There are many assumptions made about child anxiety, many of which are false. Most tend to come from family and friends who do not have anxiety and are confused by the child’s feelings. Here are some common myths about child anxiety:
There’s No Reason to be Anxious
Many parents wonder what in the world their child has to be anxious about. They think of all the privileges their child has and how happy they seem to be. However, people (including children) do not have to have a certain thing that causes them to be anxious. It can be physiological, meaning the child does not have to experience an external event to become anxious. Anxiety can fill the mind with “what if” scenarios, causing the child to fear things that may never even happen.
Child Anxiety is Caused by Poor Parenting
Parents of children with anxiety can be ridiculed with comments about needing to discipline their child or that their child is just spoiled. Anxiety is not something that can be disciplined away and it does not reflect poor parenting. They usually do not see the events that led up to the meltdown they witnessed; many people don’t, as anxiety is an internal battle.
They’ll Grow Out of It
Refrain from telling your child that they will grow out of their anxiety. Anxiety doesn’t exactly just go away; it morphs and changes with age, but usually does not disappear. The best thing to do is to teach your child skills to combat their anxiety early.
Child Anxiety is Uncommon
Many people think that anxiety in children is uncommon because they see no outward signs of it. Children who are well-behaved, good students, friendly, and outgoing can still suffer from anxiety. Just because you can’t see it with your own eyes does not mean it isn’t there.
Anxious Children are Weak
Some parents may misinterpret their child’s anxiety as a sign of weakness. This typically happens with fathers, especially fathers of boys. Anxiety has nothing to do with bravery, and oftentimes anxious children are some of the bravest.
Walton Academy
Walton Academy is always striving to provide a consistent, nurturing and innovative environment for our students. We understand that early childhood education plays a large role in your child’s development, so we ensure they receive a high-quality education. With small classrooms and highly qualified teachers, you can be sure your child will receive individualized instruction, character education, and social-emotional habits.
Walton Academy firmly believes that an environment with minimal distractions is key to student success. To achieve an optimal learning environment and experience, we require each child to undergo our enrollment screening process. During our enrollment screening process, students are observed and assessed academically, behaviorally, and socially. Our enrollment screening ensures that our classroom environment remains focused and that each student can excel and reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more!