How to Help Children Cope with Anxiety

• Adopt a nightly ritual. Poor sleep habits by themselves can stress the system and create anxiety. Develop a nightly ritual in which your child has time and space to discuss the problems of their day. This gives your child a sense of control and the feeling that they don’t have to deal with their problems alone at night—and, if they wish, it is within their power to pick up those problems again in the morning.
• Monitor your child’s media use. Watch the news with your children, and provide explanations when necessary. Seeing what they are watching enables you to diffuse whatever tension your child is experiencing as they arise.
• Help your child confront their fears. Create a dialog with your child and discuss the things that are bothering them; your child can gain a sense of control by investing in solutions that emerge from the conversation. Further, you can help your child practice and rehearse through role-playing how to relax under stressful and anxiety-producing situations.
• Teach your child relaxation techniques like calm breathing, meditation, and creative visualization. Doing so can not only guide your child to manage stress and anxiety but also provide and opportunity to bond with you.
• Don’t overschedule your child. Your children need downtime to decompress.
• Carve time out for creative play. Creative play can take the edge off concerns and build positive experiences for your child. Your child gets a chance to return to their inner core, restore confidence, and face problems healthily and constructively.
• Incorporate exercise into your child’s routine. Exercise stimulates endorphins and takes your child’s mind off their problems.
• Be what you want to see! Your child is a social learner and follows your behavioral model. You must pay attention to your psychological health and well-being to influence your child to respond to anxious and traumatic situations calmly and healthily.
• Never discount your child’s feelings. When your child is frightened, upset, or bullied at school, it is important to be empathetic and compassionate. If you validate your child’s feelings, you communicate that they are valued and seen.
• Help redirect your child’s focus to the positive. When your child is anxious, guide them to see the positive aspects of the situation.
• Actively listen to your child’s problems. The first step in active listening is to help your child acknowledge the source of anxiety. Then you can lead your child toward a solution in which they participate.
• Spend time with your child. One of the best anxiety-reducing techniques is simply spending time together as a family.

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

What are some other tips that you think would help children cope with their anxiety?

*I think validating your child's feelings and emotions is very important. This builds up their trust towards you and will make them feel safe enough to open up to you.*

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