sensitive to sensory input, such as noise and crowds. This can make the school environment overstimulating for them. Because the child expects school to be overwhelming (due to sensory stimulation, but also due to lots of rules, almost no child-led play for several hours a day, and academic pressure), it may be more challenging for them to separate from us at drop-off.
• Poor frustration tolerance. Highly sensitive children often a low frustration threshold. Minor events, like a friend ignoring them, a colorful classroom, someone pushing them by mistake, can cause intense emotions. These emotions add up and can make the home-school transition difficult to handle.
• Fear of the unknown. A deeply feeling child has a more sensitive nervous system, often making them see novelty as a threat. That can keep them on edge for the entire school day.
• Perfectionism. Sensitive children often set high standards for themselves and can be critical of their own performance. This can lead to anxiety about not meeting their expectations at school. It can also lead to difficulty making friends and playing with peers (“I don’t want to play soccer with those kids; they are much better than me.”)

15 Effective Strategies for Easing Your Highly Sensitive Child ‘s School Separation Anxiety

Here are some effective strategies for helping highly sensitive children cope with separation anxiety at school:

1. Manage your emotions and set realistic expectations

It is perfectly normal for parents to feel guilty about leaving their child crying at drop-off. After all, we want our children to be happy and feel safe. However, it is essential to remember that separation anxiety is a common experience for many children, especially highly sensitive children. It is not a sign that you are a bad parent.

Remember that your child is going through a normal transition. Starting school is a significant change for children, and some anxiety is to be expected. These big feelings may show up as crying at drop-off and after-school meltdowns.

After a long day of holding it together, our children need a safe space to release all their pent-up emotions. This may come out as tears, outbursts, or fighting with siblings. Do your best to create an environment where your child feels free to be themselves, even if their behavior differs from what you expected.

2. Discuss your child’s worries and brainstorm for solutions

Sensitive kids process deeply, so expect a lot of “What if” questions. It helps to show that you are on their side and to come up with solutions as a team. In addition, it’s best to avoid projecting your worries on your child.

Here are potential questions that you can expect from a highly sensitive child and some scripts to try:

• “What if you don’t have time to pick me up?” “The teacher will call me.”
• “What if you have an accident?” “Your dad will come and collect you.”
• “What if I don’t know where the toilet is?” “Ms. Anna, your teacher, will help you.”
• “What if I get lost on the school premises?” “Ask for help from the first grownup that you see.”
• “But I’ll miss you so much”! “It’s okay to miss me. I’ll miss you, too”.

3. Be honest with your child

Talking about the fun and challenging parts of being at school with your child is essential.

You can tell your child that most children experience separation anxiety at drop-off. The good news is that it is temporary. Soon enough, they will get used to their teacher, make friends, and enjoy the activities.

Let your child know that adults feel the same way, too. Tell them of a time you felt nervous about starting something new, like a new job, or doing something difficult, like a complex work project. You most likely asked yourself questions like, “Will I like it there? What will my colleagues be like? What if they don’t like me? What if I’m not a fast learner?”

4. Talk about past challenges your highly sensitive child has overcome

You could remind your highly sensitive child of other times when they were without you, such as Sunday school or weekends at Grandma’s house. Did they have fun without you? Who did they play with? Talking about these positive experiences can help to reassure your child that they can enjoy themselves and feel safe even when you’re not around.

You might also talk about the things that scared your little one when they were younger, such as monsters under the bed or the dark. Remind them of how they overcame those fears. For example, you could say, “Remember when you were scared of the dark? We talked about it together and made a special nightlight for you. Now, you sleep all night long without being scared.”

Drawing a picture of what caused them to fear can also help them process their emotions and see that they have overcome their fears in the past. Once they finish the drawing, you can hang it on the fridge so your child can look at it and remember that they are strong and capable.

Another great idea is to have a “wall of fame” in your house, where you can post all the challenges that your child has been able to overcome.

5. Create a predictable routine and a slow after-school schedule

Predictability is soothing for children with a more sensitive nervous system. Their nervous system sees the unknown as a threat, so creating a consistent routine allows our children to relax. This can be as simple as always having a snack on the ride home or watching TV for half an hour after school.

