SUPPORTING A WORRIED CHILD

Helping your little one tackle their worries is a tough task. Let's take a look at an approach that comforts and empowers them.

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When a child is very anxious, it presents a precarious position for many parents. The natural instinct is to find immediate solutions to lift your little one out of this feeling, but sometimes this can put pressure on them, causing even more anxiety. It’s so easy for children to get caught in this loop of worry. However, with a little bit of knowledge, helping an anxious child becomes a lot more manageable.

AVOID JUMPING TO SOLUTIONS

Leaping into problem-solving mode is the initial reaction that so many of us feel when our little one is in the grips of an anxious episode. You may want to swoop in and ‘fix’ the situation but this isn’t always what’s best for the child. They aren’t going to be able to settle down if you’re focused on cleaning up around them. So pause for a moment and comfort your little one. There will be lots of time to resolve the issue and help them regulate their emotions. Meeting your little one wherever they’re at will signal to them that you are on their side in this, that you’re not dismissing their feelings and that everything might really be okay. The key is to empower them to overcome the anxiety themselves over time and one of the best ways to do this is to avoid solving all the problems on their behalf.

UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION