Helping Children with Worries and Anxiety

Worry and fear are normal parts of life and can be helpful. It is normal for young children to feel afraid of monsters and worried about starting school. Fear can help you keep safe in the face of danger through a fight, flight, freeze response. Worry can help motivate you to make time to study for a test if you are underprepared and a successful grade will help you reach your goals . However, when worry and fear lead to frequent experiences of anxiety and disruption of regular routines and activities there are things you can do to support your child.

Video from Anxiety Canada: Fight, Flight, Freeze http://https://youtu.be/FfSbWc3O_5M

Video on Separation Anxiety: https://youtu.be/r_5eiYIo1XM

Information on Separation Anxiety:  https://www.anxietycanada.com/disorders/separation-anxiety-in-children/

Cartoons on anxiety for kids:   https://www.anxietycanada.com/caretoons/

Here is a Mandarin translated introduction to anxiety, emotion regulation and emotion coaching presented at Nelson Elementary https://vimeo.com/817801934?share=copy

Books:

Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, Tamar Chansky https://odinbooks.com/index.php?page=viewitem&itemId=13226

Freeing Your Child from OCD, Tamar Chansky https://odinbooks.com/index.php?page=viewitem&itemId=3217

Break Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD https://odinbooks.com/index.php?page=viewitem&itemId=18531

Programs:

Confident Parent, Thriving Kids (for mild to moderate anxiety): https://welcome.cmhacptk.ca/anxiety/

SPACE program: https://www.spacetreatment.net/

MAP (for mild to moderate anxiety):https://maps.anxietycanada.com/courses/anxiety-plan-children-teens/

Websites:

Anxiety Canada (provides information different types of anxiety and what to do): https://www.anxietycanada.com/

From Anxiety Canada – The Card System Toolkit: https://www.anxietycanada.com/cardforeducators/

Mental Health Foundations (EFFT): https://www.mentalhealthfoundations.ca/

EASE: https://alpha.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/child-teen-mental-health/ease

International OCD institute:https://iocdf.org/

 

Anxiety can cause children to want to avoid situations that make them feel worried. Avoidance provides temporary relief from worry but often increases it for the next time they have to face their fears. Gently helping your child to face their worries and fears with a fear/bravery ladder is one strategy you can use: 

Use a fear thermometer to identify what your child is afraid of:https://www.anxietycanada.com/downloadables/my-fear-thermometer/

Create a fear ladder with your child to gently help them face fearful situations: https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/build-a-fear-ladder/

Reward bravery: https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/rewarding-bravery/

Offer comments that acknowledge your child’s worry and fear that build their confidence;

“I know you can feel worry and anxiety and keep going.”

“Anxiety is uncomfortable and you can handle it.”

“It’s hard and you have the power to get through.”

 

Anxiety can also lead to your child asking for resasurance repeatedly. Providing reassurance can increase your child’s worries.

Here’s some more information: https://www.anxietycanada.com/downloadables/how-to-address-excessive-reassurance-seeking/

 

You can try these activities with your child to help them feel calmer and more relaxed: 

Progressive muscle relaxation (an example from Youtube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaTDNYjk-Gw

Calm breathing: https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/calm_breathing.pdf

(There are many videos available for belly breathing, rainbow breathing, 4 square breathing and more)