Be sure to have a slow afternoon schedule and include one-on-one time. Our children need more special time with us to feel safe and loved. You can try making this a part of your daily routine by doing a puzzle, going for ice cream, reading a book, or preparing a healthy snack together. Let your child pick what they want you to do together. Remember that this activity has to fill their cup after a whole day of respecting rigid rules, listening, and practicing social skills.

After-school downtime can give your child time to process their feelings about school and lower the risk of after-school meltdowns.

6. Read stories about drop-off anxiety

Picture books about school are an excellent way to broach the subject of drop-off anxiety with your child, especially if they are unwilling to talk or do not know how to name their intense emotions.

Picture books can provide a safe and non-threatening way for children to explore their feelings about school and drop-off. They can also help children learn about the experiences of other children who may feel the same way.

7. Play pretend with your highly sensitive child

Pretend play is an excellent way for children to express their emotions and explore their fears. It can give you insight into how your child feels, and from there, you can develop coping strategies together. Use play to act out how your child might feel at school, discuss strategies that might help them, and role-play solutions to those situations you know might be tricky for them.

8. Teach your highly sensitive child anxiety coping skills

There are several coping skills that can help sensitively wired children manage their anxiety. Some helpful coping skills include:

• deep breathing
• EFT tapping
• positive self-talk
• having a quiet or a sensory corner.

Here are 6 fun and easy deep breathing techniques that you can try with your child:

9. Teach your highly sensitive child how to cope with sensory overload

Schools have a vivid sensory environment that can overwhelm quiet, sensitive children. The noise, bright lights, crowds in the classroom, the taste of food at lunch, and the seams on socks and underwear can all contribute to sensory overload.

Teach your child to recognize their triggers and prepare as much as possible for school. This could include wearing headphones, finding a comfortable clothes brand, and packing a favorite snack. Getting enough sleep and arriving early can also help prevent meltdowns at drop-off.

10. Arrive early

Don’t rush at drop-off. Give your child plenty of time to get out of the car, walk into the school, and say goodbye to you. You may also want to arrive early so your child can explore their surroundings and meet their teacher before the other students arrive.

11. Stay connected while apart

Going to school can be challenging for children because it means being away from us for almost a whole day. Fortunately, that safe feeling children have at home with their parents can be taken to school. How? With comfort items.

Here are some ideas for comfort items that you can give your child to help them cope with school separation anxiety:

• A drawing of a bit of heart or star on your child’s hand and yours. A simple drawing is a meaningful way to remind your child that you are always connected.
• A unique bracelet or other piece of jewelry. You could engrave the bracelet with your child’s name or a special message. Or, you could choose a bracelet in your child’s favorite color or a design they love.
• A toy car, book, teddy bear, or family picture. These items can help to remind your child of your love and support.
• A nice little rock that you have painted together. Think of a unique and personal gift that your child will cherish.
• Anything else that your child loves and feels safe with. It can be something like a stuffed animal, a blanket, a favorite hat, or even a piece of candy.

12. Organize small playdates with classmates

Highly sensitive children are often slow to warm up to new people and places. Their hypervigilance can make it difficult for them to make friends and adjust to school, and their separation anxiety may last longer as a result. One way to help them is to organize small playdates with one or two kids from school in a familiar setting, such as your home.

Avoid inviting children who are already in an established friend group, as this could make your child feel like an outsider.

13. Plan a visit before the start of the school year

Visiting the school before the year starts is crucial for highly sensitive children. They are more likely to be overwhelmed by new experiences, so getting used to the school before classes start can help them feel more confident on the first day of school.

You can even drive by the school, let them play in the area, and get familiar with the surroundings so that it feels less scary.

In addition, meeting the teacher can be incredibly helpful. When we, the parents, can interact with our child’s teacher in front of them, they learn that “If Mommy or Daddy feels safe with them, I will be too.” If this isn’t possible, we can kindly ask the teacher to send us a photo and a story about themselves.

