WELCOME ALACHUA FAMILY WORKSHOP Parenting a Child With

WELCOME ALACHUA FAMILY WORKSHOP Parenting a Child With Anxiety Presented by Michelle Surman & Terri Hill, FDLRS/Springs Michelle. Surman@marion. k 12. fl. us Terri. hill@marion. k 12. fl. us

THIS EVENING’S AGENDA • • • 6: 00 PM – Welcome/Introductions All About FDLRS Special Ed Connection “Thought Bubble” Signs of Anxiety Fight Flight Freeze Video Remain Calm and Positive Tips to Parent Your Anxious Child Backpack “Stress” Activity Coping Skills/Breating Techniques Self-Care for Families Wrap Up/Evaluations

Introductions • TAKE OFF/TOUCH DOWN

APRIL 2019 FDLRS /Sprin gs What do we do?

? S R L D F s i t Wha • Provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities. • 19 Centers ADD A FOOTER

s n o i t c n u FDLRS F • • Child Find Technology Human Resource Development Parent Services http: //www. fdlrssprings. org/

n o i s u l c n I a d i Flor Network Our Mission: The Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) collaborates with all districts and schools to provide customized services and supports ensuring all students with disabilities have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers http: //www. floridainclusionnetwork. com

www. specialedconnection. com Gain a better understanding of special education processes and learn how to help your child benefit from special education services by accessing Special Ed Connection.

YOUR THOUGHTS… • WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD ANXIETY? • JOT DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE “THOUGHT BUBBLE”

SOME SIGNS OF ANXIETY Agitation Restlessness Inattention, poor focus Symptoms like headaches or stomachaches Avoidance Tantrums Crying Meltdowns Difficulties with transitions within school, and between school and an activity/sport • Difficulty settling down for bed • Quiet and well behaved, (going unnoticed) • • •

FIGHT FLIGHT FREEZE https: //www. anxietycanada. com/resources/video/youth

ANXIETY IS NORMAL • • Anxiety is not dangerous Anxiety is Adaptive Anxiety is part of life Anxiety can become a problem

REMAIN CALM AND POSITIVE It can be very difficult to watch a child struggle with anxiety, but the goal is to help the child learn to tolerate and cope with the feelings, not to try to remove all potential triggers of anxiety from the child’s life.

KEEP IN MIND… You can’t “fix” the anxiety…the way you respond to their anxious thoughts and behaviors can set them up for successful coping or increased anxiety

• • • AVOID THESE 10 PHRASES: Don’t worry It’s no big deal You’ll be fine There’s nothing to be afraid of You just need to sleep more I’ll do it It’s all in your head Hurry Up Stop thinking about it I don’t know what you need

10 TIPS TO PARENT YOUR ANXIOUS CHILD

50 WAYS TO TAKE A BREAK

16 APPS TO HELP CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH ANXIETY https: //docplayer. net/93351106 -Thecoping-skills-toolbox. html

How Can I Help My Child Handle Anxiety? • Acknowledge their negative emotions (we can’t always protect them from experiencing negative emotions) • Help them learn to manage their emotional responses • Help them develop coping strategies to manage their anxiety • LEARNING TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY TAKES TIME AND PRACTICE!

99 COPING SKILLS • Coping Skills Checklist – Calming Skills – Distraction Skills – Physical Skills – Processing Skills

Breathing and Calming Techniques

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Please complete the FDLRS Evaluation