Adore Them Parenting

Practical Positive Parenting Advice and Resources

Practical Positive Parenting

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Karissa Tunis

Making More Space For Your Family

making more space for your familyWe all know it’s important to spend quality time together as a family.  But when your home is short on space, it can be a problem.  So, how do you maximize the space you have? Here are some tips and tricks you can use to make the most of your home, and create more space for your family.

For more on this topic, check out the full Family Home collection

Add Room Without Extending

There are multiple ways you can do this.  From attic to garage conversions, there’s usually a way to make better use of the space you already have.

If your garage is currently being used for storing junk, have a good clear out so you can see what the space is like.  Can it be used as an extra room for the family to use?  Garages that are integral or attached to the house are ripe for conversion.  For the cost of a garage conversion you could gain a new playroom or a den for the children.  Or you could open up the space from the garage to your existing living area, creating a large open plan room for the family to use together.

An attic is another space that can be converted for family use.  You could add another bedroom, which is great if your kids are currently sharing and need their own space.  Alternatively, it could become a playroom. Or even an en-suite bedroom for the extended family to use when visiting.

[Read: 3 Ways to Make Your House Feel Bigger]

 

Reconfiguring Space to Meet Your Needs

This is another step you could take to make your family home function better for you.  Chances are you bought your home before the kids arrived. And as you’ve all grown, the rooms that once worked well, now seem a bit cramped.

Modern family life can be busy with parents and children in separate rooms, cooking, playing and studying.  However, this means that families are often apart and not able to spend time together.  This is one reason why open plan living is so popular.  It allows all of these activities to be done in the same space.

So, if you’re finding there’s not enough time for the family to spend together, it might be worth looking at open plan living in your home.  It will require taking out some interior walls, so you will need to hire professionals to do the work.  If this isn’t possible in your home, you could think about widening doorways to help give a sense of connection throughout the house.

Get Creative

Another common problem in family homes is not having enough bathrooms.  This often leads to leaving the house late and in a rush, and no end of arguments.  Think about whether you can utilize a bit of space in your home to add a compact shower room.  Perhaps there’s room under the stairs?  Or maybe you can take some space from a bedroom?

As your family grows, your needs will evolve. But with a little creativity, we are confident you will be able to find the right solution for your family home!

[Read: Simple Changes for a Bedroom Makeover]

 

For more on this topic, check out the full Family Home collection

making more space for your family

Revitalise Your Family’s Dental Care

Revitalise Your Family’s Dental CareHaving excellent dental hygiene is paramount in both the health side of things and the self-confidence side. Making sure your family dental care plan is the right one is easier than you may think, with just a few key points to consider. Continue reading below to find out how you can revitalise your family’s dental care.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Consistency is Key

Prioritizing dental hygiene for your kids can be as simple as making sure their trips to the dentist are regular. It is recommended that dental check ups take place between 6 months to one year. Of course, it’s ideal to have some great products in place too. Depending on whether the children have sensitive teeth or not, there are a number of different kinds of toothpaste tailored towards kids. When trying to ensure you have made the right decision, it’s worth asking for some advice from your dentist as to what toothpastes may be best for their developing teeth. It is ideal to select one with fluoride in it, because fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay.

And of course – don’t forget to floss! Flossing twice per day is the recommended amount. It has been proven to help reduce plaque levels and reduce the risk of gum disease.

 

Invest in a Happier Smile

Our teeth strongly affect our confidence. So a better smile is bound to improve happiness. When growing older, many adult’s teeth begin to move and become more crooked. This happens even if you wore braces as a child (possibly as a result of not wearing that cursed retainer!). The good news is – you can visit a Fabulous Family Cosmetic Dentist to address any of your aesthetic concerns surrounding you and your children’s teeth. These types of treatments can be an excellent way to improve confidence, leading to bigger smiles all round.

 

Get Into The Right Habits

Getting into some good habits for top dental care will show your little ones how it’s done. They will likely mimic your actions and pick up these habits themselves. One of these is making sure to brush for two minutes. We all know that while this doesn’t sound like a long time, when you’re brushing your teeth, it feels like forever. If you’re brushing your teeth at the same time as the kids, try finding a 2-minute long video and watching it together. This way, the two minutes will fly by, and you’ll have fun while brushing. This turns the repetitive experience into something more enjoyable and exciting.

