Helping Our Children Cope with Holiday Anxiety
Many of our challenging and anxious children tend to be hyperaware of new situations like holiday parties and meeting new people.
During the holiday season, consider this idea from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America:
Plan ahead. Anticipate potentially stressful situations by talking to your child about what made her anxious during this time last year, and create techniques to minimize that anxiety. For a child who is uncomfortable being hugged by relatives, practice putting their hand out quickly when seeing a person or initiating a less overwhelming type of hug.
If you have other ideas or suggestions, share them with our A Wild Ride readers. Send them to Elizabeth for posting later this month.
