Takeaway: Meditation can help change the baseline state of your adolescent’s mind – gradually making her a calmer, less anxious version of herself. The trick is to start small (3 minutes a day, at first) and find a meditation style that suits her personality and needs. Read More
Takeaway: Doom scrolling social media feeds can entertain your teen, make her feel socially connected, and relieve underlying anxiety. But it also quickly becomes addictive and gives adolescents a warped view of the world. The solution? Help set internet rules and encourage other healthier online and offline habits. Read More
Takeaway: Learning differences and difficulties add to existing back-to-school anxieties, creating a toxic anxiety-avoidance feedback loop. The solution? First, listen to your child’s fears so she feels heard, and then help her build a new, stronger self-identity. Read More
Takeaway: To teach children with autism how to regulate their emotions, we need to (1) Explore what emotions are using ‘emotion cards’ and ‘social stories,’ (2) Rate emotions on an emotions-thermometer scale, and (3) Use basic attention-redirection techniques like mindfulness and deep breathing. Read More
Takeaway: Resilience is your child’s ability to rebound from challenges and tough times. And thankfully, it’s something we can teach children to develop — either at home or through therapies like CBT, ACT, and more. And the great thing is that we can match your child’s personality and needs to the type of therapy that will best help her. Read More
Takeaway: Restarting exams after a two-year break affects adolescents emotionally because there are multiple factors at play. But as parents, there’s a lot we can do to help. Specifically, we can teach our children to reframe their anxieties and focus more on ‘learning’ than ‘performing.’ And for persistent emotional issues, we can consult a specialist for help.
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Takeaway: If your child starts trying to avoid school, (1) Spot her anxiety triggers, (2) Keep her school updated, (3) Create an action plan, (4) Teach her to manage anxiety, (5) Gently encourage her to go to school, (6) Ask a specialist for help if needed. Read More
Takeaway: Children with social anxiety disorder are phobic about social situations. They’re overwhelmed by fears and anxieties that people are judging them. Regular shyness goes away with time, but social anxiety disorder keeps getting worse. And it causes children to withdraw from life completely. However, they can learn to reconnect with life and find happiness again with the right care plan and coping strategies. Read More
Takeaway: Self-regulation refers to your child’s ability to manage her inner self and how she reacts to situations. The better her self-regulation skills, the happier she’ll feel and the easier it will be to make friends and do well at school. To teach your child how to manage herself better, help her name the emotions she’s feeling and use an appropriate coping strategy to handle these emotions. Read More
Takeaway: Research shows that mindfulness is a legitimate tool to change the way we deal with challenges. And the exciting thing is that it works with children, too. But you’ll need to use the right approach: Choose realistic goals, don’t force mindfulness on your child, choose the right exercises, and set a good example. Read More