Naturally, you want to help kids feel better when they are worried. But when you try to shield kids from things that make them anxious, you can worsen their anxiety. The best way to assist a child deal with stress is to help educate them on how to handle it when it comes up. With time, they’ll feel less worried.
When a kid gets upset in an unpleasant position, and their parents take them out of the circumstance, the child learns that getting angry is an excellent way to cope. Instead, parents should reassure their children that they’ll be fine, even if they’re scared. You can’t promise that nothing negative will happen to your child. But you can be sure that they will be able to face one’s anxieties and feel less frightened over time.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a mix of physical sensations, thoughts, and feelings that make a person feel worried or afraid. All kids and teens worry from time to time. It’s a regular aspect of growing up. Young people may feel more concerned on their initial day of class or before an exam. Still, they will reasonably shortly be able to relax and feel better.
Anxiety can be a problem for young people when they feel stuck in it or when it feels overwhelming, upsetting, or out of control. If a young person worries like this for a long time, this can make them feel tired and alone and limit what they feel like they can do.
What makes children anxious?
At different ages, children worry about other things. Many of these concerns are standard parts of growing up. Young children often have separation anxiety between 6 months and three years.
When circumstances take kids away from their families or caretakers, they may become emotionally needy and cry. This is a standard part of a child’s growth, and it should stop between the ages of 2 and 3.
Also, it’s common for kids in preschool to develop specific fears or phobias. Animals, bugs, storms, hills, blood, and the dark are all things that young children often worry about. Most of the time, these fears go away on their own.
What are some tips for dealing with child anxiety?
1. Don’t steer clear of things simply because you know they’ll make a child nervous.
In the brief term, you can assist children in avoiding the things they are scared of and helping them feel better; however, in the long run, this will reinforce their fear.
Let’s imagine that a child who is put in a scenario that makes them feel uncomfortable becomes unhappy and starts crying — not to manipulate anyone, but simply because that’s how they think.
The child has acquired that method of coping if their parents quickly remove them from the situation or take away whatever causes them to feel anxious. And there is the possibility that this cycle will continue forever.
2. Get the basics right.
Anxious kids need to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. Help your child stick to their best bedtime so they wake up naturally every morning and cut back on sugar. Take care of their digestive health through good nutrition, and inspire regular exercise for the best mental health. You can do a lot to help one child deal with their anxiety. Start by helping your child understand what anxiety is and how it works.
3. Expect good things, but don’t get too excited.
You can’t tell a child that one’s fears are unfounded or that they won’t fail a test, have fun roller skating, or have another child chuckle at them during show-and-tell. But you can tell them that you’re sure they’ll be fine and that they’ll be able to handle it. You can also tell them their anxiety will decrease as they face their fears. This makes them feel like you have reasonable expectations and won’t ask them to perform a task they can’t handle.
Do not be afraid to seek professional assistance if you feel you cannot cope with your child’s anxiety. You can seek assistance, once again, from the pediatrician, your family sees, or a cognitive behavioral therapist. Because it is reassuring to know that not only is anxiety quite common, but there is still time to treat it.