Anxiety 5-6 years old child

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Anxiety among children 5-6

Anxiety can be a big issue with 5-6 years old child, but be patient with him!

Just as children have different personalities, they also develop differently, depending on their unique internal genetic clocks and the environment they are in.  The main types of development are physical, cognitive (mental), social and emotional.  All of these are equally important but some are more noticeable such as physical.

How a child relates to others and gets along in the world is social and emotional development.  These may include feelings of well-being, attachment, and independence.  Just because a child is 5-6 does not mean that he is developed at the same level as other 5-6 year old.  Remember they all develop differently.

If your child does not relate to the other students or teachers, or feel safe and able to function away from a parent, this may be the cause of his unwillingness to go to school happily.

Talking to Your Child about Anxiety can help him to understand the situation.

Another powerful and simple method to helping your child develop is to spend time with him.  Playing school at home on the weekends will help him feel more comfortable in that environment. 

• Give instructions like his teacher would give.  
• Make sure he knows his colors, numbers, letters and shapes.  
• Take a break and play outside for a certain amount of time.  
• At the end of that time, blow a whistle or ring a bell indicating "recess" is over. 
• Have him line up, go into the house and wash his hands before the next game.  
• You could even go to the school grounds and practice getting on a bus and sitting down in a seat.Talk about what you see on the way to school.  
• Get him to play along, make it fun.  
• Play on the playground at school to put him at ease in that setting also.

Going to school is like his "job".

He needs some training to feel prepared to do the job.

We suggest consulting with his pediatrician if the behavior continues.  They typically have vast experience with all kinds of "kid problems".  This can be a pleasant experience for him and for the parent.

Common types of treatment for anxiety in young children include cognitive-behavioral treatment, relaxation techniques, family therapy, parent training, medication or a combination of treatment types.

It’s difficult to cure anxiety altogether in children. Some anxiety is genetic, and others are as a result of situations beyond your control. But you can minimize the effect that anxiety has on your child’s development, and over time you can help them develop the coping strategies they need to be able to handle the anxiety and stress they deal with every day.

Reinforce Brave Behavior

While you shouldn't reinforce fearful behavior, you obviously cannot punish your child either. Rather, when your child does something fearful you try to minimize its importance, and instead reward your child whenever they do something brave. Make sure your child knows how proud you are all the time when they’re showing signs of bravery and confidence. Over time, it will start to feel more natural for them.

Find Them Close Friends

It may take a while, particularly if your child has high anxiety, but you should try to find them some very close friends. Studies have shown that having social support from close friends vastly improves confidence and bravery, and as your child gets older they’ll be able to leverage those friendships in such a way that they become less anxious in the process.

Routine

Routine, support and reassurance are the best ways to combat anxiety in children. When they feel like they know what to expect in the world they can settle down. If things are going to change, give them time to anticipate and prepare for it if possible. It won't go away over night, but over time, age and your support should help. Also, try to keep your emotions in check. Parents can get frustrated which in turn can create more anxiety for the kids. So try to stay calm through the process.

If it continues, consider seeing a child counselor (outside of school...which is not to say school counselors are the problem, but that school itself may not be the problem). A counselor can better assess if the anxiety is normal 5 year old or something else. Further she can give your daughter and you strategies to cope.

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