 

Cut The Sugar

Having lower levels of sugar intake is a clear and straightforward way to improve oral care. High sugar intake is the leading cause of cavities in children, an unpleasant situation which anyone would want to avoid. The foods to dodge are mainly sweets and carbonated drinks. Avoiding sugar doesn’t mean you and your kids can’t enjoy the good things in life, but just make sure you enjoy them in moderation. Compromising your dental health isn’t worth the hassle, and better hygiene will lead to healthier, happier lives.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Revitalise Your Family’s Dental Care

6 Ways to Foster Your Child’s Creativity

6 ways to foster your child's creativityIt’s safe to say that all children have a creative spark somewhere inside them. They may choose to indulge in this creativity by playing, singing, drawing, or letting the creativity overcome them. This can turn into something beautiful that you’ll be happy to remind them of for the rest of their lives. Or perhaps even embarrass them at their wedding. Being creative is a fantastic way for your child to express themselves. And as a parent, you should do everything you can to foster their creativity. So here are six ways to make that possible and help foster your child’s creativity.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Home collection

Read to Them

While many people feel that the tablet or TV can only entertain kids, this isn’t the case. Reading aloud to your child will help them explore different scenarios and worlds. Many kids will gravitate towards fantasy or science fiction as it’s something totally unlike the world they know. Still, their positive experiences with reading can help them branch out towards other genres as they grow up. By reading enough, they can find nuggets or creativity wherever they are. And they might even find that becoming a writer is their path to creating, too.

 

Give Them a Creative Space

Having a space to create is one of the most important aspects of fostering creativity. This can be a spare room or an area where there are no rules (within reason, of course). If your kids have a dedicated space where they know they can paint, write, draw, build, and play; their brains will immediately switch into creative mode whenever they are there. This will enable creativity to flow freely. Over time they will associate creating with positive experiences. Which can then foster a love for creating, showing them plenty of ways to do so.

[Read: How To Create Your Own Art Station]

 

Show Enthusiasm

We’ve all seen the TV shows and movies where the parents have been solidly against any form of artistic expression. You shouldn’t need telling that this is not what you should do. Instead, you must show enthusiasm for anything they create. They won’t be making masterpieces right away, but they don’t need to. The more enthusiastic you are about songs they make, the stories they write, or the paintings they produce; the better they will feel about the creative process. As they get older and more sophisticated, they will look back on your enthusiasm as something that gave them the confidence to continue.

 

Let Them Be Bored

Some people will tell you that kids should never be bored and must always have something to do. However, if they are always doing something, they won’t have the chance to be inside their head, which is where the best creative adventures begin. By allowing them to be bored, they are forced to create fun all by themselves. This will help them cultivate ideas and develop intricate other worlds that they can easily get lost in.

[Read: The Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids]

 

Don’t Police Their Projects

Many creative people will look back on their time at school and remember how they hated it when tasked with being creative. They preferred the creativity to come naturally. Being told to be creative, while still in the confines of an outline, does not sit well with truly creative people. So you must remember this if you want to foster creativity in your child. Scheduling creativity can stifle their potential, so try to allow them to be creative in their own time. Furthermore, you shouldn’t make suggestions about which color to make trees or how a story should go. Allow them to find their way themselves.

 

Remove Performance Pressure

Similarly, your child’s creativity can also become stifled if they feel pressure to perform. For most children, the simple act of imagination excites them. However, when they are expected to do well or show off in front of friends and family, they become shy. With this in mind, it’s important to allow them to create freely, rather than for any successes or competitions. While there’s nothing wrong with encouraging kids to enter contests that could provide opportunities, it shouldn’t be the sole aim of creativity. This enables the invention to flow and seep into as much of their life as possible.

 

The Creative Spark

Creativity is something everyone has, whether they realize it or not. It’s a fantastic way for kids to learn more about the world and escape it on days where they have nothing to do. By encouraging creativity as much as possible when they are young, you can help them find their niche that will boost their self-esteem throughout their life.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Home collection

6 ways to foster your child's creativity

What Your Child Should Know Before Walking to School Alone

walking to school alone graphic with picture of two boys on scooters

What Your Child Should Know Before Walking to School Alone

As loving parents, we want our children to be independent and grow into mature, well-adjusted young adults. However, the idea of giving them more freedom and the green light to do things without your supervision can feel utterly terrifying. 

