Worry
Your child may:
Worry about everyday things for at least six months, even if there is little or no reason to worry about them
Unable to control their constant worries
Know that they worry much more than they should
Frequently ask how to do tasks
Often ask if they are doing assignments correctly
Apprehensive to start and work on own
Frequently question their ability to do tasks
Seem unsure of themselves and have low self-confidence and self-esteem
Have a self defeating attitude
Give up and discontinue effort easily
Frequently express they will likely fail
Not smile often
Seem shy and not seek out help, volunteer, or participate
Unable to relax
Have a hard time concentrating
Easily startled
Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Possible Supports or Interventions
Read Alouds
Reassurance
Validate what your child is experiencing: “I know you are frustrated because you feel that this assignment is too hard”
Normalize the feeling: “I get frustrated when I think something is hard and so do other kids”
Identify a time when your child was able to have a hard assignment and complete it: “Remember when we did that math sheet and you felt you couldn’t do it and you got all of them right?”
Instill confidence in your child “I know you can do it and I think you know you can too”
Depending on the situation, need, and child, there are numerous ways to teach kids coping skills
Always try to use active listening skills
Use a clam tone
Be firm when necessary and set boundaries
Use support and resources below for specific lesson plans, ideas, strategies, and skills
Draw A Picture Or Write In A Journal
You may have your child journal or draw at their desks or have a specific location in the room where students go to draw and journal
Your child should be given the choice to share and explain what they drew or journaled with the you
You may provide your child with a bound tablet of paper or staple some paper together to make a journal or drawing tablet
Have your child keep their journals and drawings in a safe place
Give your child a timer or other method to limit the duration of the journaling or drawing period
You could give your child a coloring page with shapes to color in
You may suggest topics, subjects, or themes for kids to write or draw about
Try having kids draw or write to music
Reflective Listening
Simply stated, reflective listening is when you listen to what someone says and repeat it back to them so they know you heard and understood them
Deep Breathing
List the strategy on a poster with several other relaxation techniques, and post this in the class where all can see
Teach your child what feelings to be aware of and what they feel like, which can be addressed through deep breathing
Assure your child that everyone gets stressed/frustrated/worried/ overwhelmed and using relaxation strategies is normal
Practice the first time with your child
Students may count while they exhale
Deep Breathing Strategies that are taught at school:
Dragon Breath: Sit comfortably on the ground or on a chair. The key here is to have a nice long spine. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Open your eyes and mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and breath out through your mouth. Is it hot in here?
Belly Breathing: Place a favorite stuffed animal or their hand on their belly. Have them take a deep breath in and watch their buddy or hand rise up, up, up and then down, down, down as they breathe.
Five Finger Breathing: Sit or stand comfortably with your back straight. Open the palm of one hand wide. Now with the pointer finger of the opposite hand slowly trace your fingers while breathing. Trace up on one side of your thumb, 1, 2, 3, trace down the other side of your thumb, 1, 2, 3. Repeat for all five fingers.
Figure 8 Breath: Start with the 8 on it’s side and start in the middle. You can draw one or imagine it is there. Go up to the left and trace the left part of the 8 with your finger while you breathe in. When you get to the middle of the 8 again, breathe out while you trace the right part of the 8 with your finger.
Volcano Breathing: Pretend your hands and arms are like lava flowing from a volcano. Start with your hands in front of your heart, with palms touching. Keeping your hands together, reach straight up and breathe in. Separate your hands and move your arms down to your side and breathe out.