The Role Of Routine In Reducing Childhood Anxiety

Anxiety is a real issue among kids nowadays. Gone are the days of peaceful leisure, happy, playing kids, and the tinkle of their innocent laughter. In the 21st century, children suffer from a wide range of complex feelings, events, trauma, and anxieties that did not exist in earlier times. For example, failing a class had never been such a grave crime as today, nor is it being suspended. Earlier, children either absorbed knowledge properly or repeated a year, it was no big thing. If kids fought, or broke the rules, they were punished and suspended.

But now, even the smallest errors on their part can have big repercussions. And thus, children today get thrust into the real-world way too soon, it is nobody’s fault really. But since sheltering them from such social, environmental and situational triggers are not possible, parents can try supporting and helping combat childhood anxiety with a different perspective.

What Is Childhood Anxiety?

Anxiety is fear or apprehension of the unknown, or uncontrollable events. The lack of control or inability to envision something so ominous is what gives rise to childhood anxiety, stress and worries in children. It can be anything, from a death in the family, to divorcing parents, to getting into a fight with their best friend. But usually, childhood anxiety develops from either pre-existing genetic factors, familial conflict, or academic pressure in kids. While social bullying, social isolation, performance anxiety, obsessions, and other compulsions can play a role, they vary on a case-to-case basis. Therefore, it is important to identify your child’s anxiety trigger. But as that takes time and psychiatric help at times, it is ideal to try organizing their days and schedules into routines, to give them a sense of familiarity. They can even join you in making them for an ideal lesson on time management.

Signs Of Anxiety In Children

1. Racing Heart

2. Excessive Sweating

3. Abdominal Distress

4. Nausea

5. Feeling Hot Or Cold

6. Lightheadedness

7. Poor Attention

8. Racing Thoughts

9. Changes In Appetite

10. Improper Sleep

The Role Of Routine In Reducing Childhood Anxiety

• Gives Them A Sense Of Control

Making routines together with your kids and guiding them through the process gives them a sense of control over their life, especially if any big changes in family or life are taking place. It tethers them to the present, increasing their confidence, and helping them cope with each day at school, tuition, and home.

• Lowers Fear Of The Unknown

Routines are helpful in lowering fear of the unknown in children. Since kids are usually neo-phobic by nature, routines work wonderfully for them. Knowing that they have a say in when their study time, television time, play time, and nap time is, also helps in forming their own identity and improving self-esteem. Also, the organized comfort of routines improves productivity in anxious kids, who are usually perfectionists by nature.

• Teaches Time Management

Making routines for their school days, weekends, and holidays also teaches them the value of time management and the art of schedule-making. As a result, no matter how young your kid is, you no longer will have to worry about exam pressure. Routines will be there to help improve their academic excellence.

• Lowers Pressure Of Decision-Making

Routines are helpful for kids suffering from childhood anxiety as they do not have to suffer through the act of decision-making. Though this is a temporary reprieve, unless your child is like Sheldon Cooper, making meal and toilet routines does help with anxious kids who do not have a healthy relationship with food, or visit the toilet often.

• Induces Familiarity And Comfort

Ultimately, routines not only discipline unruly kids, but also provide comfort and familiarity to worried children who fear the unknown and any form of change. They prefer having a fixed bedtime, TV time, playing time, study time, mealtime, and even phone time, as this ensures that nothing, but major live events and decisions will tamper with their day.

Tips To Incorporate Routine Into Your Kid’s Day

• Divide their day into rest, leisure, study, and meals. Then allot hours accordingly to them, before finalizing time slots.
• Try to make routine-making a fun and colorful event. It can be a weekly or monthly occasion. Try to liven it up with some healthy yet tasty homemade snacks and quality bonding time.
• Enforce positive reinforcement in kids. If they follow the routine correctly for a week, reward them with some privileges or treats of choice.
• Try to make meditation a daily part of their routine for reducing and eradicating anxiety.
• If necessary, slot a 10 to 15 minutes period into their day for mindful thinking and deep breathing. This helps anxious children deal with life easily.

Conclusion

Routines are a great way of reducing childhood anxiety as they not only teach kids time management and organizational skills, but also help cope with their inner demons. So, give this guide a try and watch your children make anxiety run away with their routine-making and following skills.

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