One of the biggest milestones in your child’s pursuit of independence is walking to school alone. They’ve probably been asking you for weeks or even months to allow them to complete this perfectly harmless task all by themselves. Of course, they know the route, and they know the quickest way to get there…but what about all the other potential hazards they could come up against along the way…and what if you’re not there to help them?

It’s a parenting minefield. However, when you believe your child is old enough (many experts recommend the age of 10) you’re going to need to put some rules in place and give them plenty of advice, not just for their own safety but for your own sanity.

Here we’ll explore what your child should know before they walk to school alone…

For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School collection

Teach them to always be extra vigilant

Your child is probably proficient when it comes to crossing the road, however, they should still be encouraged to exercise caution and be wary of cars and trucks. Drivers who are distracted by their smartphones, drivers who are fatigued or speeding won’t be able to react in time when your child is crossing the road. The last thing anyone wants is a road tragedy – in the worst case scenario, if you or your child has been hit by a truck for example, you can get more info from an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer, here. 

The statistics of child fatalities and accidents involving vehicles and crossing the road are terrifying, so make sure your child understands the risks and that they never cross the road without ensuring it’s clear first. 

 

Help them get to know their route better

If something does go awry, it’s important that your child knows that there is somewhere they can go to if they’re confused or get turned around. If their route takes them past a church, library or a store, speak with your child about heading into these buildings and asking for help if something happens. 

 

Speak with school staff

Are there regular crossing guards at your child’s school? Mention to them that your child will be walking to school independently from now on and that you’d appreciate them paying closer attention to them. This will also ensure that your child crosses safely. It’s also recommended that you speak with your child’s teacher and let them know about the arrangement. That way if something goes wrong and they don’t turn up for school or they’ve arrived late and upset, they’ll know to contact you straight away. 

 

Buy them some reflective accessories

Now that the afternoons and early mornings are a little darker and gloomier, it’s crucial that your child is seen. Brightly colored backpacks, reflective tape and cool reflective accessories won’t just look great, but they’ll help motorists and cyclists spot your child in the dark. 

 

And finally, don’t panic

You know your child better than anyone, so sit down together and have a chat about them walking to school independently. You’ll both feel much more confident about the idea. 

For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School collection

walking to school alone graphic with picture of two boys on scooters

Parent Influencers: Secrets & Tips

Parent Influencers: Secrets & Tips graphicAs parents, we get to experience the good, the bad, and the cute. But also occasionally the spoiled. However, do not worry. The ups and downs of parenting is always worth it in the end! And the great news is that in this day and age, anything that would traditionally be passed down from our parents about parenting, can now be found on the internet. Anything and everything we ever wanted to know about being the best parents has likely been written by a parent blogger somewhere out there. But how can we perfectly balance our lives between blogging about parenting, and parenting on its own? This is the topic we’ll be discussing today! Here are secrets and tips that parent influencers and bloggers might want to know about this new-age, Millenial concept of internet sharing!

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Convey Your Message and Motive

Before posting any content, it’s important to identify what you want to say. For example, would you like to blog about your everyday life, or give tips to your fellow parents? Both attract a similar audience even though there’s a clear difference in content execution between the two.

Different niches require different ways of content creation in order to get the best results. This is why it’s so important to recognize your niche early on.

Once you figure out what and how you want to channel your ideas through content, consistency in posting is much more achievable. Then the type of photos, editing, captions, and even Instagram Stories come together to form your unique feed. That’s the end goal, isn’t it? To be as original and unapologetic as possible.

 

Connect With Your Audience

Having a large number of followers on any social media platform simply isn’t enough. The physical quantity of fans means nothing when there isn’t a meaningful relationship and bond that lies between.

Always try to reply to all comments and questions, and never leave a DM unanswered. Especially if the question is related to parenting and/or is from a newbie parent!

Many influencers like to spice up their weekly content by including a longer-styled caption through a personal story. Many people would then comment on their thoughts or similar experiences, creating a safe space for everyone to speak their minds. This creates a deeper connection between the creator and their audience while boosting the engagement. You want to build a sincere community, not an army of zombie accounts!

Try to remember that there’s always a deeper reason why someone has followed you in the first place.

 

Collaborate With Fellow Parents!

Collabs are super popular on Instagram. Moreover, collabs between creators within the same niche. It’s always a good practice to connect with peers in your industry. There are trends you could both benefit from, as you share a similar audience.

