Ten calming phrases to say to kids
How do you speak to your child when they have anxiety?
As parents, it’s so easy to want to shield our children from life’s anxious moments, but navigating anxiety is an essential life skill that will serve them in the future. If your child struggles with anxiety, you know the challenge of finding the right things to say when he or she is worried.
Rather than saying “calm down” to your child, try one of these phrases and work through the anxiety with them.
I love you. You are safe.
You are so brave.
Remember when you made it through this situation?
Let’s write a new story!
I get scared/anxious sometimes, too. It’s no fun!
If your feeling was a color, which one would it be?
We’ll get through this together.
If how you feel was a monster, what would it look like?
This feeling will go away. Let’s get comfortable until it does.
I am proud of you already.
Most importantly, remember to remind your child that it’s okay to feel this feeling and they are not alone. Simply having space to honor the emotion without judgment is such an important practice to learn at a young age.
