Does your child struggle with anxiety?
Every child has some degree of anxiety in their lives. Some common stressors for children include the first day of school, making friends, and going to the doctor or dentist. Many parents want to help their children but are unsure exactly of how to do it. With that said, here are some ways to help your child with their anxiety.
Have Realistic Expectations
You never want to set too high of expectations for your child. You want to always try your best to stay realistic. For example, if your child is struggling to make new friends because they suffer from some degree of social anxiety, you need to realize it may take a while before they are comfortable in certain situations. Overcoming anxiety can be an uphill climb. Remain patient and continue to try and steer your child in the right direction.
Don’t Try To Rid Them Of Their Anxiety
Many parents make the mistake of trying to eliminate their child’s anxiety. This is not the best course of action. It is not healthy to try and avoid the things that make your child afraid. Instead of attempting to remove the anxiety triggers in your child’s life, you want your child to learn how to manage it. Over time, this should make them less anxious about the stressors in their life.
Don’t Force Them Out Of Their Shell
There are some situations where your child will require a little push. For example, letting go of the bike when they no longer have training wheels. However, it is important to remember that this is not always the best solution for getting a child to overcome their fears. In many circumstances, they will require a bit of time to overcome an obstacle.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.