For example, you could do an Instagram Takeover on each other’s Instagram accounts! For 24 hours, post pictures, Stories and share memes and tips on their profile as you would on your own. This will introduce you to their audience members, and them to yours. After the Takeover is over, you would exchange each other’s audiences, resulting in mutual growth and a boost in engagement.

In other words, you can’t go wrong here!

 

Finding Time For Your Socials

As parents, we often don’t have enough time to focus on things outside of our kid’s lives. Some of us are better at organizing than others, and all of it is okay! It’s important to remind yourself that it’s okay to miss out on a couple of dates of posting. Your fellow parents will understand!

In this day and age, the world of “fast-food” information and lifestyle has taken a toll on our lives.  Everyone that has a bigger audience needs to remind them and themselves that it’s okay to slow down and simply spend some Instagram-free time with their kids!

After all, they really do grow up too fast, don’t they?!

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Parent Influencers: Secrets & Tips graphic

Free Printable Thanksgiving Placemat for Kids

free printable thanksgiving placemats for kids graphic with yellow and orange colors

Free Printable Thanksgiving Placemat for Kids

Thanksgiving is such a fun time of year! As we get ready to indulge in delicious foods, and visit with some of our favorite people, let’s not forget about the kids. Oftentimes it can be hard for children to sit through a long Thanksgiving dinner. However, offering some fun activities can really help! Therefore, we created these free printable Thanksgiving placemats below. All you need to do is grab some paper and print these out for your next Thanksgiving meal.

This placemat has a Thanksgiving themed word search. A crossword puzzle. A corn-themed maze. And a turkey to color and decorate. So whether you have little kids that like to scribble, or older children that will enjoy the puzzles, this is a fun one for everyone! And the best part is that it’ll keep them occupied while in their seat!

 

Free Printable Thanksgiving Placemat for Kids

  1. First, simply print out the free printable placemats below. (They are sized to fit standard printer paper.)
  2. Secondly, laminate the Thanksgiving placemats. (You can use our Amazon affiliate link to purchase this affordable at-home laminator.)
  3. And lastly, put the placemats and crayons out on the table. Now your kids can enjoy a fun activity during Thanksgiving dinner!

More Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Whether you are hosting a get-together, doing something small with your own family, or helping out with Thanksgiving elsewhere; here are some great ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving with loved ones!

And for more on this topic, check out the full Celebrate Thanksgiving collection

 

The Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids

Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids graphic with picture of a girl coloring

The Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids

Uninterrupted sessions of creative play are crucial for children in many ways. Kids have powerful imaginations. And when they imitate their favorite character, their confidence grows even stronger. If you want to see your child grow up with intelligence, become successful, and cooperative; protect their playtime from all forms of encroachment.

 

The Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids

Letting your child have hours of quality playtime to put their imagination to work is a beneficial investment. It significantly contributes to their education without demanding anything more than time and space.

However, it requires you to express faith in your child’s inner strength, potential, and ability to discover their interests. According to psychiatrist Kay Redfield, play is not a luxury for children. It’s a necessity. When children are denied time to play, they can become anxious, depressed, narcissist, and suicidal.

 

 

How to Enhance Creative Playtime for Kids

Andrea Nair says you can take specific steps towards improving your child’s playtime quality.

 

Allow your Child to Choose Their Activities

A child interested in several activities should be allowed to choose one or two activities to pursue. The activities should be scheduled so that he has the opportunity to alternate between them all. For example, they can pursue swimming and soccer during the summer. And then try drama and piano during the winter.

[Read: A Guide to Choosing After School Activities]

 

Designate a Space for Their Creative Play

Consider carving out a creative space for your child. It doesn’t have to be fancy or with a lot of luxurious toys. It could be a small corner in the house with a box of LEGO blocks or old clothes to let them play up.

Consider adding items that stimulate your child’s intelligence. A good idea is to get them age-appropriate puzzle books from PennyDell Puzzles to challenge their reasoning. Remember not to dominate your child’s space and don’t try to entertain them. Instead, let them feel that they have control over their creative space.

 

Don’t Encourage Screens Too Early

Technology has taken over the world and brought a shift in how things are done, including how children play. Instead of going outdoors and playing with things around them, they want to stay indoors, glued to their PlayStations and other online games.

However, experts agree that children under two years old should not be introduced to screen time. This means keeping them away from computers, mobile devices, and video games.

