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🌱😬 Anxiety & Kids🥺🌱
Melissa Moore
October 07, 2024
Hello Sproutly Families,
Anxiety can be a challenging emotion for children to understand and manage. In a world filled with new experiences, changes, and uncertainties, it’s common for young children to feel overwhelmed.
Helping young children understand and manage anxiety is one of the most valuable skills we can teach them. In a world filled with new experiences, changes, and uncertainties, it’s common for young children to feel overwhelmed. Children face pressures that can lead to feelings of worry or stress.
The good news is that with the right tools and guidance, children can learn to recognize these feelings and develop healthy ways to cope. This week's edition of Sproutly is all about supporting parents in helping their children navigate anxiety—empowering them with strategies to build emotional resilience and confidence as they grow.
In this newsletter, you will get....
Feature Article
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels
Anxiety is an emotion everyone experiences. In the article What To Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious, Clark Goldstein provides 10 ways to help your child manage their anxieties, emphasizing that avoiding anxiety isn’t realistic.
Parenting Tips
Photo by Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels
Name the Feeling
Help your child identify what anxiety feels like by giving it a name. When kids can put a label on their feelings, they become more manageable. Use simple language like, "It sounds like you're feeling worried" or "It seems like you're feeling nervous about this."
Teach Calm Breathing
Deep breathing is a powerful tool to help children manage anxiety. Teach your child a simple breathing exercise, like "belly breathing" or counting breaths in and out, which can help calm the body and mind during anxious moments.
Normalize Anxiety
Let your child know that anxiety is a normal and natural emotion that everyone experiences. Explain that feeling worried or nervous is okay, but it’s important to know how to cope with those feelings.
Create a Comfort Zone
Help your child create a "comfort zone" at home where they feel safe and secure. It can be a cozy corner with their favorite books, stuffed animals, or calming activities like drawing. This space can act as a retreat when they're feeling overwhelmed.
Practice Problem-Solving Together
When anxiety arises, help your child work through their worries by problem-solving together. Ask questions like, “What are you worried about?” and “What could we do to make this better?” Encourage your child to brainstorm solutions, even if they are small steps. This helps them feel empowered rather than helpless in the face of anxiety.
Create a Routine
Consistent routines provide children with a sense of security and predictability, which can help reduce anxiety. Establishing a daily routine for activities like meals, homework, and bedtime gives your child a stable framework, helping them feel more in control of their environment.
Praise Efforts, Not Just Outcomes
Encourage your child by praising their effort in managing anxiety, rather than just focusing on the result. Whether it’s trying a breathing exercise or talking about their feelings, acknowledging these small victories can boost their confidence and reinforce healthy coping strategies.
By practicing these techniques, you are helping your child build emotional resilience and develop a toolkit they can rely on when anxiety strikes. It’s important to approach anxiety with patience and understanding, creating a safe space for your child to explore and manage their feelings at their own pace.
Warm regards,
Millie & Melissa
The Sproutly Team
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