TEN ways to ease your child’s
anxiety
The reality of our life is that children thrive on a
predictable routine and when that is disrupted without notice it can cause some
anxiety, or if a child already has an anxious nature it can increase tenfold. Here are some tips to help your child deal
with anxiety during a time of uncertainty for all of us.
1.
Journal:
Hear me out, you can have them document each day as it happens with pen and
paper or use prompts such as, “pretend you are describing in detail the
happenings around you so that your children and grandchildren will be able to
feel what you are feeling” This is a way to get them to put thoughts and feelings
on paper without saying, “put your thoughts and feelings on paper.” If the idea of putting pen to paper makes
them cringe have them do a daily vlog of the current lifestyle and
situation. Same idea as above but it
has them doing this using other media besides the usual means. This
form of expression will help them process their anxiety fully by putting it
into words.
2.
Exercise: We all know kids need recess but without buddies
and monkey bars it feels less appealing. Take a hike around your house, search
for the strangest kind of rock or have everyone spread out and bring back to
the table the most unusual item they found outside. Sunshine and fresh air are
good for everyone. I know… rain, but
listen, we all take showers and bathe daily, and you might as well get wet
outside. Dance in it, jump in puddles with them, let them get really muddy and
then hose them off. If you are forced
indoors, YouTube has amazing yoga and kid workout videos. They will want you to participate so jump in.
It will help your mood too!
3.
Take
virtual field trips. Changing your scenery does not have to mean getting on
a plane or in a car. Disney, sea world,
zoos, have all posted virtual visits on YouTube. So everyone gather around the computer and
take a short break from reality: Go on an
African safari, a ride on splash
mountain or swim with dolphins.
4.
Limit the
junk: as hard as it is, an open pantry means everything is fair game. Kids
are terrible about knowing their limits as far as junk food. Regulate snacks and drinks. This does not
mean be a Nazi about it, but studies show sugar and caffeine increase anxiety
significantly. Offer up some fruit,
flavored water or if your kids are old enough, have everyone in charge of a
meal during the week. This gives them ownership and is a good distraction from
the ordinary.
5.
Have a
schedule, even if you don’t keep it 100% of the time this helps your kiddo
know that there are still rules, structure, and safety. They will pretend that they don’t want this,
but the reality is, they do! Think of it
like this, the safety harness on a rollercoaster, you always push against it to
make sure it works. You want it to work
but you push anyway just to check. They will push for later bedtimes, more snacks,
eating in front of the TV but in reality, they need for things to remain as
normal as possible.
6.
Find time
every day for a creative outlet. For
some kids this is drawing, painting or crafts. Other children may want to dance
and make tik tok videos. Encourage a creative outlet. If your kiddo has not
found their niche, explore some options via the internet; you can learn how to
knit, sew, cartoon or even make doll dresses out of garbage (trust me this is a
thing) all online.
7.
LISTEN
more than you talk. It is frightening to see your child wrestle with
anxiety and you will be tempted to over talk, DON’T! Open the door and let them know you are here
for them always and you are willing to listen but do NOT push. Your
hovering can create more anxiety- they will think, “Wow mom is really worried I
guess I should be really worried too”
Give them space to open up when they are ready.
8.
Practice
ways to calm their mind and spirit. The CALM app is a great way to end the
day. It has bedtime stories and music to help them ease into sleep when they
are restless. Youtube also has a
channel called sleepytime stories. These and others teach kids how to breathe
through anxiety which is a huge piece of the puzzle.
9.
Stay connected.
Encourage them to write letters to friends or family, FaceTime grandparents , etc. Talking to other people in their circle going through the same thing helps normalize their feelings and lets them know we are all in this together.
10.
Lead by example:
Last, but certainly not least, worship together, dive into a family bible study
or read the morning’s verse around the breakfast table. Seeing YOU place your trust where it belongs
can go a long way into helping them do the same.