It’s hard for them to compete with bright screens and flashing, and their desire for free play will diminish. It’s better to wait until they’re at least four years old to introduce them and then allow them frequent access much later.

[Read: Trading Activities for Play Time & The Importance of Play]

 

Final Thoughts on Creative Play for Kids

Playtime is crucial for your child’s intellectual and physical development. It allows them to develop their confidence, language skills, and good communication. Ensure you expose your child to different environments that encourage creative play.

By supporting their creative self, you’ll help them enjoy the benefits of this kind of play. Most importantly, they’ll get to understand the world from a broader perspective.

 

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Toddlers collection

Benefits of Creative Playtime for Kids graphic with picture of a girl coloring

Eating Disorder Screening Quiz

The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) is taking steps to spread awareness. They are encouraging people to take 3 minutes out of their day to take a simple Eating Disorder Screening Quiz. The quiz is completely confidential, and extremely helpful.

Take the NEDA Screening here.

The point of this screening is for people, and their loved ones, to begin recognizing potential eating disorders. And thankfully, there are incredible treatment options available to those who need it!

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

#NEDAwareness

Eating Disorders

I want to make the point that eating disorders, and disordered eating in general, can be much broader than we typically think. When we hear eating disorder, we oftentimes think of anorexia or bulimia. However, binge eating can be a very serious issue as well.

We tend to approach weight and eating issues with diets, exercise, and extreme lifestyle changes. However, working with a professional on the mental health aspect of eating disorders is far more healthy and productive. The goal should be to get to the root cause of why you are making these choices. Knowing that will help to give you a longer-lasting result. And above all, you deserve to be healthy!

 

Eating Behaviors

Concerning eating behaviors are very prevalent in our culture whether it is fast food or fad diets. For instance, Netflix binges or marathon races. Giant portions or calorie counting. If we are honest with ourselves, it becomes apparent that we do not have a healthy mindset when it comes to food and body image. And I know this from my own personal experience.

The good news is that it is possible to make lasting changes with the help of professionals. No, not personal trainers. No, not self-help gurus. I am talking about licensed counselors. These specially trained individuals understand the importance of diving deeper and will help you live a better life.

 

Eating Disorder Screening Quiz and Awareness Week

#NEDAwareness Week is all about taking those steps and acknowledging that this is a significant issue impacting many of us. You can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #NEDAwareness. And don’t forget to take the Eating Disorder Screening Quiz.

Additional Resources on This Topic Include:

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

 

30 Reasons that I Love My Husband

reasons that i love my husband

I am admittedly VERY lucky to have such a wonderful man for a husband. Sometimes I go way too long without letting him know how much I appreciate him. However, simply writing this post of 30 reasons that I love my husband reminded me of how much he really does for our family.

 

Relationships Evolve

At this stage in our marriage, there are typically not grand gestures, fancy dinners, or expensive gifts. Things have a more practical, down to earth, partnership type of feel; and it is wonderful 🙂 The small things that my husband does on a daily basis help keep our relationship and our family running smoothly; which is much more valuable than any piece of jewelry.

Taking the time to write down a similar list of reasons why you love your husband may be a powerful reminder of why you chose to spend the rest of your life with this person.

For more on this topic, check out the full Be My Valentine and Navigating Marriage collections

30 Reasons that I Love My Husband

I love my husband because he…

  1. Always let me choose – which restaurant to go to, what we watch on TV, or what activities we attend.
  2. Supports me whole-heartedly and believes in me.
  3. Runs errands and goes grocery shopping.
  4. Is very motivated and will do anything that he sets his mind to.
  5. Takes care of the boys without ever complaining – even though I complain to him.
  6. Puts our boys to bed and handles nightshift.
  7. Gets our son ready for school and drives him there every morning.
  8. Works long hours to provide for our family.
  9. Lets things roll off his back.
  10. Lets me be right.
  11. Can hold a conversation with anyone he meets.
  12. Is like a pied piper when it comes to kids on the playground.
  13. Plays all the active games with our boys – wrestling, tag, etc.
  14. Never expects a clean house or dinner on the table, but shows appreciation when it does happen.
  15. Understands that sometimes at the end of a long day with the boys I just need some space.
  16. Volunteers at church and in our community.
  17. Stands up for what he believes in without being abrasive.
  18. Likes spoiling me and the boys.
  19. Knows a lot, and whatever he doesn’t know, he is willing to learn.
  20. Cherishes his loved ones and is very loyal.
  21. Is always up for anything.
  22. Is tough and resilient, except when he’s a softie.
  23. Has high goals for himself and our family.
  24. Is respected by his peers.
  25. Has achieved a lot by the age of 30.
  26. Does dishes regularly and will help out whenever I ask.
  27. Gives great advice, but also lets me vent when I need to.
  28. Loves our boys to pieces.
  29. Is handsome.
  30. Chose me to be by his side for the rest of his life.

