All children have worries and fears from time to time. When children feel completely overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, they struggle to do everyday things. Parents cannot protect their children from experiencing anxiety but what they can do is help their children learn to manage it.
Healthy Coping
Strategies
Talk to your child about their fears
and worries and help them learn
a variety of coping strategies. Having
a list of strategies to use in a moment
of anxiety can help children to cope
such as deep breathing, using a stress
ball, writing it down or counting to 10.
Respect Your Child’s
Feelings
Listen and empathise when your
child expresses their fears and
worries. Avoid saying things such as,
“There is nothing to worry about.
You will be fine.” Let them know you
understand how they are feeling.
Focus on the positives
Children who are anxious can get lost
in negative thoughts, self-criticism
and worry about future events. Focus
on your child’s positive qualities; the
more regularly you do this the more
that it will encourage your child
to focus on the positives.
Stay calm
Children and teenagers pick up on
their parent’s emotions. If you are
feeling anxious, your child will pick
up on that and they could experience
an increase in their own anxiety.
Deliberately slow down your speech,
take deep breaths to relax, and ensure
that your body language and facial
expressions show that you are calm.
