Children suffer from many different types of anxiety, find out how the different types of anxiety affect your child. Massage can help reduce stress in children and help them better cope with everyday life.
Copyright (c) 2013 Liddle Kidz Foundation Infant and Children's Pediatric Massage
Anxiety is present in everyday life but can be problematic within our children. So, it is important to know the types of anxiety that can affect them. Separation Anxiety is not limited to children 12-18 months old but can be influenced by parental relationships and more commonly bullying. The child could refuse to go to school due to the bullying or a school phobia.
A generalized anxiety disorder is similar to the title, children may have excessive anxiety about a variety of things (things in general) with no specific cause. Post-traumatic stress disorder while most commonly associated with returning soldiers, affects children if they experienced a traumatic event such as domestic abuse, losing a loved one, experiencing a natural disaster, or sexual assault. These events cause high levels of anxiety as well as flashbacks, and reliving the experience. Social phobia disorder is seen in children who have excessive fear of being in social situations like crowds or groups. Obsessive-compulsive disorder which includes repetitive thoughts (obsessions), placing objects in the same arrangement or unending desire to repeat specific acts (compulsions.)
When working with your child at home try to be consistent in handling discipline, remembering anxiety is not willful behavior, so being patient with your child is important. Always communicate clear and realistic expectations for your children, and as hard as it may be, keep perfection to a minimum. Accept mistakes, praise and reinforce effort even if the end result is not up to your standards. Help create goals with the child surrounding a specific event that may be causing them anxiety, give strategies such as time management, organization and even small scripts for what to do or say. Avoid being critical, this can lead a child into the depths of anxiety! If the problem persists, seek help, don't assume that it will go away or that the child is just being difficult.
By creating one on one time with your child through massage you are fostering a relationship that will grow stronger. A parent can begin forging a strong bond with their child as early as infancy by massaging their child. This massage time can provide a time for you to sit down with your child, discuss their day or any anxiety they may have and massage provides an outlet for the anxiety. Studies have shown children and adults that experience massage have diminished anxiety during hospital stays, academic stress and other anxiety related events.
Bringing Home Your Pre-Term Baby
Pre-term and medically fragile infants require specialized medical care and when brought home facilitated bonding time. Massage can provide both of these in many situations, find out how pediatric massage can benefit your pre-term and medically fragile child.
How Does Childcare Effect My Baby?
How does child care affect the bond with your baby? Childcare impacts your baby both positively and negatively and it's important to know how and why. Creating special time with your child is important to maintain your relationship and strength your bond.
I Want To Start Infant Massage, What Do I Do?
Having trouble getting your little one to sleep? Try infant massage, in this article we discuss how simple it is to start massaging your baby and the benefits massage provides.
