This note below is from the desk of a 6th-grade teacher who talks about real problems students face and provides ideas and strategies to help children.
Over the last year and a half, we have seen and supported students that have been experiencing anxiety in various ways. I asked our social worker Pam White and ESS leader Kathy Fleet if they have any strategies to help us as teachers and parents work with our children that may be having anxious thoughts. Below is a list of things to think about and consider when your child might be having difficulties feeling anxious.
1. Validate their feelings. If you say something like, “it's no big deal" it could send a message that your child's feelings are wrong. Instead, say something like, " It sounds like you are feeling really nervous right now." Be sure to simply listen to them.
2. Distinguish between real threats and false alarms. Help them understand how anxiety is meant to keep them safe. For example, if they are being chased by a lion, their brain would signal to run. There are also times when their brain triggers a false alarm. If it is a real threat they should listen to those alarm bells and take action but if it’s a false alarm then try to face their fear.
3. Teach the child some skills to identify negative thoughts and change them into positive ones using positive self-talk.
Catch it.
- Help them create a shortlist of negative thoughts.
Challenge it.
- Encourage them to become like detectives to assess the evidence behind their anxious thoughts.
Change it.
- Once they recognize and challenge their negative self-talk, the final step is to replace it with a positive one.
4. Teach deep breathing.
5. Try the stepladder approach. Work with your child to come up with a list of the steps they can take to face their fears and meet their goal.
6. Help them change the channel. If they are worried about things they can't control, discuss the fact that the only thing they can control is how they respond.
7. Maintain a routine as much as possible.
8. Avoid overscheduling. Children need some quiet time alone to decompress.
9. Limit exposure to upsetting news.
Real (and difficult) Parent Style Questions to Ask
1. Do you (or other influences) expect perfection? The child may feel constantly pressured to succeed which causes anxiety.
2. Are you too permissive? This leaves too much for the child's own choice that can produce anxiety.
3. Do you set a calm example?
I would like to add one more item to this list and that is prayer. I have prayed with students who have experienced this because I wasn’t always sure what to do, but talking to God usually calmed us both down and helped us gain perspective. I have learned to start with talking to God first instead of leaning on Him as my last resort.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and know you are not alone. These are real feelings children have. All of us here at BCCS want to work together with you to help your children in all areas of their lives.