14. Talk to the teacher about your child’s school separation worries

Let your child’s teacher know that your child is more sensitively wired and that they experience intense separation anxiety. The teacher can help create a supportive school environment for your child. They can also help your child develop coping skills for anxiety and sensory overstimulation.

15. Make a list of school calm-down activities

You may need to prepare a list of strategies if separation anxiety spirals after drop-off. Consider discussing your list with the school staff.

Here are some options that may help:

• Before joining in, spend time in the school’s sensory room or a safe space.
• Drink water.
• Breathe quietly for a few minutes.
• Think of a happy place, such as their bedroom or the beach.
• Play on the playground.
• Encourage quiet and independent play before interacting with peers.
• Have one-on-one time with a school staff member.
• Sit next to the teacher during morning activities.
• Help the teacher with the morning activities or snack time materials.

What to Say To Your Highly Sensitive Child During a School Drop-Off Meltdown

When a highly sensitive child is having a school drop-off meltdown, their brain is in a state of hyperarousal. In those moments, the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear and emotion, is very active. Their amygdala sends signals to the rest of their brain, telling them they are in danger.

The child’s prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and impulse control, is not yet fully developed. This can make it difficult for your child to control their emotions and behavior.

As a result of the hyperarousal, the child may experience a range of symptoms, such as:

• Crying
• Screaming
• Clinging to their parent
• Refusing to go to school.

When talking to your child during a school drop-off meltdown, avoiding joining them in their big emotions is essential. Try to validate their feelings and tell them you understand how they feel.

Here are some things you can say to a highly sensitive child during a school drop-off meltdown:

• “I know being away from each other all day is tough. I want you to know that I’m always thinking of you, even though I’m not right there.”
• “I know you don’t want to leave me, and that’s okay. I’ll always be here to pick you up, and we can do something fun afterward. Is there something special you’d like to do today after school?”

Offering your child options can also help them feel more in control. For example, you could ask:

• “Do you want to say goodbye outside the cloakroom or on the sidewalk?”
• “Would you like to carry your teddy bear in your backpack or leave it in the car?”

Be sure to give them a choice between two or three options. In addition, make sure the options are realistic and achievable. Last but not least, try to respect their choice, even if it is not what you would prefer.

Take-Home Message

Even if it’s tough, remember you’re not alone. Separation anxiety is common, and even the most well-adjusted kids struggle with it sometimes.

It’s a delicate balance between giving our kids the freedom to grow at their own pace and pushing them to face challenges (like starting school) and becoming the best versions of themselves. It can be hard to know when to push them towards independence and when to give them space, but at the end of the day, it’s a decision between you and your child. You’ve got this!

If your child is two or three, these things might not worry you. But if they are in school, and you feel that they should be more independent by now, and more excited to leave your side and try new things, then this article may help you.

Before we continue, we thought you might like My Calming Tools Poster. This ready-to-print poster will help your child build coping skills for dealing with frustration, anger, anxiety and other big feelings. Check it out:

Seeing our children frustrated makes us want to scoop in and save the day.

“Here, do it like this.”

“Let me show you.”

“Here, let me help.“

It makes sense to want to help them. It’s our job as parents, right? Rescue them from frustration. Right? Well…it depends.

Children with low frustration tolerance want to have their needs met immediately. They are also likely to blame others when things don’t go as expected (“It’s your fault my glass broke!”). At the same time, they struggle with self-esteem.

Their overwhelming sense of helplessness may manifest as anger, crying, and aggressiveness. Children with a low frustration tolerance may avoid challenges to protect their self-esteem.

As parents, we must avoid punishing deeply feeling children as it can worsen conflicts. Preaching rules rarely helps when a child is upset. Invalidating statements like “You have no reason to be upset” or “Stop whining” only prolong meltdowns.

These behavior-focused strategies fail because if the child could stop overreacting, they would. However, they can’t, so we must delve deeper and understand their hidden needs and potential skill gaps.

What causes low frustration tolerance?

