Anxiety in Children

The following advice is  from the 'Hey Sigmund' website by Karen Young and includes a link to her Facebook page if you would like to find out more or watch some of the videos that are available.
 
Worlds are really colliding at the moment - family, school, work - all in our homes. This can be lovely and not-very-lovely,  all in the same five minutes.

It can be especially tough when we're having to slip into roles that are new to us, such as 'teacher' to our children. Even on our most loving, connected days, school work can bring things undone. The thing to remember is that while we are all at home, we have precious opportunities to strengthen their learning brain in ways that have nothing to do with the tussle over content. I've created a video to explain why stressed brains can't learn, how to switch on the 'learning brain', and what we can do as their important adults to create prime conditions for young brains to learn.

During the week we talked about all sorts of things in the Facebook live - big anxiety, big feelings, tantrums, anxiety at bedtime, sibling squabbles, isolation for children without siblings, adolescents, screen time. You can find the full Facebook live here. I've included time stamps below so you can skip to the bits that are relevant for you.

You can access Karen's Facebook page here:
 
  • 1:10  The 'fight' part of anxiety - tantrums, aggression, big feelings - why it happens and what to do.
  • 4:20 Big feelings are a call for us to come closer (even when they don't feel that way).
  • 6:00 Why 'little' things can tip them over the edge, and how to respond.
  • 9:25  When their anxiety triggers ours - when we fight with them instead of for them - why, and what to do.
  • 10:50 The good news about self-regulation.
  • 16:05 How to manage transitions.
  • 18:10 Squabbling with your teen? This might help.
  • 18:50 The opportunities that sit inside anxiety/anger/big feelings.
  • 20:04 Adolescents, big feelings, regulation - what they need from us.
  • 22:50 When big anxiety looks like big fight.
  • 24:54 How it helps to 'meet the energy with similar energy, but not similar anger'. 
  • 29:10 How mindfulness supports a long term strengthening of the brain against anxiety.
  • 32:00 Dealing with other stressors on top of social isolation.
  • 33:35 How to expand the capacity to cope with anxiety and stress.
  • 35:15 When kids won't talk about it.
  • 35:25 Why some kids might be regressing at the moment (clinginess, asking for help when they haven't needed it before).
  • 40:00 Routines - how they help (and it's okay if some slip).
  • 42:17 Why does my teen hear me as 'angry' when I'm not?
  • 46:37 How do we role model strength and calm when we're feeling anxious ourselves? 
  • 49:50 Sleep - strategies to help with peaceful pillow time.
  • 1:03:02 'Only children' in social isolation.
  • 1:05:31 Dealing with sibling squabbles
  • 1:08:28 Social media and screen time.
Read this excellent document which contains a vast range of really useful information and advice.
Click on the link below for more information.