Ways to help children deal with anxiety

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, we have all had to find a new normal way of

“” living.

We have had to adapt to substantial change as most things are different to what we were used to.

As adults we are finding it extremely hard, despite all the coping skills and our mature life experience we have built up over time.

Our children may suffer from the same insecurities, fears, and lack of understanding of this new world we are forced to adapt to.

Childhood anxiety has come to the forefront more and more lately. Not only do children have to deal with and absorb all the changes that have had to be made due to Covid-19, but they also pick up on adult emotions, worries and stressors.

Anxious children will worry excessively about a variety of things such as grades, family life, relationships with friends, careers, and so on.

Typical signs that your child might be suffering from anxiety may include: difficulty concentrating, poor sleeping habits with frequent vivid dreams, undereating or overeating, irritability, anger outbursts, a general negative demeanour, constant worrying, frequent use of the bathroom, bedwetting and fidgeting.

The goal is not to eliminate anxiety, but rather to help your child to manage it.

By avoiding the things that trigger their anxiety, the issue then becomes reinforced over the long run.

Children rather need coping mechanisms so that they can deal with similar triggers when they occur, and to be able to function as well as they can even when they might feel anxious.

It is important to have realistic expectations for your child, and reassure them that they will be OK.

It is important that the child has a voice and the confidence to speak their mind and express their emotions and fears, without parents belittling or amplifying their fears.

Create a safe and secure environment that will allow your child to feel and acknowledge their emotions.

Children are perceptive and they will take on our complaints on the phone to our friends regarding what we can or cannot handle.

Therefore, it is also important for us as adults to model healthy ways of handling anxiety ourselves.

Another very important tool that really helps children a lot is a person outside their situation, such as a psychologist, therapist or life coach.

I happened to stumble upon the most amazing life coach facility, with specific referral to the paediatric population, this week on our very own doorstep, called Transcendence.

It radiates friendliness, calmness, tranquility with a playful physical studio, and even a punch bag so your littlie can really get rid of all their frustrations.

It is worth a visit if your child is struggling with anxiety issues.