Each child has a different sensitivity threshold because they have a unique temperament. For instance, things that sparkle frustration in a sensitive child might be: transitions, unexpected changes, expecting a reward but not getting one, negative peer interactions, and making mistakes. What’s more, a deeply feeling child can go from 0 to 60 in a second when something doesn’t go as expected.

Family climate. Both overly permissive and strict parents can make a sensitive child less tolerant of frustration. For example, authoritarian parenting (“Because I say so!”) can be deeply frustrating for a kid who tries to live up to expectations but just can’t. On the other hand, permissive parents grant all requests and don’t promote delayed gratification, which is at the core of building tolerance to frustration. Overprotective parents also don’t allow kids the opportunity to experience negative emotions, thus preventing them from practicing their ability to wait patiently.

Lack of emotional self-awareness. Self-awareness is critical for children to work on to grow into emotionally healthy adults. Sensitive children need to know how to label their emotions early on because they usually have big feelings and can quickly get stuck in unhelpful thought patterns.

Here are three mistakes many good parents make that contribute to low frustration tolerance.

1. Over-functioning for your child can worsen low frustration tolerance

When you scoop in, you unwittingly convey that you don’t trust your child to accomplish a task.

Helping with things they can do alone can instill in them a fear of failure. However, experiencing failure is an unavoidable part of learning.

What you can do instead:

In real life, when you want something, you need to work for it. Instead of sheltering your child, you may want to encourage them to earn what they want because in real life if you want something, you need to work for it. This way, they’ll learn to focus on solutions and keep going.

Coach. While stepping in is no doubt easier, acting as a supportive coach will build your child’s self-confidence.

Stand back and wait. When our children are upset, our initial instinct might be to intervene and resolve the issue for them. It’s natural to want to protect them from struggles. However, mastering new skills often includes facing challenges, and a little struggle is a normal part of the learning journey. This discomfort, which encourages growth, is what we call positive stress.

Small daily challenges. Instead of over-functioning for kids, let’s give them small daily challenges, praise progress, and teach them to ask for help after they have given it a try.

Here are examples of small daily challenges:

• ask your child to wait for one minute until you can help (or more, depending on your child’s age)
• encourage your child to get dressed alone
• ask them to try to do something instead of asking for your help first
• if they have trouble with shyness, suggest they choose how to greet when entering the classroom (say “hi,” wave, or smile)
• offer them a savings box and let them handle their pocket money
• give them house chores (start with something easy and exciting for them to build confidence)
• play strategy games, like chess.

Delay gratification. There is never a good time to teach frustration tolerance to kids. We are always tired, or in a hurry, so we usually want to avoid frustration at all costs. However, in the long run, teaching your kid to delay gratification will make your life a lot easier.

What does delayed gratification sound like? Here are some examples:

• “Can you buy me this toy?”, “With your allowance.”
• “Can I watch TV now?”, “Yes, after you finish your chores.“, “You can watch an episode now and the second episode after you do your chores.”
• “Can we go to the park now?” “We can’t right now. I was hoping we could, but, then, Grandma came to visit, and now it’s time for bedtime. How about we do it tomorrow? Do you want to go to the park in the morning or the afternoon?”

2. Avoiding challenges and negative emotions can contribute to low frustration tolerance

A sensitive child can feel uncomfortable in new situations as they don’t know how to behave, and setting emotional boundaries makes them wary. As parents, we don’t want to see them frustrated, and sometimes we get caught in the avoidance trap, particularly if we also have difficulty setting boundaries. In the short run, everybody’s happy, but in the long run, avoidant behavior steals your child the opportunity to learn to cope with stress.

Encouraging your child to face some stress builds resilience. Look at the adults around you – those who cope best with life’s challenges had parents who supported them through difficulties rather than shielding them. It’s natural to find it tough when your child gets frustrated, but it’s an opportunity for both of you to practice handling distress. I’m not suggesting exposing them to overwhelming situations, but consider what true protection means. While it may seem helpful to step in when they face minor issues, in the long run, they may lack coping skills for common situations. Building their ability to handle discomfort will better prepare them for adulthood.

