Anxiety on the Rise in Children
Cory Turner Twitter

When our children were younger, we allowed them to roam around the neighborhood on their bikes, playing with friends for hours. Maybe they gave us a call on the landline to check in at some point, but mostly they had the freedom to play as they wished, as long as they were home before dark. If you have grandchildren, you've probably noticed kids aren't doing this much anymore. And the consequences may be serious.

It turns out this kind of parent-free play is hugely beneficial to children. It helps kids learn to manage time, to control games, to resolve arguments - all of which help to build self-esteem and develop emotional and social skills. The lack of this kind of play nowadays may be a reason why rates of anxiety and depression among teens in the U.S. have been rising for years. According to a study highlighted in NPR, 1 out of 3 adolescents (ages 13-18) have signs of an anxiety disorder.

What are signs of an anxiety disorder in children? According to Anxiety.org:

  • Agitation
  • Restlessness
  • Inattention, poor focus
  • Somatic symptoms like headaches or stomachaches
  • Avoidance
  • Tantrums
  • Crying
  • Refusing to go to school
  • Meltdowns before school about clothing, hair, shoes, socks
  • Meltdowns after school about homework
  • Difficulties with transitions within school, and between school and an activity/sport
  • Difficulty settling down for bed
  • Having high expectations for school work, homework and sports performance

Our children and grandchildren are living in a different world than decades ago, so children roaming freely around the neighborhood as their main source of play just isn't happening anymore. There are the obvious safety concerns and screen time has replaced outdoor play thanks to the plethora of iPads, tablets and smartphones. And these smartphones, while allowing parents to have constant contact with their children (which can be great thing at times), limit the freedom children have, which is vital to building all those essential skills mentioned above.

Parenting styles have also changed over the years and we've seen an emergence of "helicopter parents" in recent years. The smothering and overprotecting, while done in an attempt to keep the child safe and away from harm, inhibits the social and emotional growth of the child and can make them less resilient.

So what can we do to help kids during these crucial developing years? The NPR article features two new parenting books that may help address issues contributing to the growing problem of anxiety in kids: The Good News About Bad Behavior and The Self-Driven Child. While our children may not exactly welcome parenting advice, they may at least appreciate concern for your grandchild's well-being. So maybe tuck one of these books away for an upcoming birthday or holiday!

There are also ways to help children develop confidence and self-sufficiency beginning when they are infants, as this article in GRAND magazine describes.

 




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