Helping all children become happy learners
How Do You figure out your child's underlying anxieties?
Elusive Cause of anxiety
It is not always easy to be certain of the real reasons for your child's behaviour. Anxieties from one context can lead to upset and meltdowns in another context. For example, something at school can lead to a problem at home and visa versa. Equally anxieties may be hidden deep inside and the child themselves is not aware or able to articulate them. When there is an incident over something quite trivial it can be easy to mis-identify the cause. For example, a child having a meltdown because their sibling ate the last chocolate biscuit, may seem to be a case of jealousy and/or disappointment. However, if your child usually handles these situations well then the reason why they couldn't on this occasion is often something else. Thus working out the underlying cause of anxiety may take some dedicated detective work!
Strategies
Record when things happen
Keep a diary to record incidents and what triggered it. Over time identify any pattern that may reveal times when your child appears more anxious.
You can also use an ABC Behaviour Log as an alternative to a diary.
Rating Scale
Use a rating scale with your child. This can help them to signal their changing emotional state and this in turn reveals the anxiety.
CONVERSATION Doodles
It is often difficult to articulate and explain anxious thoughts and feelings. It can sometimes help to ask the child to make simple drawings to help explore and describe how they are feeling as you try to disuss a particular context and event. The distraction of drawing can make it less awkward for the child and help them regulate and understand their emotions better.
What If Cards
Use What If cards to record anxieties and solutions. Where you are able to anticipate an anxiety or worry using a What If card can provide a reassuring solution to a potential problem. For example: What If... I forget my PE kit
Social Stories
A Social Story can help describe how to deal with each situation that your child's has anxiety with
Seek professional advice for dealing with extreme anxieties that interfere with youe child's ability to engage in everyday experiences
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