In this rapidly growing world, a majority of people face stress and anxiety due to various reasons, and children are no exception to it. There can be many reasons a child might feel stressed out or anxious, ranging from issues at school and peer pressure to environmental changes. While adults are better at navigating such challenging situations, children might need their parents’ supervision in order to identify and manage stress and anxiety. It is important that the kids receive the right guidance and assurance to manage their stress and build emotional maturity.
As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child navigate stress and anxiety. Here are five effective ways you can support your child in managing these challenging issues.
Validate their feelings
Unlike adults, children don’t know how to react when things turn sour. Hence, as a parent, you can assure your child whatever they are feeling is quite normal. By validating their feelings and telling them that it’s all right to feel the way that they are. It would make them feel understood, which, in turn, can help them manage their anxiety.
Tell them the feelings aren’t going to last
Often, children might be overwhelmed by anxiety and stress, which can even lead them to think that these emotions are permanent. As a parent, it’s a responsibility to acknowledge these feelings and let them know that the pangs of anxiety won’t last forever. Reassuring them would make them hopeful again.
Engage in activities with your kids
Apart from verbal assurances, you can also indulge in some physical activities with your children. Play a sport, go for a walk, paint with them, or exercise—all of this can act as an outlet for emotions. Meanwhile, practising mindfulness has also proven to have positive effects on anxiety and significantly reduce it.
Listen to your child
Every time, telling a child what to do can aggravate their anxiety and stress. Instead, ask your ward to express their feelings. Letting them say what they have in their mind might lead them to understand their emotions better and develop trust. If children are able to articulate their feelings word-to-word, then it’ll provide them clarity about their emotions. Remember, communication is always the key!
Lend them a hand of support
When anxiety and stress strike, children might feel isolated, and this can sometimes snowball into bigger issues. Hence, it is important to tell the kids that they are not alone and that they have support for each step of their journey. Getting support might help them open up about their emotions better.
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