MILWAUKEE — Raising resilient children takes a village. That’s the message from Children’s Wisconsin.
Program Manager Natalie Popple explained that kids in today’s world experience a host of anxiety-including outside forces. She touted the hospital’s “Triple P” program.
What You Need To Know
Raising resilient children takes a village. Children’s Wisconsin highlights programs for parents
The hospital highlights importance of praise and positive reinforcement to children moving through difficult emotions
There are key signs parents can watch for that can indicate anxiety in children
Once a parent has spotted the first signs of anxiety in their child, there are methods and exercises they can implement to curb that emotion and help their child navigate it
“It’s known as the Positive Parenting Program,” Popple said. “It’s been around for almost four decades now with research indicating stronger, more positive relationships within the family.”
Popple further stated that the program helps families build up their child’s self-esteem and confidence.
“Families will learn how to prevent challenging behavior from happening, and address challenging behavior when it happens,” Popple said.
Parents can register here for the Triple P program.
Popple also explained the key signs of anxiety in children that parents can watch out for.
“A child may start complaining more of stomach aches, or not sleeping as well as they used to be,” she said. “Sometimes, kids can have more worries, so they may start to ask more, ‘what if’ questions.”
Popple added that if a child is anxious, they may not be able to move as successfully through a worry, or they begin to express avoidant behavior.
“A child may refuse to try new sports or refuse to go to school all of the sudden,” Popple said.
Once a parent has spotted the first signs of anxiety in their child, there are methods and exercises they can implement to curb that emotion and help their child navigate it.
“One is called the fear ladder, and it’s where a parent can work with their child to break down a larger fear into smaller rungs of a ladder,” Popple said.
Popple gave the example of swimming lessons in a pool without an adult. She broke it down into steps: swimming lessons with a grown-up, lessons with a grown-up for 10 minutes, until the adult is no longer with the child during the lesson.
“Another strategy is called ‘worry time,’” Popple said. “You dedicate five to ten minutes of your day to listen to the child’s worries, and once that ‘worry time’ is done, you agree to leave it there and pick up again tomorrow.”
Popple further stated the importance of praise and positive reinforcement to children moving through difficult emotions.