Even preschoolers feel anxious sometimes, and it may come out in a variety of different ways such as showing aggression, bursting in to tears, or isolating from others. It can be hard to know what to do when your preschooler is going through such strong emotions, but we have some tips for how to reduce your preschooler’s anxiety.
CREATE HEALTHY HABITS
When your preschooler’s body is lacking something it needs, it will often let you know in obvious ways, and other times it may be more subtle. When certain things are lacking, anxiety and stress can increase, and come bursting out of your preschooler in unexpected ways.
You can help your preschooler’s body handle stress in a healthy way by making sure that it’s able to perform it’s best every day.
Get Enough Sleep
Your Preschooler needs 10-13 hours of sleep daily to be rested enough to take on a day of new experiences.
Eat Nutritious Meals
Check out our article TOP 10 BEST FOODS FOR YOUR PRESCHOOLER’S NUTRITION for a list of foods your preschooler should be eating every day, along with some fun preschool friendly recipes.
Exercise Daily
Exercise is a great stress and anxiety reliever, and incorporating some form of exercise into your everyday routines can help fight off your preschooler’s anxiety before it even begins.
LISTEN & SUPPORT
Sometimes your preschooler may just need to talk about how they’re feeling, and simply sitting down and listening can be enough to help ease their minds. Your preschooler may have a hard time identifying how they are feeling without fully understanding emotions.
There are some great books available to help your preschooler understand their emotions, like one of our favorites, The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas.
LET THEM EXPLORE
In order to not create unnecessary anxiety in your preschooler, it’s important to give them some space to explore, and even make some mistakes. If your preschooler tries something new and you react fearfully, then they may develop a fear of trying new things.
Also try to give your preschooler some space when they are playing at home, or in an environment where it’s safe to back off some. Depending on the location you may check in on them every now and then, or keep an eye out from a close distance. Hovering over your preschooler’s every move may cause them to develop fears of doing things without help.
REDIRECT
When your preschooler is displaying signs of struggling with anxiety, you can use calming methods to help them get through it. Some things that can help ease your preschooler’s anxieties are:
Deep Breathing Techniques
Sometimes just stopping and taking a few deep breaths can help calm our bodies down. Coping Skills For Kids has some great ways you can teach your preschooler breathing techniques.
Having A Quiet Place
Your preschooler may benefit from some time alone in a quiet place to take some time to reset their minds. Having a quiet place set up for your preschooler gives them a chance to cope with their feelings on their own in a healthy way. Try setting up a spot for them like this adorable kids teepee on Amazon.
Thinking Happy Thoughts
When your preschooler is upset, try having them think about their favorite thing. Have them remember the last time they enjoyed that thing and remind them that they will get to enjoy it again. If it’s an item you have access to, go get it with your preschooler and have them tell you what they love about it.
Being Soothed
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a hug from someone we love, but sometimes when we’re feeling anxious being held can make us feel trapped, and even more out of control. If your preschooler’s body language suggests they would rather have some space, you could try singing them a soothing song.
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