Practical Tips for Anxious Children

Practical tips if your child is suffering from anxiety:

• Structure and routine is key

       A clear daily routine is important. 'Now and Next' boards and 'visual timetables' may           

          also help. 

• Use/make a worry monster 

  Sometimes just writing down a worry can be helpful in itself. When a worrying or troubling thought comes into the child's mind they can write it down, or draw a picture, and feed it to their monster or puppet.  They will often be willing to tell the monster about the worry when they have been unable to voice it to an adult. 

  Worry monsters can be purchased from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schmidt-42343-Junior-Worry-Eater/dp/B00U4SES0Q/ref=sr_1_11 dchild=1&keywords=worry+monster&qid=1587986046&s=kids&sr=1-11 

  or you can design and make your own https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Design-a-worry-monster.pdf

         Worry Monster Craft.pdf

• Visit our school 

        As part of the daily walk ( if practical and possible), pass the school and encourage your

        child to be curious: "I wonder, I imagine and I notice" conversations.  In a really simple way,

        this keeps school in the frontal cortex, which will help in dealing with anxieties

• Sensory activities help children feel psychologically safe.

      introduce things like music, smells, comfy chair/colours, warm lights into your child's daily                  routine.

• Build on the PLAY system of the brain

      introduce a range of daily play activities  – it can be anything . Play activates the oxytocin 

         chemical and therefore brings the cortisol that cause the anxiety down. 

• Keep a diary / make a scrapbook

         This could be a written diary or blog, audio or video, scrapbook, images or photos,

         sketchbook, etc. Any of these formats can be a diary. Capture great family moments with       

         photographs or drawings, keep your art creations done during lockdown in your scrapbook,             draw maps of walks you've been on, ask the whole family to write diary entries to record 

         activities/feelings etc. 

• Increase things your child can do independently 

          Giving children a sense of control is important. Give them independent tasks to complete -  

          handwashing, helping out in the house, contacting extended family etc

Explaining Social Distancing to Children

For very young children who may not understand the concept of viruses and germs, this video from Sesame Street’s Grover is a great way to show them the “good” and “bad” of being far away and too close up to someone.

https://youtu.be/xOrt8WMwVEo

One of the best ways for kids to understand a variety of topics is through stories. The author Kim St. Lawrence, has created a story video of a children’s book about social distancing called “Time to Come In, Bear,” and shared it on YouTube for families to access for free. The 90-second story follows a bunny who has to explain to a bear why they have to stay inside and is a good starting point for a conversation with kids.

https://youtu.be/DA_SsZFYw0w

Calming Techniques

Seasame Street: Learning to belly breathe

Rosita knows it can be frustrating staying inside all the time because she feels the same way too! Luckily, her mommy taught her how belly breathing can help calm her emotions. Take a deep breath and learn to belly breathe with Rosita