Anxiety Strategies for Your Elementary Student

Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all feel at times. It's what we feel when we're worried, nervous, or...

Anxiety
March 21, 2025

Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all feel at times. It's what we feel when we're worried, nervous, or scared about something.

For some people, anxiety can be more than just an occasional feeling.

It can be a constant and overwhelming feeling that can interfere with daily life.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, there are things that you can do to help.

What are some anxiety strategies for elementary students that parents can use at home? Here is a list of strategies.

Encourage Your Child to Talk About Their Anxiety. Talking About Anxiety Can Help to Lessen its Power

Encourage your child to talk about their anxiety.

Talking about what's causing their anxiety can help to lessen its power.

You can also help them to come up with a plan for dealing with their anxiety.

For example, if they're anxious about starting a new school year, you can help them to come up with what they are looking forward to, and you can write them down.

You could also help them write down or let you know what they are worried about.

Then you can talk about how they can deal with each one.

Children sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher reading a book.

Help Your Child to Identify Their Anxiety Triggers.

Once they know what sets off their anxiety, they can be better prepared to deal with it.

Anyone can experience anxiety at some point in their lives.

For children, anxiety can be especially challenging to deal with.

However, one of the best ways to help your child manage their anxiety is by assisting them in identifying their anxiety triggers.

Once they know what sets off their anxiety, they can be better prepared to deal with it.

There are a few different ways that you can help your child identify their anxiety triggers.

You can ask them to keep track of when they feel anxious and what was happening at the time.

This can either be done verbally or through writing.

You can also ask them questions about their environment, such as whether there were any loud noises or bright lights around when they felt anxious.

By helping your child to identify their anxiety triggers, you're giving them the power to better manage their anxiety.

Teach Your Child Relaxation Techniques.

Relaxation techniques can help to lessen anxiety.

This is a good approach for an anxiety strategy for elementary students.

There are a few different relaxation techniques that you can teach your child.

  • One is deep breathing. This involves taking slow, deep breaths and focusing on the breath going in and out of the body.
  • Another technique is progressive muscle relaxation. This involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body.
  • The last technique is visualization. This involves picturing a calm and relaxing place in the mind.

All of these techniques can help to lessen anxiety.

Teaching your child one or more of these techniques can give them a way to deal with anxiety when it arises.

Encourage Your Child to Get Regular Exercise. Exercise Can Help to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Mood.

One of the most effective anxiety-reducing strategies is regular exercise.

Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.

Additionally, exercise can help to improve sleep quality and reduce stress levels.

Here are a few types of regular exercise for kids can do around the house:

  • Taking a walk around the block
  • Riding a bike
  • Jumping on a trampoline
  • Dancing to music

There could be others that you might enjoy doing, but these are just a few ideas to get you started.

By encouraging your kids to get regular exercise, you're healthily supporting their anxiety management.

Make Sure That Your Child is Getting Enough Sleep.

A good night's sleep can help to reduce anxiety levels.

Children in school need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night, this accounts for those students who are between the ages of 5 and 12.

There are a few things that you can do to help your child get enough sleep:

  • Create a bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. This could include taking a bath, reading a book, and brushing teeth.
  • Make sure that the bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
  • Limit screen time before bed. This includes computers, TVs, phones, and tablets.

Sleep is an important part of helping one's anxiety.

By ensuring that your child is getting enough sleep, you're helping to reduce their anxiety levels.

Group of children walking on pavement wearing hats and backpacks

Help Your Child to Learn Healthy Coping Skills.

There are a variety of healthy coping skills that your child can learn.

One is problem-solving.

This involves teaching your child how to identify and solve problems healthily.

Some examples of this are:

  1. Identifying the problem
  2. Brainstorming solutions
  3. Choosing the best solution
  4. Implementing the solution

Another healthy coping skill is time management.

This involves teaching your child how to use their time wisely.

This could include:

  1. Making a schedule
  2. Planning ahead
  3. Prioritizing tasks
  4. Breaking tasks down into smaller chunks

The last skill is self-care.

This involves teaching your child how to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally.

Examples of this can include:

  1. Eating a balanced diet
  2. Staying hydrated
  3. Exercising regularly
  4. Getting enough sleep
  5. Practicing relaxation techniques

By teaching your child healthy coping skills, you're giving them the tools they need to deal with anxiety healthily.

Seek Professional Help if Necessary

If anxiety is impacting your child's daily life, it may be time to seek professional help.

There are a variety of professionals who can help with anxiety, such as:

  • Psychologists
  • Counselors
  • Social workers
  • Therapists

Speak with your child's doctor about anxiety and they can provide you with a list of professionals in your area.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes only.

If you need medical advice please reach talk to your doctor or licensed professional.

Conclusion

There are a variety of anxiety strategies for elementary students.

These include relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.

Additionally, healthy coping skills can be taught to children in order to help them deal with anxiety.

Finally, if anxiety is impacting your child's life, professional help may be necessary.

By implementing some or all of these strategies, you may be able to help your child to reduce their anxiety.

Author
Jennifer Luttman, LPC, ACS

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.

Common Questions about Anxiety

What can I do to reduce my anxiety?

To reduce your anxiety, you can practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and mindfulness practices. Additionally, regular exercise has been found to be beneficial in managing stress and improving mental health.

What can happen if I don't seek help for my anxiety?

Ignoring anxiety can exacerbate symptoms and make it more challenging to manage over time. This can result in a negative impact on your personal, professional, and social life, leading to feelings of isolation and even depression.

What other activities are beneficial for reducing anxiety symptoms?

Other activities which have been found helpful in reducing both immediate feelings of anxiousness and long-term anxieties associated with chronic disorders include yoga, journaling, nature walks, art therapy, volunteering, and other low-stress activities. Additionally, developing a healthy lifestyle incorporating adequate sleep, physical activity, and nutritious meals can help reduce overall stress levels.

Will medication help with my anxiety?

Medication is often prescribed for anxiety due to the fact that it works quickly to ease symptoms of distress or panic attacks in some cases. However, this should always be discussed with your doctor so they can provide guidance on what's right for you and the type of medication best suited for your needs.

How do I know if my therapist is a good fit for me?

It's important that you feel comfortable discussing personal matters with your therapist in order to open up and get more out of therapy sessions; therefore finding someone who meets certain criteria like experience level, expertise areas, and personality is key when selecting a therapist who can give meaningful feedback about how best handle issues related to anxiety or other mental health concerns.

Why is it important to address anxiety?

Addressing anxiety is crucial because it can significantly impact your quality of life and overall well-being. Left untreated, anxiety can lead to more severe mental health issues, relationship problems, and difficulty functioning in daily life.