In Australia, childhood anxiety is a significant concern, impacting a notable portion of the young population.  

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), approximately 6.9% of children aged 4-11 years experienced an anxiety disorder in 2017-18. This highlights that ‘anxiety disorders’ are not uncommon among Australian children.  

However, we often rush to label anxiety as a disorder, overlooking the fact that it is a normal emotion. Just like anger, sadness, and embarrassment, anxiety is something we all experience and requires effort and skills to help children learn to manage it.

In this article, we’ll explore how to help a child with anxiety. by offering practical, compassionate strategies that support both children and their families.  

Whether your child is facing school stress, social anxiety, or general worry, we'll guide you through effective tools and expert-backed tips to help them feel more secure, confident, and understood.

How to Help a Child with Anxiety – The Key Factors

Understanding Childhood Anxiety

In order to help a child with anxiety, firstly, it's important to understand what anxiety might look like in children.  

Anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as excessive worry, irritability, difficulty concentrating, physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches, anger or aggression and avoidance of certain situations or activities.  

It's not uncommon for children to experience anxiety about school performance, social situations, separation from parents, or specific fears like the dark or animals.

Secondly, gaining insight into the origins of anxiety within the body is crucial for understanding how our bodies’ systems interact during periods of stress.  

Physiologically, it often manifests through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the "fight or flight" response. This response includes heightened adrenaline levels, increased heart rate, shallow breathing, and muscle tension—all aimed at preparing the body to confront or evade perceived threats.  

Alternatively, when the prefrontal cortex perceives a threat or danger, it initiates a cascade of responses aimed at assessing and managing the situation, however, this process can become dysregulated, leading to persistent worry, heightened vigilance, and an exaggerated perception of risk.

Recognizing the roots of anxiety not only helps in comprehending and understanding the emotion but also underscores the importance of holistic approaches that address both the mind and body in anxiety management strategies.

As a parent or caregiver, it can be challenging to see your child struggle with anxiety, and knowing how to support them effectively is crucial. Here, we'll explore some practical tips and strategies that can help both children and parents cope with anxiety.

Creating a Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive environment at home is essential for children dealing with stress and anxiety. This involves several key behaviour management strategies:

1. Open Communication: Encourage open communication with your child. Let them know it's okay to talk about their feelings without judgment. Listen actively and validate their emotions.

2. Establishing Routines: Children thrive on predictability. Establishing consistent routines for meals, bedtime, and activities can provide a sense of stability and security.

3. Promoting Relaxation and Down Time: Teach and practice relaxation techniques with your child, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness activities. These techniques can help them manage anxiety symptoms when they arise.

4. Avoid Avoidance: Helping your child face their anxiety rather than avoiding it, is crucial for their long-term well-being. Encourage them to take small, manageable steps towards the thing that makes them anxious. By gradually confronting their fears, they can build resilience and confidence in handling challenging situations. This approach teaches them valuable skills in managing their emotions and overcoming obstacles, setting a foundation for facing future challenges with greater strength and resilience.

Strategies for Parents

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children through anxiety. Here are some strategies specifically for parents.:

How to parent a child with anxiety:

1. Educate Yourself: Learn about childhood anxiety and its various manifestations. Understanding anxiety can help you respond more effectively to your child's needs.

2. Model Healthy Coping: Children often learn by observing their parents. Model healthy coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety in your own life.

3. Encourage Bravery: Encourage your child to face their fears gradually, rather than avoiding them altogether. Praise their efforts and bravery, even the small steps forward.

4. Seek Professional Help When Needed: If your child's anxiety significantly interferes with daily life or persists over time, consider seeking help from a mental health professional specializing in children's anxiety disorders.

Anxiety is an Emotion

Anxiety is a fundamental human emotion characterised by feelings of unease, apprehension, and worry. It typically arises in response to perceived threats or stressful situations, whether real or imagined.  

As an emotion, anxiety serves a protective function, alerting us to potential dangers and preparing us to respond accordingly. Help your child understand that anxiety is a common emotion, experienced by everyone and that it's okay to seek help when needed. Normalise discussions about mental health in age-appropriate ways.

Supporting a child with anxiety requires patience, understanding, and a multifaceted approach. By creating a nurturing environment at home, fostering effective communication, and seeking professional guidance, when necessary, parents can help their children manage anxiety more effectively. Remember, each child is unique, so it's essential to tailor strategies to suit their individual needs and preferences. With the right support and resources, children can learn to navigate their anxiety and thrive both academically and socially.

How to Help a Child with Stress and Anxiety: The Key Takeaways

Helping a child with anxiety starts with awareness, try to identify situations that evoke or in a way trigger high levels of anxiety and the behaviour that relates to it.  Look to create a safe, and supportive environment at these times.  

Key takeaways include recognising the signs of anxiety early, maintaining open and calm communication, teaching simple coping techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness, and seeking professional help when needed.  

Empowering both children and parents with the right tools can make managing anxiety more approachable and less overwhelming.

Need Help Teaching Your Child To Manage Their Anxiety?

As a parent, if you need help gaining some skills to provide that multifaceted approach join us on our next Anxiety Coach course for parents at Behaviour Tonics.

Find Out More: https://bit.ly/3HE097c

Behaviour Tonics are experienced child behaviour specialists. We offer a range of courses, webinars and private consultations designed to help parents, teachers and educators to manage challenging behaviour.  

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