Empathy wins in many, many situations. It happens to every child in one form or another – anxiety. Tell your child that Widdle is worried and you need to teach him some coping skills. “If how you feel was a monster, what would it look like?”. It could be a hug, space or a solution. Hard work, like pushing on a wall, relieves tension and emotions. But asking your child to say how they feel with a color gives them a chance to think about how they feel relative to something simple. Because each anxious situation is different, give your children the opportunity to choose the calming strategy they want to use. 8. Have a battle cry: “I am a warrior!”; “I am unstoppable!”; or “Look out World, here I come!”. By recalling all of the people that your child loves and why, love will replace anxiety. She also holds a masters in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Related: 9 Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try. Guide your child through imagining a safe, warm, happy place where they feel comfortable. This article was originally published at Psych Central. If they are listening intently, the physical symptoms of anxiety will dissipate. Part of HuffPost Parenting. Telling this to an already anxious child seems completely counterintuitive, but pointing out why anxiety is helpful reassures your children that there isn’t something wrong with them. Setting it aside to do something fun can help put their worries into perspective. Helping your children recall a time when they overcame anxiety gives them feelings of competence and thereby confidence in their abilities. Giving anxiety a characterization means you take a confusing feeling and make it concrete and palpable. When your children are calm, practice this calming strategy until they are able to use it successfully during anxious moments. "Let's squeeze this stress ball together.". Resistance bands also work. 40. 18. When the need presents itself, operate off of this checklist. Visualization is a powerful technique used to ease pain and anxiety. Her passion is taking research-based concepts and transforming them into fun and digestible learning modules. Anais Nin is credited with the quote, “Anxiety is love’s greatest killer.” If that statement is true, then love is anxiety’s greatest killer as well. Create a character to represent the worry, such as Widdle the Worrier. “Remember when you made it through XYZ?”. Then we’ll pick it back up again.”. If your child can't take a walk right now, have them run in place, bounce on a yoga ball, jump rope or stretch. “I see Widdle is worried again. "What else do you know about (scary thing)?". Weightier blankets have even been shown to reduce anxiety by increasing mild physical stimuli. Anxiety Relief Programs for Kids. Anais Nin is credited with the quote, “Anxiety is love’s greatest killer.” If that statement is true, then love is anxiety’s greatest killer as well. Model a calming strategy and encourage your child to mirror you. This is especially helpful for older kids who can better articulate the "Why" in what they're feeling. It can also be fun. Supporting your children with your presence and commitment can empower them to persevere until the scary situation is over. A smell buddy, fragrance necklace, or diffuser can calm anxiety, especially when you fill it with lavender, sage, chamomile, sandalwood or jasmine. Anxiety can hijack the logical brain; carry a checklist with coping skills your child has practiced. Let your children guide the situation and tell you what calming strategy or tool they prefer in this situation. Confidence quells anxiety. Without interrupting, listen to your children talk about what’s bothering them. This future makes them feel anxious. 3. Reminding your child of a past success will encourage them to persevere in this situation. Helping your children recall a time when they overcame anxiety gives them feelings of competence and thereby confidence in their abilities. 11. Your children have written a story in their mind about how the future is going to turn out. Next, ask your child about the best possible outcome. Competence breeds confidence. Your child has written a story in their mind about how the future is going to turn out. 20. 45. “I get scared/nervous/anxious sometimes too. Ask your children to tell you what they need. Marathon runners use this trick all the time to get past "the wall.". 37. Often, a child will feel like their anxiety is never-ending. Next, ask your child about the best possible outcome. This step removes power from the scary thing and empowers your child. Asking another person to identify what they're feeling in the midst of anxiety is nearly impossible. Wooden Cutting Boards Can Be Hard To Clean, But Not With This Monica Potter Tip! Those who are anxiety-prone often feel as though they have to carry their anxiety until whatever they are anxious about is over. Being able to make your child comfortable during high stress moments is essential and these 49 calming phrases by PhyschCentral are brilliantly wonderful. Your validation shows your children that you respect them. Pointing out all of the people who may share their fears and anxieties helps your child understand that overcoming anxiety is universal. Talking it out can give your children time to process their thoughts and come up with a solution that works for them. Knowing you are pleased with their efforts, regardless of the outcome, alleviates the need to do something perfectly – a source of stress for a lot of kids. Ask your children to pretend the anxious thought is a train that has stopped at the station above their head. Excitement about a future moment is contagious. Ask your children to tell you what they need. What parents need to know is how to calm an anxious child when it happens. 26. 35. Give your child a front hug, a hug from behind, or let them sit on your lap. “I need you to tell me when 2 minutes have gone by.”. Follow up by asking why their feeling is that color. Accept their story and then ask them to come up with a few more plot lines where the story’s ending is different. The goal of this exercise is to help a child think more accurately during their anxious experience. Giving anxiety a characterization means you take a confusing feeling and make it concrete and palpable. Once kids have a worry character, they can talk to their worry. Talking it out can give your children time to process their thoughts and come up with a solution that works for them. "What is the first piece we need to worry about?". It may even strike up a conversation with your older child about how you overcame anxiety. Pointing out all of the people who may share their fears and anxieties helps your child understand that overcoming anxiety is universal. Dad Edits Daughter’s Resume To Reveal Her True Personality. Repeating that they are safe can soothe the nervous system. Drawing, painting or doodling about an anxiety provides kids with an outlet for their feelings when they can’t use their words. The physical contact provides a chance for your child to relax and feel safe. Empathy wins in many, many situations. Talking it out can give your children time to process their thoughts and come up with a solution that works for them. It could be a hug, space or a solution. Marathon runners use this trick all of the time to get past "the wall.". When the need presents itself, operate off of this checklist. 45. “Remember when you made it through XYZ?”. After all, knowledge is power. Remember, anxiety makes your children feel as if their minds and bodies are in danger. Buy a ball, keep a handful of play dough nearby or make your own homemade stress ball by filling a balloon with flour or rice. Being told that you will be kept safe by the person you love the most is a powerful affirmation. This is especially helpful for older kids who can better articulate the “Why” in what they are feeling. The physical act of yelling replaces fear with endorphins. Have a point/counter-point style debate about the reasons for their anxiety. Supporting your children with your presence and commitment can empower them to persevere until the scary situation is over. It’s no fun.”. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today, Raise the kind of person you'd like to know, 9 Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try. In doing this, we realize the entire experience isn’t causing anxiety, just one or two parts. Setting it aside to do something fun can help put their worries into perspective. If they are listening intently, the physical symptoms of anxiety will dissipate. By talking about their thoughts as third-party observers, they can gain perspective on them. On occasion, we also use cookies to collect information from our toddlers, but that’s a totally different thing. Older children especially love this exercise because they have permission to debate their parent. How To Make Christmas ‘Funfetti’ Shortbread Bites! When the anxiety surfaces again, ask your child to recall what they've learned. Model a calming strategy and encourage your child to mirror you.