How to help a child with Anxiety
If you’re reading this as you prepare to re-open Sunday Schools after Lockdown it is likely that you’re more likely to need to deal with anxiety than usual. Even in more ordinary times it’s not unlikely to be seenin kids experiencing change at home or in school, in children with Autism or other disabilities, or with kids who are extremely shy. Twinkl have prepared this helpful breakdown of different ways Anxiety may manifest in a child. I’ve listed some helpful things to do and think you can use in a Sunday School or Youth Group to help a child with anxiety.
Remind them that Jesus knows
As you’re telling stories from the Gospels remind your young people that Jesus experienced worry, frustration and was ‘tempted in every way, just as we are’. He was able to deal with these things by turning to God. Reassure the children that Jesus knows how they feel and understands it. The Bible tells us that the world is broken and so are we; anxiety is what happens when we notice that life is not what it is meant to be – it’s totally normal, they are not alone in feeling like this. Discussing how people in the Bible may be feeling as you talk about a passage can help kids to identify with the characters, and to normalise talking about their own feelings.Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Calm down
If a child is suffering from nerves at joining your group for the first time or is having a panic attack. Ask them to name or point to:
5 things they can see
4 things they can touch with their fingers
3 things they can hear
2 things they can smell
Take 1 deep breath
This will help them to focus on where they are now and not on what is worrying them. It’s a great activity for anyone who needs to practice focussing.Make a feelings jar
A bit like a snowglobe: fill a clear plastic jar or bottle with water and glitter and fix the lid on firmly! When the child is anxious they can shake it; explain that our feelings can sometimes be like that – all over the place. But like the glitter in the jar our feelings will calm down and settle. This is great for those with generalised anxiety who may want a jar every time you meet that they can shake if they feel worried without having to interrupt the teaching. If they’re old enough to read, write a short prayer on the label that they can say to help them calm down.Make a personal calm down box
Put calming things inside: a homemade stress ball, bubbles (to help slow down breathing) and some favourite verses that remind them that God loves them and is in control. Get them to help you fill it with things they love and will find calming. This is particularly good for children or teens staying in services and you could add a worksheet and pens to it as well.Don’t Worry
Jesus tells us not to worry, not because there is nothing to worry about; after all ‘each day has enough trouble of its own’ but because he will deal with it. He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers and we are much more loved by him than them, and one day he will remake the world and ‘wipe every tear from our eye’. Take your worries to him because his ‘yoke is easy’.
One practical way to show this is to have a Worry Box where they can write or draw their problem and put it away. You can then ask Jesus to deal with all the problems in the tin together, or each one individually. Then the worries can be emptied into the bin because we can trust Jesus to deal with them. You could also have a box for prayer requests and encourage them to add things their worrying about to it.
Emma Scrivener blogs at A New Name as someone who struggled with anorexia, anxiety and OCD tendencies about how Jesus has affected her mental health. Here are her blogs which will help you understand anxiety and how Jesus can help.