6 Ways To Ease A Child’s Anxiety

Anxiety arising from a variety of reasons is much more common among children than we think. Many of us imagine that children are inherently always happy because they have no worries – however, this belief is not true. According to statistics, up to 20% of children suffer from some type of anxiety, and it is important for parents not only to identify the symptoms of the problems, but also to be able to alleviate the child’s anxiety.

What makes a child anxious?

There are different types of anxiety, and the causes of anxiety also vary – largely depending on the age of the child. The following are some common causes of anxiety in children:

• Physical or psychological abuse
• Conflicts between parents
• Sudden rejection by a parent
• Any traumatic event
• Family financial difficulties

• Too many responsibilities
• Sudden changes in a child’s daily life, such as a move, the birth of a new sibling, or the death of a loved one
• Lack of routines and order, which is also associated with changes in the child’s sleep and meal rhythms

• Lack of contact with one or both parents
• Uncomfortable situations at school
• Lack of clear boundaries
• Insufficient physical activity
• Excessive sugar intake
• Exhaustion or fatigue due to excessive activities during the day
• Poor self-esteem or self-confidence
• Anxiety about parental separation

It is the responsibility of the parents or other guardians of the child to find out the cause of the anxiety first, and then to find a solution.

6 ways to ease a child’s anxiety

1. Don’t feel guilty

It is, of course, common for parents to be anxious about a child suffering from anxiety. This may sound ironic, but it often happens, meaning parents begin to feel guilty about their own child’s anxiety.

Guilt, however, doesn’t help, as it can make parents make bad decisions. In order to alleviate the situation of the child, it is therefore important that responsibility and guilt be separated.

2. Remember talking

This may be obvious advice, but not all parents talk to their child enough. It is important that the child is allowed to express himself and ventilate his mind. Parents also need to listen carefully to the child to understand his or her feelings.

However, the child should not be forced to speak, as it can cause the exact opposite reaction to what was desired. The child does not need sermons or constant counseling, but dialogue can be fostered with quite simple things. Parents need to form a bond with the child that allows the child to dare to express themselves freely.

3. Please be an example

Children learn to deal with their feelings and face their problems the way their parents do. Therefore, our parents should have good role models here too: we should treat stressful situations the way we want our children to react in similar situations.

4. Take a healthy diet

High sugar intake can affect a child’s behavior. Children naturally have a lot of energy, and if they are given more sugar than their body can handle, the result can be actual wildlife.

5. Don’t demand too much

Parents need to remember that a child is not perfect and does not need to be. Too demanding parents can cause stress and anxiety for a child. It is important to make it clear to her that her parents love her, even if she is not perfect and even if she makes mistakes.

A typical example of over-demanding is that a child is expected to receive an excellent grade in each test or is always wanted to be the best in a particular sport.

6. Show your love

So how can you give your children the best tools to deal with stressful situations? In order for a person to face stressful situations well, he or she needs to feel able to, and this is closely related to self-esteem.

In order for a child to be sure of himself, he needs to feel the absolute love of his parents. Thus, parents should not only show their love when celebrating some achievement of a child.

We should be in love with our children at all times. We need to spend time with children so they know we value them.