We would like to thank our parents and WQSB staff and teachers who attended our Parent Workshop on November 28: “Helping Children Cope with Anxiety.” As well, a huge thanks to our guest facilitator, Joanne Doucette, MSW, RSW, Registered Social Worker at the Child, Adolescent and Family Centre of Ottawa for such an informative, dynamic and engaging presentation. Thank you!
It was a great session and an opportunity for parents and staff to learn about the causes of anxiety in children and why there’s an increased prevalence. Joanne spoke about such factors as inborn temperament, and how societal changes, including exposure to technology, have contributed to the difficulty children face when coping with anxiety. Joanne also highlighted some strategies parents could use to help alleviate their child’s fears and anxieties including:
- Different relaxation and calm breathing techniques such as the Flower (breath-in) & Candle (breath-out) and the Cookies in the Oven;
- Setting aside a 10-15 minute “Worry Time” each day to actively listen to the child and help them express their feelings and fears.
- Helping a child confront their fears by setting goals and then gradually exposing them to their anxiety in order to stop the cycle of avoidance.
The Information Session included some skits with guest Josette Kodsi, Social Worker at the WQSB and a Q&A at the end of the presentation.
Resources Shared During the Parent Workshop:
- Joanne Doucette’s PowerPoint Presentation (Additional List of Books / Resources at end of PowerPoint)
- Joanne Doucette’s Handouts on Calm Breathing, Worry Time and Changing Thoughts
- Past Events with Joanne Doucette (wrap-up & resources shared): Empowering through Mindfulness and Helping Children Cope through Big Emotions
- Detailed look at anxiety and stress in young children from the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development.
- List of Books for Children about Mindfulness
- Connexions’ Mental Health First-Aid Kit Cards, Tools and Resources:
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- For Children:
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- Paper Fidget Toys that help children Cope with stressful situations: Instructions to make fidget tools with your child, Spinning Fidget Template, I Can Cool Off Flower, Fortune-Teller Finger Game, Fidget Copter Template.
- List of Different Coping Strategies to give you inspiration and to help fill-out some of the Templates above.
- Mental Health Activity Cards for Children (child can also colour these- great for quiet time!).
- A Mood Tracker.
- I am Grateful for… Activity Page to write down what you are grateful for. Great activity to share with your child.
- A list of signs of caregiver burnout, as well as contact information on where to find legal, health and mental health supports in the Outaouais (for parents who need support).
- A list of What to Include in a Calm Down Kit for Kids.
- For Youth:
- Mental Health Activity Cards for Youth (and also adults), Mental Health Cards with Words of Empowerment and Mandala Colouring (also for adults).
- A Mood Tracker.
- Mental Health Resource Cards that include a list of resources (crisis resources, etc.), as well as important contact information on where to find legal, health and mental health supports in the Outaouais.
- Paper Fidget Toys that some youth might find fun and helpful when trying to cope with stressful situations:Â Instructions to make fidget tools with your youth, Spinning Fidget Template, I Can Cool Off Flower, Fortune-Teller Finger Game, Fidget Copter Template.
- List of Different Coping Strategies to give you inspiration and to help fill-out some of the Templates above.
- I am Grateful for… Activity Page to write down what you are grateful for. Great activity to share with your child.
- A list of What to Include in a Calm Down Kit.
- For Parents:
- A Mood Tracker.
- Words of empowerment, List A and List B.
- A list of signs of caregiver burnout, as well as contact information on where to find legal, health and mental health supports in the Outaouais.
- A List of what to Include in your Individual Mental Health First-Aid Kit.
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This workshop is in collaboration with the Partenaires du secteur Aylmer with funding from Avenirs d’enfants.