Does you child suffer from anxiety?
Do you know the symptoms of child anxiety?
Young children may not be able to express their emotions or tell you they are suffering from child anxiety. As a parent you may need to look for physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, changes in eating habits or appetite, disturbed sleep, or nightmares. Without the right words to express their anxiety, your child may act out by clinging to parents, being stubborn, whining and crying, or acting out aggressively. Your child may also show regressive behaviours such as bedwetting or refusing to sleep by themselves.
Parents, you have options when it comes to helping your child. You can help you child calm their fears by creating a worry bag together. Listen to Parenting coach Pam Dyson explain what she puts into a worry bag and how these items can help kids up to 10 years old learn to cope with their anxiety. Her best tip…. Parents if you’re anxious you need to get a grip on your anxiety!
Pam Dyson‘s favourite items are;
1) BUBBLES
Blowing bubbles help children draw deep breathes in order to blow big bubbles. This is good for parents too. Who can be anxious with beautiful bubbles floating around? We know slow deep breathing calms us down. Slow, deep breathing utilizing the diaphragm and abdomen causes heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure to drop. Here’s an easy bubble recipe.
2) NOTE PAD
Children of all ages can draw or write out what causes them to be fearful or anxious. Putting your fears and worries on paper gets them out of your head and then they may not seem so bad or this gives parents a place to understand what their child is afraid of.
3) WORRY DOLLS
Guatemalan children believe that if you tell one worry to each doll and put the dolls under your pillow, when you get up in the morning your worries are gone. You can create a worry doll from an old fashion cloths pins.
4) Pin Wheel
Here’s a dry alternative to bubbles. Blowing on a pin wheel help children draw deep breathes. Deep breathing stimulates our parasympathetic system which is responsible for relaxing.
5) Lavender Lotion
Lavender is a natural way to stimulation calmness. Of course massaging your child’s body helps to calm your child. Remember being present and close to your child can help your child to calm themselves.
6) Squeeze toy
Squeezing a soft object helps your child to release tension. They may also find the repetitive motion soothing.
7) Practice, practice, practice.
Remember your child needs your help and assistance to learn how to self sooth and calm themselves down. Take out the worry bag with them when they are not worried so they learn the skills they need when they are anxious. Over time with practice, your child will internalize these behaviours and may not need to pull out the worry bag in order to conquer their fears.
If there is anxiety in your home, call us today and talk to us about helping to calm down those fears. We can be reached at 613 -287-3799.
