Building Strong Foundations: Tools for Reducing Childhood Anxiety

“Discomfort is a part of life; by teaching our children to embrace and manage it, we empower them to navigate their world with confidence and resilience.”

As a parent, the last thing any of us want is to see our child struggle. Like many other parents, I often feel the urge to shield my child from anything or anyone that might cause discomfort or anxiety. However, my training as a psychotherapist has taught me that discomfort is inevitable—and the more we experience and successfully manage it, the better equipped we become to handle it in the future. While every child may benefit from different tools and strategies, here are five effective ways to help your child manage anxiety:

Teach deep breathing techniques: Slow, deep breaths help regulate the body and calm the nervous system. Teaching your child how to breathe deeply when anxious is a simple yet powerful tool they can use anytime.
Put things in perspective: Ask your child if the thing making them anxious will still matter in 5 hours, 5 days, or 5 weeks. More often than not, they’ll realize that the situation won’t seem as important down the road. This perspective shift can help reduce anxiety.
Remind them of their past successes: When your child feels overwhelmed, remind them of times they’ve faced challenges and come out stronger. This reinforces their resilience and builds confidence in their ability to handle future situations.
Encourage self-awareness: Ask your child how much time they spend worrying about themselves during an anxiety-inducing event, like a game or a performance. Then remind them that most people are equally focused on themselves. This can help ease the pressure they feel by showing them that others aren’t as focused on their actions as they might think.
Frame anxiety as a challenge: Help your child view anxiety-inducing situations as opportunities for growth. Talk with them about how overcoming challenges feels rewarding and how capable they are of handling difficult things.

By using these strategies, you can help your child build resilience, reduce anxiety, and develop the skills they need to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.