Anxiety is becoming more apparent in children from a very young age. If anxiety occasionally appears according to certain situations, it is normal. But it turns into a disorder when it exceeds temporary worries and fears. It becomes harder to diagnose anxiety in kids because of the overlapping of anxiety symptoms with learning disability and attention gaining attitude.
Anxiety symptoms in kids
Children who suffer through severe and various kinds of anxiety show the following behavioural changes:
- Distraction or poor focus, tantrum, rigidity,
- Agitation
- Exaggeration in behaviour towards negative things and situations
- Constantly panicked about things to happen
- Complains about physical issues like headache, stomach aches, or tiredness
- Shows no or less interest in physical activities and social interactions
- Poor memory but wants perfection in every way
Anxiety can affect the whole personality of a child, but with the assistance of professionals and support of parents, strategies can help manage the anxiety for the child. An initial strategy that parents can take to make their child relax and calm is the establishment of routine in an anxious child’s daily life.
What is routine?
Routines are regular habits throughout the day. It helps to complete daily tasks with ease and less stress. It aims to provide mental freedom to think about the important aspects of your life. Similarly, the establishment of a proper routine in every child’s life from the very beginning helps the child to understand and deal with the situations and problems comfortably with little stress and anxiety.
Is routine beneficial for an anxious child?
Simply, yes!
Usually, an anxious child cannot deal with any kind of spontaneous or unorganised and messy kind of lifestyle. Being in a particular routine decreases anxiety and frustration of kid and a proper setup or pattern of daily routine projects predictability. This daily routine involves daily doing tasks of a kid as well as parents such as wake up time, bath time, nap time, mealtime, homework time playing time, TV or video game time and family time.
Routine provides certainty, protection, and reduces anxiety symptoms. The advantages of routine for your child are mind-blowing.
Family Bonding
A proper family routine with healthy family activities helps the anxious kid to understand the importance of relationships and family. It strengthens the moral values of your child and gives them a feeling of being not alone.
Healthy Habits
Being in a routine generates healthy and productive habits. Kids learn to manage their time progressively by performing regular activities like regularly brushing teeth, doing homework in the afternoon, playing for two hours in the evening and going to bed at a particular time at night. Establishing these healthy habits throughout the day means less arguing and tantrums every day.
Opportunities
A regular routine provides some quality time for kids and parents to understand each other. It helps to generate a beautiful bond of love and affection between parents and child’s trust, believe a little more in parents, and try to understand their concerns and intentions.
Expectations
An anxious child starts to expect the next thing to do. They begin to complete daily routine work and activities with ease and show no reluctance.
Confidence
Routine generates a quality of being confident, independent, and productive in your anxious child. It encourages a child to perform routine work with more conviction, comfort, and less dependence.
Set a routine/schedule for your family; it really works for everyone and keeps your anxious child more stable, calm, and confident.