4 Phrases for an Anxious Child

Let’s talk about navigating anxiety for your littles!

4 Phrases for an Anxious Child
+See and Validate
+Name the Worry
+Empower your Child
+Provide Reassurance

1.See & Validate

“Tell me about your worry.”

The first step to working through our feelings is acknowledging that they’re there! Encourage your child to do so by creating space for them the share emotions with you. Let them know it’s okay for them to feel this way!

2.Name the Worry

“If you could imagine your worry as a shape, color or character, what would it be? Could you draw it for me?”

Naming and drawing worries helps us to better understand them with specificity. Doing so can also be grounding if we’re feeling overwhelmed!

3.Empower your Child

“If you could tell your worry something, what would it be?”

Imagining that we can talk to our worries gives us a sense of control or power over them, making big feelings seem much less scary!

4.Provide Reassurance

“What do we know about YOU and this worry?”

Remind them of the facts as you know. For example, if a child is worried about getting a shot at the doctor, or their first t-ball game, you could say, “We have safely gone to the doctor before,” or, “You have practiced your t-ball skills and we know you get better everyday!”

Like these phrases? There’s more where that came from! All of our lessons in Art Feeds Online are rooted in expression and designed to develop social emotional skills just like these. Check out the goodness here.