What you can do instead:

Adapt your family life to your child’s sensitivity but don’t overdo it. Go on road trips, family gatherings, and wherever you need to, without fearing your child’s big emotions and meltdowns. The best you can do for your child is to remain calm and supportive as they learn to navigate daily stress. Show them that their big emotions don’t scare you and that you are there for them, that all emotions are normal because emotions are our body’s way of communicating with us.

Create a list of triggers and work through them. Ask your child to name what upsets them, offer them the chance to vent, and work together to find solutions. If your child gets discouraged that the ideas don’t work, talk them patiently through their frustration and ask open-ended questions so that they feel validated and can come up with new solutions.

If your child struggles with frustration, anger, anxiety and other big feelings, The Anxiety Iceberg Poster can help you. It’s a great conversation starter and can help your child learn more about their triggers and how to manage them in a healthy way:

Sign them up for sports. Sports instill values that can be used outside the activity, like winning, losing, discipline and perseverance. In addition, sports like karate develop self-confidence. Better self-esteem makes frustration intolerance much easier.

3. Focusing on the negatives yourself can also be a factor

Children pick up a great deal from our actions. When we’re stressed and tired, we might dwell on the negatives. But if your child is emotional, they’ll soak up that negative energy, leading to more whining, a pessimistic outlook, and feeling stuck in challenging situations.

So, when you find yourself ruminating, remember that your child learns coping skills from you, so it’s essential to model positivity and resilience.

What you can do instead:

Here are our suggestions on how you can improve the mood in your home:

• Journal what pushes your buttons and practice deep breathing, meditation, or yoga
• Think of solutions to your problems instead of ruminating
• Recognize your toxic thinking patterns and practice emotional self-discipline
• Know your strengths and limits and ask for help when you need a break
• Say to your child, “I feel frustrated. I’m going to take a break,” instead of, “That’s it. I’m done. I can’t handle it anymore.”

If you’re prone to negative thinking and that impacts your parenting, have a look at our “Reframing Thoughts” Poster. It’s a great tool to develop a positive outlook and a strong mindset.

Many tools can improve your child’s frustration tolerance. I have just shared with you what worked best for us, but I’d be thrilled to hear your personal experience. So, please, leave a comment below and share your thoughts with me.

A week ago, my son picked up his toy reindeer, looked it straight in the eye, and delivered the harshest insult his 6-year-old mind could muster. “Poopy head,” he greeted Rudolf and added, “pee-pee pants.” The sillier the word, the more hilarious he finds it, especially if there is an audience.

Toilet jokes are a terrific source of amusement for young kids. They make poop jokes in the classroom, on the playground, and, regrettably, even over dinner.

And it can drive parents a little crazy, mainly when used at the wrong time and place, like kids’ piano classes. Imagine, for example, your child farting along to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

So why do kids find potty humor to be so appealing? How are we supposed to interpret these jokes? And why it’s best to enjoy a daily dose of potty humor from your child.

Humor development in children

To understand why kids find poo jokes so funny you need to learn how humor develops. Sigmund Freud, a renowned psychologist, believed that humor develops through three stages: the play stage (children of 2-3 years), the jesting stage (4-6 years), and the joking stage (from 7 years onward).

A peek-a-boo game will keep a baby smiling for hours in the play stage. Later, as a toddler, your child can jiggle uncontrollably every time you put a sock on your ear because they have just learned to associate socks with feet.

There is a simple explanation behind this behavior. According to research, simple jokes amuse kids when they are about to reach a particular developmental milestone. Peek-a-boo, for example, is funny for babies who have not yet learned object permanence. Once your kid gets past a developmental milestone, however, the game is suddenly no longer funny.

The jesting stage then follows. Toilet humor is an excellent example of this. During this stage, children find shocking things to be the most hilarious. Children at this age find shocking things to be the funniest. And what causes a better reaction than poop jokes?

Your deeply feeling kid wants to make friends.

Saying potty jokes and clowning around can be a way of impressing other kids. Preschoolers haven’t mastered irony and sarcasm, so they can’t make more sophisticated jokes.

