Parenting can be tough, especially when children are anxious. The fears and worries of a child can be so overwhelming that it leaves the parent feeling anxious in the process. It’s a vicious cycle for the most part. But there is something we can do about it! Mindfulness can teach us how to parent from a place of acceptance instead of trying to control everything and make things better by over-parenting.
There are things you can do as a parent to help your child manage his or her anxiety and learn how to deal with it in healthy ways:
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Acceptance and Mindfulness
Acceptance and mindfulness are two different approaches to dealing with anxiety. Acceptance means letting go of any judgment about your child’s feelings or actions. Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment without judgment.
Both acceptance and mindfulness can help you communicate better with your child. When you accept their feelings without judgment, they will feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with you — which leads to better communication between parents and children in general.
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The Emotions of Mindful Parenting
When you’re parenting an anxious child, it can be hard to keep your own emotions in check. The worries that you have about your child’s anxiety — and your own ability to help — can cause stress and frustration. But when you become too emotional, it’s harder to stay calm and effective in helping your child.
Mindfulness is a form of meditation that teaches you to focus on the present moment. It helps you understand what you are feeling and why so that you can act with more clarity and compassion for yourself and others.
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Learning to Accept Your Child’s Anxiety
Mindfulness also teaches us that we cannot control other people or change their behavior. It helps us accept our children as they are and love them for who they are today. We don’t have to agree with their behaviors or change them; we just need to accept them as they are right now. With this attitude, it becomes easier to approach parenting with less judgment and more patience and understanding.
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Using Mindfulness Practices to Guide Your Family
Mindfulness practices are a powerful way to guide your child through the difficult emotions and thoughts that come with anxiety. It’s important to practice these techniques yourself so that you can model them for your child. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious yourself, try these tips:
- Take some deep breaths. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, counting to five each time. This will slow down your heart rate and help you regain control.
- Try some yoga poses or stretches. These can help calm both body and mind. You can even do them together as a family!
- Eat healthy foods that maintain energy levels, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid processed foods that cause spikes in blood sugar levels (like white bread, pasta, and sugar). This will help keep your mood stable throughout the day.
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Keeping a Non-judgmental Mindset
One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to keep a nonjudgmental mindset. This is especially true when it comes to your child’s anxiety. If you react to their anxiety with judgment or criticism, it can make them feel even worse and make them less likely to want to get help. Instead, try to approach the situation with compassion and empathy for their struggles. Here are some tips for keeping a nonjudgmental mindset:
- Don’t try to fix it. If your child feels like he or she is in control of his or her anxiety, he or she will be less likely to feel ashamed and more likely to talk about it.
- Listen without judgment and give reassurance when needed. You may not know what to say, but simply listening and offering reassurance is helpful. Your child doesn’t need advice or solutions; he or she just needs support and understanding from his or her parents.
- Be patient with yourself as well as your child. You may feel frustrated at times by your child’s behavior, but keep in mind that this is a very challenging situation for both of you — one that will eventually pass!
It’s important to remember that a child’s anxiety revolves around fear of the future: fear of what will happen to them, fear of having too much or too little, and fear of not being in control. In order to help them overcome their anxieties, it is important for you to accept them and learn about what thoughts go through their head. At the end of the day, your children will have anxieties but you need to understand that they are normal. They will be able to live with anxiety and overcome it if they have your help.
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