Empowering Parents and Children: A Guide to Navigating Childhood Anxiety and Building Resilience
Fears and worries are normal for children to experience, and the symptoms can be tricky to spot. Some signs of anxiety include tummy aches, headaches, tantrums, disturbed sleep, changes in appetite and avoiding everyday situations.
It may be time to seek help if your child’s anxiety is frequent or long lasting or if it becomes severe. If your child’s anxiety is preventing them from daily activities such as school, play, social situations, eating or sleeping well, these are key indicators that it’s time to get professionals involved. This might include your child’s school, GP, counsellor, pediatrician, or psychologist.
Yet, as caregivers, we're not powerless. There are numerous strategies to assist our children in navigating their anxieties:
Modeling Positive Behavior: Our reactions to our own anxieties can influence our children. By handling our concerns positively, we can set constructive examples for them.
Engage in Shared Activities: Fun activities can be a diversion from anxiety triggers.
Establish Routines: Consistency, especially with schooling, even when challenging, can be beneficial.
Prioritise Well-being: Regular family meals, adequate sleep, physical activity, and minimising screen time can be effective in managing anxiety.
Empathise and Plan: Recognising and validating their feelings and crafting strategies, like employing mindfulness or affirmation practices, can be empowering for them.
Normalise the Experience: Sharing some of our own anxieties and assuring them that everyone occasionally feels apprehensive can be reassuring.
Educate with Resources: Books like Karen Young’s “Hey Warrior” and “Hey Awesome” can be an engaging way to explain the concept of anxiety for young minds, and we have them in the Community Hub for you to borrow!
Use the 'Stepladder Approach': This technique provides a gradual way to face fears, starting from the least intimidating, ideal for ages three and up.
Furthermore, there are some incredible digital resources for us as parents to use to support our children. The Brave Program is a free online program designed for children aged 8-17 and contains a separate parent program. It includes specific programs for Children and Teens. The program includes relaxation, identification of emotions, coping skills, problem solving and positive self-talk. While children can navigate it solo, a guiding hand from a parent or caregiver can enhance its benefits.
There are some great resources listed below that will help you and your child, but always remember that you can reach out to the professionals who are ready with more support if you ever need it.
Kids Health Information: Anxiety - primary school aged children (rch.org.au)
Anxiety in children | healthdirect
Anxiety in children and childhood fears | Raising Children Network