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Welcome to one resource (our virtual hub.) This virtual resource was developed by district staff who recognize the importance of supporting the ongoing social-emotional needs of all of our students, families and valued staff members. This resource has been created to allow for ease of access to timely and relevant information tailored to support the unique needs all of our students, as well as supporting the needs of families and staff. We do hope you find these tools beneficial for your social-emotional well being.
Here are some things to look out for when a child/teen is experiencing anxiety. Sometimes anxiety shows up looking like something else.
Anger- The perception of danger, stress or opposition is enough to trigger the fight or flight response leaving your child angry and without a way to communicate why
Difficulty Sleeping- In children, having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep is one of the hallmark characteristics of anxiety
Defiance- Unable to communicate what is really going on, it is easy to interpret the child’s defiance as a lack of discipline instead of an attempt to control a situation where they feel anxious and helpless
Chandlering- Chandlering is when a seemingly calm person suddenly flies off the handle for no reason. They have pushed hurt and anxiety so deep for so long that a seemingly innocent comment or event suddenly sends them straight through the chandelier
Lack of Focus- Children with anxiety are often so caught up in their own thoughts that they do not pay attention to what is going on around them.
Avoidance- Children who are trying to avoid a particular person, place or task often end up experiencing more of whatever it is they are avoiding
Negativity- People with anxiety tend to experience negative thoughts at a much greater intensity than positive ones
Overplanning- Overplanning and defiance go hand in hand in their root cause. Where anxiety can cause some children to try to take back control through defiant behavior, it can cause others to overplan for situations where planning is minimal or unnecessary
How to build resiliency in kids/teens
-Spend quality time with kids/teens. When they feel loved and supported they develop emotional strength
-Talk about your feelings so your children learn to share their worries and fears with people they trust
-Instead of rushing to solve problems, give kids/teens time to work things out themselves
-When children experience failure or disappointment it’s important to praise their efforts and encourage them to try again
-Acknowledge your own mistakes to teach kids that mistakes are essential for learning and growth
-If your child can’t find a solution to a problem use gentle questioning to guide them towards it
-Ensure kids are eating well and getting enough sleep and exercise
What to say to your child to help build resilience
-This feels a bit scary but it won’t last forever
-We can do tough things if we work together. We are a great team
-It’s ok to feel worried, but we’ve dealt with hard things before so I know we can handle it
-We’ll deal with this one thing at a time. Take a breath and then start on the next thing
-When people are worried we really need to show kindness and help others
-I don’t like that this is happening but we can get through it together
-Not everything that you hear is true. Some people don’t take time to find out the proper facts when they worry
-It is ok to be a little bit scared just now. It just means that we get to be brave together
Self-Care Tips for Children/Teens to use
-Share your feelings -Practice being kind to yourself
-Recognize your stressors -Eat well, get enough sleep
-Have a self-care routine -Set aside alone time for activities you like
-Take a time out -Be around people who give you positive vibes
-Focus on blessings/positives -Mind your self-talk
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