Reconnect With Your Spouse Printable

small ways to reconnect with your spouse

For more on this topic, check out the full Be My Valentine and Navigating Marriage collections

Reasons I Love My Husband

Helping Your Child with Anxiety – A Guide for Parents 

helping your child with anxietyThere aren’t many things that are harder for a parent than seeing their child in pain and misery. While it is normal for kids to worry about things from time to time, if you feel like your child is constantly anxious, you need to pay some attention to his well being. Anxiety is such a common problem amongst teens that, according to the Association of University and College Counselling Center Directors survey, at least 41.6% of students suffer from it. Furthermore the survey revealed that more than 20% of students were taking medications for it. As anxiety is such a growing concern amongst kids, it falls upon us parents to do everything to make sure that our children live happy lives.

The way parents respond to their child’s anxiety goes a long way towards helping them cope  with it. A lot of times, even well-meaning parents fall into a negative cycle and exacerbate their child’s anxiety without even knowing. Instead of protecting them from their fears, parents often act as a catalyst by trying to protect them too much. So, as a parent, you must know what anxiety is, how to diagnose it in your child, and what strategies you can use to help your children. Before we dive into how parents should handle their kid’s anxiety, let’s take a brief look at what anxiety is and what causes anxiety in kids.

For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection

 

What Is Anxiety And What Causes It In Kids?

Anxiety is a common feeling in every human being as it pertains to worrying or fearing something that comes in the form of physical sensations, thoughts, and ideas. While it is normal to go through such feelings sometimes and it is a normal part of growing up, it becomes a problem when someone gets stuck in an endless cycle of feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or worried. It is most common in children because they don’t know how to process their feelings and accumulate such things over time.

When a child suffers from such sensations for quite some time, he starts feeling exhausted and isolated, which limits how he acts and thinks. Anxiousness differs from person to person, and a young kid might feel anxious for a couple of different reasons depending on his environment and his thought process. However, if you notice that your child is constantly afraid of something, it might be a sign that he is hiding something from you and calling for help. Here are a few common things that can cause anxiety within children.

  • Being abused by someone or neglected by their parents
  • Death of someone close to them
  • Constantly moving house or school
  • Unable to make friends
  • Bullies or exams-related stress
  • Suffering from an accident or witnessing an accident
  • Seeing parents fight with each other
  • Having responsibilities that are beyond their age
  • Being around anxious people

 

How to Talk to an Anxious Child and What Strategies to Use

As I mentioned before, a lot of parents do more damage when trying to help their kids with anxiety. People have only recently started realizing that anxiety is a real mental problem, which is why most parents don’t know how to deal with it. To make things easier, I am going to mention some strategies that work so that you can talk and help your kids with anxiety without adding fuel to the fire.

  • Validate Their Feelings

The first thing that you should be doing is to validate how they are feeling. The best way to approach this problem is to respect their feelings but don’t empower them. A lot of parents think that they shouldn’t do something just because their child is afraid of it. If your child is afraid of going to the doctor, you should listen to him, be empathetic, and then help him understand that you are there to help him.

  • Express Positivity

While you can’t promise your child that going to the dentist isn’t going to hurt or other kids will not make fun of him if he goes to school, you can tell him to stay positive that everything is going to be okay in the end and he will be able to manage it.

  • Try the Stepladder Approach

It is very common for anxious kids to avoid their fears. However, avoiding such a situation actually increases their anxiety. So, you need to take a stepladder approach and help them face their fears one step at a time to meet the overall goal.

  • Seek Professional Help

If everything that you do to help your kid goes fruitless, you need to take a more formal approach. Letting anxiety get the better of your kid will result in him doing poorly in school or him constantly feeling down. So, it is best that you find a professional therapist who can get to the root cause of what’s troubling him and help him.

For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection

helping your child with anxiety