Introduction
Anxiety is a common problem nowadays in people of all ages. People are worried about paying bills, their relationships, jobs, etc. When we talk about anxiety in children, we may think that children cannot get anxious because they do not have any burden of paying bills and cooking meals, etc. But just like adults, children also get anxiety when things don’t go smoothly. For example, they do not have their favorite meal in the lunch and do not pass a school test. It is natural for kids to worry at times, and because of temperament and personality differences, some may worry more than others. Many of these worries are a part of the growth process in children. But when these worries interfere in daily activities, it becomes a disorder that prevents children from adopting a growth mindset. Parents are the helping hands that can help kids learn to manage stress and tackle everyday problems with ease.
In this blog article, You will learn how parents can help children when they worry too much. It is essential to understand the causes of anxiety in children that lead to stress and worries. So after reading this article, you will also learn about the factors that make the children worry too much.
Causes of anxiety in children
Several things can make children feel anxious at different ages. What Kids worry about is often related to the age and stage they are. Children typically worry about things they cannot get. For example, they did not pass a school test, played football well, or missed a goal at soccer. Children of age three years have separation anxiety from their parents or carers and they develop specific fears and phobias. Children are often afraid to fail or make mistakes with the fear of getting embarrassed in front of others. School-age children tend to worry about supernatural things (like ghosts), social situations, failure, criticism or tests, and physical harm or threat. Anxiety in children can lower their self-confidence and self-esteem that prevents them from adopting a growth mindset.
How to help your child overcome anxiety?
Parents or carers need to help the children when he worries too much. You can support your child and help him overcome anxiety in the following ways.
Acknowledge their fears: The first and foremost thing parents can do to help children is to understand and acknowledge their fear. Find out what is in their mind, understand it, and feel their fear. Interact with your children and accept their anxiousness. It is vital to talk to your child about their fears and worries and show them that you understand how they feel. It will help your child feel connected and heard. The children will feel safe and secure to share their insecurities with the parents.
Encourage your child to face the fear: Children afraid of certain situations try to avoid them which maintains the anxiety in children. Instead, if a child encounters his or her fears, he will learn that this anxiety reduces naturally on its own over time. Parents should have an open conversation with the children about the reason fear exists and make them admit that when they’re worried about something, they should do that thing to overcome the fear.
Prepare them for the situation and suggest solutions: If you know something is coming up that can cause your child anxiety, prepare them for it. Have a detailed conversation with the children, tell them what will happen, when, and how you should respond to it. Suggest possible solutions and help them learn to deal with challenging situations. Teach them the coping techniques to deal with something they’ve been worried about (deep breathing and drinking water).
Focus on progress, not perfection: Teach your child not to worry if they have not completed a task perfectly. Let them focus on the progress they have made and not the mistakes. It is essential to encourage your child to work hard, but equally important to accept and embrace your child mistakes and imperfections. Focus on the positives attributes and let your children accept the worst.
Reward their progress: It is essential to encourage children and reward the progress they have made. For example, present a small gift to your child if he has made progress in the school test or buy him his favorite toy if he had overcome his height phobia.
Conclusion
It is essential to help your child overcome anxiety in the children. The best way parents can help their children overcome fears is to connect with them, embrace the fears, empathize with them, and talk to them about challenging situations.
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