Anxiety In Children

Anxiety can manifest in our children in many ways. Children can seem panicked or stressed, having difficulty with concentration/focus and may even experience physical symptoms, such as a stomach-ache or headache.

How can you help?

 Talk to your child about how they are feeling.
 Talk openly about your fears/worries and how you are going to cope with them. Seeing you handle anxiety in a positive way encourages them to react similarly.
 Teach them about coping strategies. Identify what works for them (e. g. playing with fidgets or taking a break)
 Manage your own anxieties. Children can pick up on our anxieties and it is important to keep conversations age appropriate and reassuring.What can you Say?

What can you say?

Depending on the child, some children do not want reassuring in the moment of upset. They need space to process. These can be great conversation starters from after the upset as well.
 “I’m here for you”
 “I will keep you updated when I find out more information”
 “How can I help you”
 “What is your worry telling you?”
 “I know this is hard”
 “We can work together through it”.
 “Would you like a hug?”

Ideas for children

– Start a gratitude journal
– Draw pictures of how they are feeling
– Discover activities that help them feel calm (e.g., exercise, drawing, calming corner).
– Create a Calm space within the house that they can access to get away if needed

If you feel like you need more assistance managing your child’s anxiety, counselling might be an option for you. Contact us today to book your child a session with one of our skilled therapists.