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Helping your child when they experience Anxiety.

Your child might feel scared, display panic, frustration and become over overwhelmed by emotion. This can be difficult to witness as a parent however it’s important that in the moment you try to help them to calm down by using some of the techniques together below.

 

• Use your relationship with them - Sit physically close and or hold their hand, or get them to sit on your knee or give them a cuddle. All of these can be reassuring and soothing. You might find your child likes you to do particular things when needing comfort just go with what you know about your child and what they like you to do.
• Give them reassure that they are Ok and the anxiety will pass – Giving verbal reassurance that they’re safe with you can help them to calm and regulate.

• Do deep slow breathing together. Breathe in through the nose for 3 and out through the mouth for 4 as this helps the body to relax. Repeat 3 or 4 times

• Try using your five senses. - Anxiety has a physiological response which means we feel it in the body. Connecting to what we can see, touch, hear, smell and taste can help focus the mind, bring awareness to the body and use the sense to help calm and soothe Get them to notice and tell you about five things they can see, four things they can touch, three things they can hear, two things they can smell and one thing they can taste.

• Get them to think about a place that makes them feel calm and safe – It could be an imaginary place or an actual place they’ve been before. They could describe or draw what this would look like

 

• Help them to find ways that help them to feel calmer – Such as Encourage them to do something that helps them to feel calmer- Such as listening to music, drawing /colouring-in, writing in a diary, reading a book watching a favourite film.

Everyone is unique and have their own routines and techniques that help them to feel calm and safe. It might take time for you to help your child work out what works for them .

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