Anxiety
Many of our kids are feeling high levels of anxiety in this time after the most intense months of the global pandemic. It’s not only Covid-19 that worries out kids, but politics, climate change, navigating social situations with friends and family changes are just a few things that build up anxiety in their energetic systems.
When children are feeling high levels of anxiety (or any other uncomfortable feeling) it is important for us as the adults in their lives to recognize and give space to these feelings. This can be really challenging as parents because we have this innate desire to protect our kids from difficult feelings.
Helping kids employ mindfulness techniques during moments of anxiety can be really useful. If your child expresses feelings of anxiety you can ask him/her to take three mindful breaths and notice where in their body they feel the worried feelings. Then you can ask them to talk about the anxiety and make sure to give them enough time to talk about how they are feeling. Then you can share your own feelings about the topic and if you have the same worries.
This circle of acknowledging, feeling and discussing the anxiety can be very useful for children. It doesn’t necessarily make the anxiety disappear but it gives it space. When fears are brought out of the shadows, they are much less scary and often easier to manage.