Parenting And Mental Health: How To Help A Child Cope With Anxiety

Anxiety usually hits a child when they feel fear or when they think they will be separated from something which they love. A parent can notice that their child is facing anxiety by observing their behavioral and body changes.

According to Child Development, it is important for a parent to talk to their children about anxiety. A parent should make them understand that it is common to feel this way and a lot of people confront situations which make them anxious. Talking about anxiety can calm a child down. If a child gets to know that they can talk about this stuff, they get less stressed and anxious about things.

As stated by Child Mind Institute, a parent can cope up with their child's anxiety by trying to keep the anticipatory period short. If a parent knows that their child is getting anxious about something that is going to happen, then do not talk about that thing at all.

For example, if a child is anxious about their tests results, do not talk about it and the parent ought to get the child's mind off the exam results. This helps relieve anxiety stored within a child's brain.

Anxiety can also be solved by making a child believe that worrying is normal. A parent should tell them that worrying has a purpose and that it is good to worry sometimes.

Telling the kids that worrying is some sort of a defense mechanism could also help. Parents should also explain that if they stop worrying, they can get in trouble for being careless. However, this definitely doesn't imply worrying without purpose. As an old adage says, "too much of anything is bad," right?

Telling a child that it is totally okay to have fears and almost everyone has them could also help them cope with anxiety. A parent should also share their fears with their children by telling them stories about it and making them feel that they are not the only ones out there who has fears and worries.