My child is scared - what should I do? 10 tips
1. neither pathologise nor trivialise anxiety. Every child and adolescent experiences phases of insecurity and anxiety. Parents should become aware if they notice that their child or adolescent is withdrawing and avoiding activities or tasks.
2. If in doubt, seek advice from a specialist. An untreated anxiety disorder can become chronic and trigger secondary problems.
3. do not tell your child what they are afraid of.
4. discuss with your child how they can practise coping with the situation. The practice situation should not be too difficult: In case of separation anxiety, do not start with the class camp, but with a short separation of a few minutes.
5. In practice situations, do not discuss the anxiety with the child for a long time, so that the anxiety does not build up further, but enter the situation as quickly as possible.
6. Encourage your child to take more responsibility and autonomy in everyday life. For example, by allowing them to decide for themselves what to do first and what to do later, or by buying their own exercise book when the old one is full.
7. Hold back at the beginning if the child is afraid in a situation. Many children need time to find their way in a fearful situation. Anxiety is unpleasant, but not acutely dangerous.
Tips 8 to 10 and something basic about fear ...
8. Don't talk the child out of their fear with sentences such as «It's not bad» or «You don't have to be afraid», but instead look for empowering thoughts with the child. For example: «If I go to school despite my fear, the fear will go away.»
9. Encourage your child and show them that you are convinced that they can cope with the situation.
10. praise your child when they master the situation and do not criticise or punish them if they do not master the situation.
As a general rule, if anxiety-inducing situations are avoided, the anxiety will increase. With expert psychotherapeutic help, those affected learn to reduce their anxiety at an individually adapted pace and with tested methods.
