In our ongoing collaboration with the Aha Connection, licensed counselor Jessica Fosse with Atlanta Specialized Care shares some advice for helping worried kids find calm.
Anxiety can be overwhelming for both caregivers and their children when it hits, but Fosse offers helpful and practical solutions for when anxiety strikes. Her first tip is to teach kids the butterfly hug. This effective technique involves having your child wrap their arms around themselves in a hug and gently tap each arm with the opposite hand, like fluttering butterfly wings. Fosse says this playful activity helps activate both sides of the brain in a way that eases anxiety and brightens the mood. Making it a game by pretending to be butterflies or using music can help your little one relax into the moment and assuage their anxiety with this creative way to help them while tapping into their imagination!
Another trick from Fosse is the dive reflex. Simply splashing some cool water on your child’s face or placing a cold pack over their eyes and nose can activate a natural calming response. Doing this helps slow the heart rate and reduces stress hormones, allowing your child’s body and mind to reset to a peaceful state. Understanding the science, explaining this technique, and telling your child to try this as a “science experiment” may excite them so they become engaged and find the sensations pleasant and soothing rather than overwhelming.
Finally, Fosse shares the bubble breathing technique. Have your child breathe in deeply through their nose and blow out through the mouth as if blowing delicate bubbles. Tell them to imagine floating bubbles, which will help give your child something peaceful to focus on while allowing worries to drift away with each long exhale. Practicing for just a few minutes a day can give your child a boost of confidence in managing anxious moments.
Fosse shares these three powerful and fun techniques for equipping and empowering kids with anxiety-coping skills. By gently guiding your child to these natural sources of calm, you give them the gift of resilience and inner strength. These simple yet powerful techniques, woven into your daily connection with your child, can help alleviate anxiety and cultivate peace in their lives for years to come into adulthood.