But when your kid talks potty in the middle of class, it becomes a behavior concern. It’s a challenging behavior because, despite getting negativefeedback, your kid may continue making bad jokes. In this case, observing behavior patterns and triggers is essential. In this case, you’ll need to see whether your kid masks insecurities (like learning differences, low impulse control, trouble with social skills, and anxiety) is essential.

Related: How to Help Your Deeply Feeling Child Set Emotional Boundaries

Your deeply feeling kid works through anxiety using potty humor.

From the age of five, children start becoming more socially aware. In addition, they fear not only ghosts and monsters but also failure and criticism. As a result, a deeply feeling kid with high self-awareness but struggling with social skills can get anxious when trying to make new friends.

So, when your inhibited child uses bathroom humor in public, ask yourself: Does my kid want to attract others’ attention but doesn’t know how?

The truth is that your kid probably does not want to upset you. They are genuinely nervous about approaching new kids. And you should be proud of them for being brave. They might navigate the social scene clumsily now, but telling jokes is better than shying away from social settings.

Try to see humor as a universal coping mechanism. Think about adults who use irony or jokes to hide feeling uncomfortable. It’s the same with deeply feeling kids. But since your child can’t make sophisticated jokes, they resort to plain old potty humor.

Your deeply feeling kid has underlying sensory issues.

The things children laugh at tell us give us clues on their current developmental milestone. That is a pattern that runs throughout childhood. For example, think of three-year-olds who are often still mastering toilet training. Three-year-olds find bathroom humor fascinating, while most eight-year-olds, who no longer consider toilet training an issue, think such jokes are just stupid.

However, sometimes children past toddlerhood return to the potty-talk phase because of sensory issues. For instance, if your school child hasn’t yet learned to wipe their butt on their own, and you insist on it, they might start using potty words to hide anxiety or shame.

Your deeply feeling kid wants your attention.

Another reason children find potty humor funny is to garner attention. As parents, though, we want to tame potty humor in public, so we shower them with negative attention. Think about how self-conscious you felt when your kid showed off their repertoire when you were waiting in line at Target, or when our in-laws came to visit.

Potty jokes are a way to test power against adults.

Children first learn that words have meaning before discovering that some terms have extraordinary power. Adults react to these words with secrecy and hush-hush. Our reaction, coupled with a solid sensory experience (like when using the bathroom), makes kids discover a new power. From the ages of three and above, kids like to assess their power against adults and are constantly testing authority. So unsurprisingly, they find it powerful to make adults laugh (awkwardly) at their potty jokes.

How to tackle potty humor

Some experts recommend you give choices and impose immediate consequences to flush potty talking. While these strategies might work to reduce the behavior, they can make you ignore the underlying issues with which a deeply feeling kid might struggle . So, here are our tips for these children:

Let them laugh but not offend people. Making jokes about farts and pee is a natural part of growing up. However, try to set some restrictions when your youngster is in the potty mouth stage. In our case, one reasonable boundary is that kids are not allowed to refer to other people as “butt heads” or “bum-bum heads.” Why? Because it’s hurtful. Making jokes is funny, but insulting people is not.

Setting such boundaries can help reduce your child’s anxiety while still following societal norms.

Enjoy a daily dose of potty humor from your child. Even if you can’t handle potty humor, remember that your child can still have fun telling jokes on the playground with their pals. Moreover, children benefit emotionally and socially from working on their sense of humor. Therefore, devote 15 minutes daily to goofing around, including telling potty jokes.

Nothing makes my son happier than when I laugh along with him at his jokes.

Have patience. When it comes to bathroom humor, patience is vital. Your child will grow out of this phase, as they have done with peek-a-boo and Cocomelon.  Keep a positive attitude, and remember that jokes reduce anxiety!

References

• Christoff, Maria & Dauphin, Barry. (2017). Freud’s theory of humor. 10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_588-1, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317386267_Freud’s_theory_of_humor
• Young, Karen. “Phew! It’s Normal. An Age by Age Guide for What to Expect From Kids & Teens – And What They Need From Us”. Retrieved from https://www.heysigmund.com/developmental-stage/ on 23 November 2022.