Advice for Parents in Dealing with Children's Anxiety
- Buffer the stressful effects of life changes to a reasonable extent. Families experience stressful life events such as moving, divorce, and death, and children must learn to cope with such stressors. Parents can help by attending to the child's concerns and modeling a positive coping style.
- When you know your child will face a major change such as moving or starting a new school, prepare her for the transition with low-stress visits to become familiar with the environment and people she will encounter. Practice new routines, and add some fun rituals that are familiar to the child. Shopping for new school supplies or redecorating a new bedroom give children something special to look forward to.
- Most parents experience anxiety at one time or another. Model positive risk-taking and coping strategies for managing anxiety, and your child will learn from your example. Encourage your child to take some risks to learn how to overcome anxiety and feel more competent.
- Don't force a child to confront head-on a deeply held fear. You can make the situation worse. Take your cue from therapeutic practices that introduce elements of the fearful situation to the child gradually, always in a supportive, safe environment. Time will usually do the trick.
- Listen to your child's concerns, and let him see that you are taking steps to address his expressed needs in your planning and expectations. During your conversations about his concerns, you can give him practical information to counteract irrational fears and worries.
- Realize that children's anxiety may be expressed through behaviors such as aggression, tantrums, defiance, or school avoidance. You may not make the connection at first, but you should consider anxiety as a cause when your child exhibits negative behavior.
- Take steps to protect your child from the dangers of violence in the home and community. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse cause irreparable harm to a child. If you face these issues in your family or community, you must find a way to keep your child safe.
Additional resources for parents in dealing with anxiety-related problems in children:
