What are the ways to relieve anxiety in children?
Children, just like adults, can be worried and anxious from time to time. Some kids even get too anxious to play properly. New research suggests there are things parents can do to help their children deal with anxiety. Six practical and effective approaches found in research on anxiety disorders in children are summarized below:
- Don't say: don't worry, no.
Acknowledging your child's fears, telling your child that fear will not remain the same, and be prepared to face anxiety and fear at different times. No matter how old a child is, don't simply ignore their worries, anxieties, and fears; simply reassuring them that none of these things will happen, or suggesting that they're thinking so foolishly, won't help a child avoid anxiety at all. Instead, what parents should really do is face up to and acknowledge their child's fears and concerns, and show understanding.
- Don’t change your routine because of your child’s worries
There is no need to help your child figure it out, but let them figure it out for themselves, and if they ask for help, help them. Don't change your routine around your child's worries and fears, or you won't have a chance to let them know that they can cope with the things in life that scares them.
If your child is afraid of dogs and sees a dog approaching, you may want to rush your child away. But if you do, the message will be that kids are right to be afraid of dogs. Instead of changing your life around your child's fears, it doesn't mean forcing your child to face the things that make them extremely fearful. Instead, you should support them step-by-step through their fears until they feel comfortable with it.
- Don't help them find answers, listen patiently.
Don't keep asking "what's wrong," but watch your child's behavior for more information. Communication is key. This requires parents not to always ask their children how they feel, but to let their children fully understand when and what they feel. Be sure to listen carefully to discover the reasons behind your child's fears.
Oftentimes, it's easy for parents to help their children come up with solutions, but instead, parents should ask their children to explain what they are afraid of and listen carefully, because the child's fear may be based on some kind of false perception.
Only when you know what your child is worried about can you provide the right kind of help.
- Asking questions helps them understand that anxiety is redundant.
For example, you can ask them what has happened to them before, something that may have happened that scares them. Slowly help them understand that their fears about something are unlikely to happen, or that if they do, they are fully capable of dealing with them. And encourage children to develop psychological strategies and tactics that allow them to manage their own fears and worries.
- Test their fears slowly.
Help your child learn coping strategies, make plans, and praise and reward every step they take. Praise helps children build self-confidence.
- It is normal to be anxious every now and then.
Worrying is part of life. What we need to learn is how to respond. Life isn't about being perfect, it's about learning how to make life better.
However, if anxiety often plagues children, causing them to avoid the things they should face every day, or even miss some important links, then it is necessary to seek more expert advice.
Parents can read books to learn about strategies that can be used, or contact a doctor for help starting cognitive behavioral therapy. One thing to keep in mind, you can't expect to eliminate all anxiety from your child's life.
The ultimate goal of parents is to help children get used to the uncertainty in life, not to eliminate all worries.
Learning to control your emotions is also part of a child's development.
When we are adults, we are better able to deal with the worries and fears in our lives because we know where to look, and most problems can be handled with ease.