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Think back to when you were a child and try to remember any anxiety riddled events that you may still be feeling some of the effects. Could it have been the child anxiety produced when you tried to meet a new friend but were ostracized, the stigmas that went along with being overweight, the anxiety produced by parental disagreements, wearing thick glasses and/or looking dorky that your classmates made the most of, maybe you wanted to participate in sports but didn’t make the team, or could it have been that sick feeling in your stomach knowing that when your parents saw your less than stellar report card it would result in loss of privileges.

There are other examples as well that can produce child anxiety and shape the way you look at events in the future such as an untimely move, separation from one or more parent, and even school bullying which might have resulted in both long and short-term fears.

When severe enough child anxiety can lead to a broad range of behavioral issues including aggression, impulsive actions, and crying. That said, we shouldn’t skip over the physical cost of child anxiety which may include more trips to the doctor due to a weakened immune system and anxiety driven eating disorders resulting in obesity.

After putting the microscope on child anxiety if becomes clear that finding ways to reduce this destructive nervous tension should be a top priority for parents looking to provide a healthy environment for their children’s developmental years. If you have a few extra minutes why don’t we walk through 6 ideas which are often suggested by experts to reduce anxiety in children.

6 Parenting Tips for Reducing Child Anxiety

1. Get to the bottom of it: As parents we may think we know what is causing our child’s anxiety but there is always the chance we could be looking in the wrong direction. To unearth any hidden secrets consider having your child draw a picture, keep a diary, or write a paragraph or two about what they perceive as frightening Older children may feel more comfortable writing a letter or keeping a diary.
2. Keep the lines of communication open: Talking is one of the most useful tools for reducing any type of anxiety; including child anxiety. So if you can keep an open line of communication with your child about their concerns you will have taken a giant step in diffusing, and correcting, any anxiety driven problems. Keep in mind that studies tell us girls needs two and a half times as many words to accomplish this than boys so if your household is dominated by females be sure to set aside some extra time.
3. Role play in preparation for upcoming stressful events: This can apply to the classroom, social situations, competitions and more. A good rule of thumb is to explain the stressful event in a friendly simple manner possibly mentioning that you had the same fear growing up.
4. Bedtime fears: Something as simple as installing a night-light or buying a new stuffed animal or toy that can act as a companion just might be enough to send those nighttime crepes away.
5. Open up about family problems: Being as open and honest as possible about any family problems that might be producing anxiety at home is our fifth idea. Examples would be job loss, marital difficulty, or a serious parental illness or injury. If the problems are too complex a professional counselor could be an alternative worth considering.
6. Homeopathic remedies: There will be times that despite your best efforts child anxiety will gain the upper hand. In these instances having a safe and effective homeopathic remedy on hand could prove very helpful.