Anxious Children: 13 Phrases To Calm Them

Most children experience anxiety as they grow up. Anxious children can become paralyzed by changes in their family environment or routine; in the same way they can experience irrational fears created by their own imagination.

The key thing is to calm the anxious child to prevent him from turning into a fearful and apprehensive individual over time. You must use a strategy capable of combating his anxiety, which does not consist in minimizing or denying it, on the contrary it gives it value. With the aim of teaching the little one to manage his emotions.

Today, in this We Are Moms article, we bring you some useful phrases from positive psychology to calm anxious children. With their help, your child will be able to identify, accept and understand this limiting and annoying feeling of anxiety.

Help for anxious children

The signs of anxiety that a child may exhibit are varied: constant worry, refusal of certain activities, physical pain, increased or loss of appetite, over-seeking protection, or compulsively biting their nails.

Regardless of the reason behind these feelings, it is possible to act in many ways to help anxious children, but the initial focus is on dialogue. Precisely through conversation you can calm your child, which is why these phrases can be of great use to you.

Phrases to calm anxious children

• “I’m here, you are safe”. When you notice the first signs of anxiety in your child, hug him and repeat this phrase to him. In this way, his nervous system will calm down and he will be able to dissipate the anxiety. Also, you can stay with him for some time so that he benefits from your company and calms down.

• “It happened to me too”. There is nothing wrong with confessing to your children that you too have gone through the same longing anxiety. This way, the child will understand that he is not alone and that his feelings are not strange, and you can also help him concentrate and forget his worries for a while.
• “We are a formidable team”. If the anxious child suffers from a certain phobia of abandonment or “separation anxiety”, it is essential to use this phrase to remind him that he can always count on you, that you are his safe haven.
• “Let me hug you”. Whether it is a frontal or side hug, it will be of great help for the little one. Physical contact provides an opportunity for the baby to relax and experience safety.
• “Worries can be good at times.” Children who suffer from anxiety experience it badly because they do not accept their emotions and know that parents will categorize them as negative or inadequate. Even if they are not pleasant feelings, they should not be repressed or minimized. Value your baby’s feelings by explaining that worries can be positive on some occasions and excessive on others. It is best to establish an action plan to find a solution to the problem.

Helpful questions to distract

• “If it were a monster what would it look like?” Characterizing anxiety means turning confused feelings into something concrete and palpable, in order to be able to talk about them better.
• “What’s the worst that could happen?” Anxiety is a negative state of expectation, the minor cannot understand well what could happen. Therefore, the best thing is for the little one to understand his fears and nightmares to dissolve this emotional state in the understanding of irrationality.
• “What strategy can you use to calm down?” Coming up with a list of strategies for calming the baby is a great idea. Practicing art, physical activity, hydrating, playing or just talking about it can distract your little one from these feelings. So when he feels anxious, motivate him to practice some activity.

• “Do you remember when….?”. Childhood anxiety is capable of inhibiting memory in one fell swoop, given that the concentration at that particular moment is badly placed. However, the child has probably been through these moments in the past, and it is good to remember this in these circumstances. Successes at the dentist, the first day of school or memories of other successfully overcome challenges will allow him to feel more confident and regain control.

Proposals and activities to calm anxious children

• “Draw how you feel” or “Draw your fear”. Drawing, coloring, and doodling have a surprisingly calming effect that can be of great help with anxious children. Through this activity the little ones will be able to express their feelings. In front of the finished work, help your child understand his own representation (“What strong features!”, “You used so much black” or “Why does the child have this face?”).

• “Breath deeply”. With anxiety, the heartbeat accelerates and the breath shortens, and this is perceived by the brain as a dangerous situation. This is precisely why it is a good idea to teach your child some breathing techniques.
• “It counts up to….”. When the child internalizes anxiety, it increases it. The thing to improve is to divert his attention and for this, you can ask him to count (people, cars, children, dogs, etc.). Another option is to ask him “Notify me when two minutes have passed”, focusing his attention on the hands of the clock during a certain amount of time and thus being able to relax his mind.
• “Let’s dissolve the tension together”. If the little one manages his anxiety and tension discharge he will experience emotional relief. With the help of a ball or plasticine you will have an optimal result.

As you can see, many phrases can help you with your children but be careful to choose the correct one for your child. Don’t forget to include high doses of love and tenderness, without leading to overprotectiveness. And what do you do to calm an anxious child? What strategies do you apply?