Here are some suggestions that may help. How is your child feeling? Listen to what they say what are their concerns? Be reassuring - but do not lie. If you do not know the answer to their concern or concerns, explain why - try and find out. Remind them that it is likely others also feel the same way and that they are not alone. Also remind them they will be seeing their friends on a daily basis. If your child does not wish to talk with you they may feel that whatever is making them anxious may upset you - in these cases it is often better if they can talk to a trusted friend of the family or an aunt or uncle, or you may need to seek therapy for them . This does not make you a bad parent - it shows your child cares about you! Teens Teens can be stress and anxious for all sorts of reasons - maybe it is their exam year, maybe it is about general confidence and body image, or they may be axious about starting a new school or colledge. Whatever the reason behind the stress and anxiety and even if they do not know why they feel a certain way, I am able to help them. Often younger children find it hard to explain what their issue is here are some suggestions to get them talking:
Get them to draw a picture and ask them to describe the picture to you what is happening.
Ask them how their favourite toy feels - often children project their feelings onto their toys.
Get them to point out how they feel with Give them a coping strategy an emoji.
Ask them what colour the feeling is.
Here is a coping strategy - if talking is not helping Ask them to think about their favourite colour and how that makes them feel. Get them to imagine breathing in that colour and filling them up with it breathing in their favourte colour and getting rid of the colour of the other feelings they are having if they identified a colour, or the feeling they have. Routines Over the holidays normal routines often are relaxed. Just trying to fit in work, being on holiday, seeing friends and family means many established routines stopped. Bedtime routine is important as is getting enough sleep - a tired child cannot be reasoned with or learn. Routines also give a sense of normality and security. I hope your children's return to school is amazing for them - meeting up with their friends again and socialising and being once again more independent. If you need to chat anything through I offer a no obligation free discovery call you can book one HERE
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