ABCs of Learning

Most people experience anxiousness at some point in their lives. However, the feelings are often related to a specific situation that passes with time. As an educator at Child and Family Development, I work with parents who express concerns about anxiety in their school-age children. The following are some guidelines to help in determining the next step when you find that your child seems anxious:

·        Examine the extent to which the anxious feelings impact your child’s life. Anxiety becomes problematic when it occurs daily or lasts for an extended period of time. You should also address the issue when the anxiety impacts your child’s daily routine in areas such as sleeping, eating, peer relationships, or the ability to follow through with daily responsibilities.

·        Notice when your child tends to become anxious. Pay attention to whether the anxiety surrounds a particular situation. Children with anxiety related to school may cry about going to school, become upset when doing homework, or avoid school-related activities.

·        Open the lines of communication. Try talking with your children to see if they will express some of what they are feeling. Arrange a meeting with the teacher to see if he/she has any insights that will help.

·        Keep a close watch on any anxiety that you see and pursue outside assistance when needed. Anxiety related to school can be one indication of a learning disability, such as dyslexia or dysgraphia.