ABCs of Dealing with Childhood Anxiety Avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations can be habit-forming and an ineffective way of managing anxiety. Take small steps to introduce these situations. Be on time or early. Being late can cause anxiety to rise in many children. Comfort your child. TLC can go a long way in easing your child’s fears. Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress. Encourage your child to face feared situations one step at a time. Focus on the positives. Help your child to reframe his thinking to see things more positively. Get outside and get moving. Exercise can boost mood and help gain perspective. Help is out there! Your child’s guidance counselor can be a referral source for outside resources and tips for managing stress and anxiety. Institute routines and stick to them. Join activities that interest your child but avoid over-scheduling as it can add stress. Kids respond to boundaries and concrete expectations. When they know what to expect anxieties can be eased. Listen to your child. What they are feeling is real and they need to be heard. Mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing are a few techniques to work on with your child. Note changes in behavior which occur when different situations arise. Organize school materials the night before. This can help alleviate some stress for the school day. Problem-solve together. Quality time. Playing, reading, laughing, talking, and being together reminds children that they are safe and important. Role play ways to handle different situations. Prepare best and worst-case scenarios. Sleep routines help ease sleep transitions and allow children to get brain rest. Try not to pass on your own fears onto your child. Upsetting news stories may exacerbate anxiety. Reassure your child that he is safe. Validate your child’s concerns. Their feelings are real and need to be acknowledged. Worrying is normal. If it starts to interfere with daily activities and begins having an effect on the body it may be time to look into extra help. X-out negative thoughts and replace with positive thoughts. You are not alone. Help your child pinpoint a team of safe people who can help them deal with their worries and anxiety. Zero in on the most anxiety-provoking situation and target strategies in dealing with that first. .