Wellbeing - 

Anxiety Article 5

The next article in the series dealing with Anxiety, written by Australian Child Psychologist, Michael Hawton, Child Psychologist (MAPS) and Parentshop founder.

(For Articles 1 to 4, please refer to the last four editions of the newsletter). 

Michael Hawton is founder of Parentshop, providing education and resources for parents and industry professionals working with children. He has authored two books on child behaviour management: Talk Less Listen More and Engaging Adolescents. You can find more information, including his books and self-paced online parenting courses at https://www.parentshop.com.au/parent-courses/

Navigating Global Anxiety with Teenagers: A Parent's Guide to Discussing World Events

As we face increasingly distressing news about climate change, natural disasters, and global conflicts, many parents find themselves wondering how to protect their young children from the anxiety these events can provoke. The reality is that children aged five to twelve have developing minds that are particularly vulnerable to frightening imagery and overwhelming information¹.  We must recognise that children's brains won't reach full maturity until their early twenties. This means their ability to plan, reason, and organise thoughts about complex global issues is still developing². When young children see distressing images of people crying, scared, or in danger, their minds are more prone to anxiety than our fully developed adult minds.  This doesn't mean we should completely shield our children from world events, but rather that we need to be thoughtful about how much exposure is appropriate. The media's job is to make events dramatic to capture attention, and this can be particularly overwhelming for young minds.

Four key strategies:

Focus on small, attainable actions 

When faced with something as overwhelming as climate change or natural disasters, children can feel helpless. Counter this by creating family activities that allow them to contribute to solutions. Research local community needs together and put together resource packs for affected areas. For global issues, explore age-appropriate charities where your family can make donations. This builds what I call a 'have a go' attitude - helping children feel they can make a difference rather than being powerless³.

Limit repeated exposure 

Once you've seen or heard about a frightening event, don't keep watching it repeatedly. Turn off the television or change the radio station. Images seen on screens have a particularly powerful effect on young children. Instead, watch one reputable news segment together and discuss the facts without dwelling on gruesome details. This minimises exposure without complete avoidance, which might pique their curiosity and push them to seek information elsewhere.

Listen before moving on 

If your child expresses worry about what they've seen, hear their feelings before changing the subject. Acknowledge what you believe they might be experiencing with statements like, "Seeing those people made you feel worried that it could happen here" or "If I saw something like that, I think I would be upset too." This acknowledgement isn't agreement with their perception, but it helps develop their emotional l intelligence by providing congruent emotional feedback⁴.

Help maintain perspective 

Young children need reminding that news represents only a small slice of what's happening in the world. In Australia, we live in a relatively safe society. Natural disasters, whilst frightening, don't happen constantly. Emphasise that many people work together to help during crises and that there are structures in place to manage these situations. When discussing climate change, commit to doing what you can as a family (like walking more or recycling) without unnecessarily worrying your child about things they can hardly control as individuals.

Children feel injustice very keenly, so it's crucial that we guide them through these trying times with patience and understanding. Remember that your acknowledgement of their feelings validates their emotional experience, which is essential for building resilience. By teaching children to use their developing logical brain to soothe their emotional responses, we're equipping them with lifelong coping skills.

The goal isn't to eliminate all anxiety from your child's life - some concern about world events is natural and appropriate. Instead, we want to help children develop healthy ways to process difficult information whilst maintaining their sense of security and agency. By following these strategies, you're helping your child build the resilience they'll need to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Remember, as parents, we have the power to shape how our children view and respond to challenges. By modelling calm, thoughtful responses to world events, we teach our children that whilst the world can be difficult, they have the tools to cope and contribute positively to solutions.

¹ Harvard Center on the Developing Child, "The Science of Resilience" (2015) 

² Dweck, C., "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" (2006)