An online training to help kiddos be brave
A free, 20 minute online training for parents of anxious kids
How can parents and caregivers help anxious kids? One of the best things we can do is to know about how avoidance feeds anxiety. When kids (and adults!) get anxious, a common response is to avoid whatever we’re afraid of: crowds, dogs, xxx, or yyy. Avoidance works in the short term to reduce anxiety, but in the long term, it actually helps keep anxiety alive, because kids don’t get the chance to learn that they can face their fears.
Avoidance in kiddos can look a lot of different ways: not wanting to try new activities, clinging to parents or caregivers, or even seeking verbal reassurance.
One of the best things parents with anxious kiddos can do is learn how to help their kids counter avoidance. We LOVE Project EMPOWER, a free, 20 minute online training from Northwestern University. Project EMPOWER that teaches parents science-backed strategies for helping their kiddos counter avoidance, including creating a tailored action plan.
We recommend Project EMPOWER to all parents we know — regardless of whether or not their kiddo is currently experiencing anxiety. It’s a fantastic resource!