How to Help Your Anxious Child Deal With School
Inside: Anxiety is on the rise in our culture and our kids are showing signs of it too. How do we teach our anxious child how to deal with change and stress in life especially when it relates to school. God’s word can help us and our anxious child deal with the tension that comes their way.
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Today, I’m sharing over at Faith Along the Way. If you haven’t checked out this site, you have too. There is so much information to help in numerous areas of your Christian walk!
“I don’t want to go to school!”
It was the third time in a week that I heard this broken record. Every morning started the same, I woke up my son and then for the next hour I had to keep pushing him to do the next task in order to be ready to leave for school.
“I have a headache.”
“I have a stomachache!”
Each morning, my nerves were frazzled and fried before it was even 7:00 A.M. After all the kids left for school while I tried to breathe a sigh of relief, I knew all too well what the morning awaited.
Almost like clockwork, the phone rang from school, and the nurse wanted to let me know my child was again in her room. She was not only calling to let me know but seeking whether I knew what was going on.
Anxiety was what was going on!
It came after an isolated event when another sibling forgot to pick up this child and for the next few months, I felt like we returned to the stage of separation anxiety and great anxiety in general.
What Does Anxiety Look Like in Kids?
Now with anything else, each child is different, but many kids exhibit these symptoms when struggling with anxiety.
- Stomachaches
- Headaches
- Refusal to go to school or get on the bus
- Inability to change how they get to school or be picked up without massive questions
- Sleeplessness
- Mood changes
- General uneasiness to anything out of the ordinary with a focus on needing to ask questions, be explained how things will work on repeat.
Here is the reality: change is difficult for all of us. Transitions are anxiety-inducing, but after a few weeks, as we settle into a new routine, the anxiety should lessen.
Today’s age is stressful. Our kids are dealing with more competitive sports, increase in video games, social media, school violence, and more intense academics.
If it’s been said we are a stressed-out nation, don’t you think this also applies to our kids who are mimicking the role models over them?
If you want to know how to validate your child’s anxious feelings, follow me to Faith Along the Way.
(Click on the graphic to download)
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids)Anxiety Relief for Kids: On-the-Spot Strategies to Help Your Child Overcome Worry, Panic, and Avoidance
The Anxiety Workbook for Kids: Take Charge of Fears and Worries Using the Gift of Imagination
Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents
This is such a good reminder that as the children of God we need to refer the word of God for guidance. And we need to pray for our children to be filled with the power of love and cast all the fears on the one who cares.
I’m definitely going to pop over and finish reading this one. My twins start middle school this coming fall and they both have anxiety about the change in school buildings.