Anxiety in Children:
Every child may be anxious at times, it may a test they are nervous about, a doctor visit or just fearing the unknown.
However, there are always some children that you will find perpetually anxious, these children need your assistance and reassurance to flourish in the classroom at home and beyond. Of course, if there is a question or concern, reach out to a mental health professional and speak to a doctor when the anxiety is excessive.
Here are basic tips that can help you with the anxious children.
Tips to ease anxiety in children:
- Teach a child to manage their fears– you cannot get rid of fears, though you can teach children to tolerate and deal with their anxiety and function as best as they can. When learning to deal with their fears and acknowledging them the anxiety may decrease or disappear.
- Do not refrain from doing something so that a child should not feel anxious- this helps the child deal with anxiety, by not ignoring the fear and the situation that causes it. It may give the child additional exposure and coping skills.
- Be positive yet realistic– do not lie or underestimate the fear. If a child is afraid they will fail a test , either express confidence that you are not concerned or ask that what will happen if they do fail. They will see the consequences is not as bad as the fear itself.
- Validate the fear and never make fun
- Encourage and celebrate when child faces fear head on
- Cut the wait- Keep the waiting period as short as possible. Sometimes waiting for the the thing to happen is harder than the action itself. If a child is anxious about a shot ask the doctor to give the shot as soon as possible.
- Talk it through– if a child is anxious about something and the child can reason discuss with the child their fears. Ask them why they are scared and prepare them if their fears do come true. They will be better equipped to handle the situation and would not fear the unknown.
- Model stress Relievers– it is important for children to see adults dealing with stress in a positive way. The y look and copy our behavior.
Anxiety in children is difficult
to watch. Dealing with stress and anxiety triggers are not simple. Giving your children the skills and tools to navigate bumpy roads will help them build resilience and courage.