Dealing with anxiety is never fun, but it can be easier to deal with for adults as they have the maturity and experience to understand what is happening to them. Many children lack this knowledge, however, which can make managing their anxiety all the more challenging.
Certain activities can help children to calm their minds and move through periods of anxiety quicker. If your child struggles with anxiety, the following activities may help.
Cartoons
Cartoons are not only fun but relaxing, as they occupy your child’s attention and mind. There are some excellent free kids cartoons that you can use to calm your child during a period of anxiety. A few laughs and adventures with their favourite characters will calm any child.
Reading a book
Books are another tool that can be used to manage anxiety. Pass your child a copy of their favourite story and help to find a quiet and comfortable spot where they can sit peacefully. Reading to your child can also help.
Colouring
Colouring has been proven to calm anxiety in children and adults – this is why adult colouring books have become so popular in recent years. Having some coloured pencils and colouring books can come in handy any time as they’re convenient to carry around.
Exercise and sports
Physical exercise releases endorphins in the brain and can help to release nervous energy and focus the mind on a single task. Anxious children can benefit greatly from participating in sports, yoga, and general exercise.
Fidget objects
Fidget toys are designed to keep a person’s focus on a mindless activity, which allows them to calm their minds during periods of anxiety. Unlike other objects, fidget toys are silent which prevents them from bugging those around the child that is using them.
Make a worry or stress box
A worry or a stress box is like a journal or diary on a smaller scale. To use them, ask your child to write one thing that is worrying them down on a piece of paper, and explain that no one will ever read it. Then ask them to place this in the worry box and explain that this is letting go of this stress. This can help them to let go of thoughts that are bothering them in a safe and confidential way.
Talking sessions
Sometimes children just need to talk, but they can struggle to articulate their feelings or they don’t feel safe expressing them. Setting up a physical judgement-free space where you can take them to where everything they say is safe can help. This could be a certain area of the house or represented by handing them a special object.
Wrapping up
By following these tips, you will be able to better manage the feelings of anxiety that your children experience.
