What can children do to manage their fear?

 

Children can use various techniques to manage their fears effectively.

 

Here are five helpful techniques for children to cope with their fears:

 

1. Deep Breathing: Teach children to take slow, deep breaths when they start feeling scared or anxious. Instruct them to inhale deeply through their nose and exhale slowly through their mouth. Deep breathing can help calm their nerves and reduce anxiety.
2.  Positive Self-Talk: Encourage children to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Teach them to challenge their fearful beliefs by asking questions like, “Is this fear based on facts?” or “Have I faced this fear before and been okay?” Helping them reframe their thoughts can reduce fear’s grip on their minds.
3. Visualization: Guide children in using their imagination to picture a safe and comforting place or scenario. This can help them relax and distract from their fears. For example, they can imagine being on a beautiful beach or in a cozy, safe fort.
4. Distraction: Suggest engaging activities that divert their attention away from their fears. Playing a favourite game, drawing, reading a book, or solving puzzles can help take their minds off what is scaring them. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Teach children how to relax their bodies systematically. Have them tense and then release different muscle groups, starting from their toes and working up to their head. This technique can promote physical relaxation and reduce tension caused by fear.

– Written by Kumar Bandyo