Stubborn children are something all moms have experienced. One of the major complaints or concerns by moms is that sometimes they are unable to calm their children despite their best efforts. At such times the kid is crying their lungs out, throwing unreasonable tantrums and so on.
Do you know what’s happening to your child? they are experiencing anxiety! Yes. Although many believe that only adults go through anxiety, it is a false assumption. Kids also go through anxiety in different situations in life because they do not know better.
By definition, Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or even fear. Such feelings can be mild or severe. So, how can you help how to help my child’s anxiety? Below we have placed some pointers for it.
What Not To Do When Your Child Is Anxious
Don’t dismiss their feelings
One of the traits of anxiety is that the person can’t pinpoint a single feeling. The radar of emotions starts fluctuating. Exactly, when a child is anxious they don’t understand which particular emotion they are feeling and more importantly why. As your child try to express their fear or other feelings, do not dismiss any of them at all.
Don’t tell them to stop it
Another trait of anxiety is that it cant be just stopped manually. Children are too young to understand the mechanics of anxiety and hence it is impossible for them to stop it just manually. Forcing your children to stop behaving the way they are could even cause more anxiety in them.
Don’t punish them
When children misbehave, punishment is one of the to-go tactics of the mothers. Punishment can include restricting access to their toys, giving silent treatment, emphasising that they will complain to another adult or evening telling them they are a bad person for behaving such a way.
Do not punish your child in a way when they are anxious.
What To Do When You Child Is Anxious
Assure them of safety
When a person is anxious, the first thing they look for is a safe place. A child seeks a safe place as well. Now, if you are at home, your child still needs a safe place! Assure your child that they are safe with you and with they can open up as well. Talk to your child in a low, calm voice with a light touch.
Be accepting of their emotions
When anxious, your child is likely to feel things that don’t make sense or aren’t related to the situation and that is okay. If your child is anxious you have to listen very carefully and be attentive to their emotions to ease the intensity.
Provide them with a solution
As discussed earlier that your child doesn’t understand what is going on when they are anxious. If you want to calm them down the best way to provide them with a solution is to navigate through the situation and these emotions.
One of the tricks that are usually assigned to anxious people is counting 2 things they can see, hear, listen and smell. By assigning your senses to focus on something else, it helps the mind calm down from the anxiety.
Below we also mention some children’s anxiety signs to help you understand more.
Signs your child is anxious
- They find it hard to concentrate
- Unable to sleep, or wake up in the night with bad dreams
- Not eating properly
- Getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
- Constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
- Feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
- Being clingy and sensitive
- Tummy aches and feeling unwell
