Coping with Social Anxiety

For many children and adults who struggle with social anxiety, months of social distancing has felt like a nice break. It has given them the chance to avoid situations that would usually evoke anxiety and stress. While it has lifted one burden, it may also have increased your child’s loneliness and isolation. Learning how to navigate stressful social situations is a crucial life skill. Developing coping mechanisms and increasing their social confidence will allow them to create deep and meaningful relationships with their peers.
According to clinical psychologist Arlin Council, it’s important–even with a preschooler–to help them overcome social anxiety. Children with social anxiety are more at risk of developing long-term mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. They can also have more difficulty in school coping with social and academic demands. By building up their confidence and helping them learn how to navigate new social situations, you can equip them to cope with demanding social interactions as they get older.

Ease Them into Face-to-Face Conversations

Live video-chats can be overwhelming for children with social anxiety, especially after months only interacting with close family members. You can ease them into chatting with their classmates by starting with a voice phone call or Marco Polo videos with friends. (Marco Polo is a popular app that allows you to make and send a video to others. It has fun filters that your child can use, and it easy to operate.)

Another way to ease them into it is to have them participate when you have video chats with your close friends and family. Seeing the face of an adult that they trust and feel safe with on the screen will help them feel more at ease talking to a camera. Having you beside them, to help guide the conversation, will also help them feel secure as they build up their confidence.

Model Comfort & Confidence with Social Interaction

Seeing you talk comfortably with friends and family is a simple yet crucial way to help your child learn to cope with social anxiety. Kids learn many things from their parents, including how to handle social situations and develop meaningful relationships. If you are anxious and extremely inhibited in social situations, it will re-enforce their social anxiety. If they see you acting at ease and confident in social situations, it can help them feel more at ease in those situations.

Offer Gentle Encouragement

Tenderly encourage your child when they try to avoid or talk their way out of social interactions. Don’t criticize or coerce them into a social situation that they are uncomfortable with. Neither will help them learn how to cope with their anxiety. Gentle encouragement to be brave and make a new friend will be more effective.

Make it Fun!

Making new friends and deepening friendships should be fun. You can help your child overcome their anxiety by setting up virtual playdates to play I Spy, Would You Rather or do a Virtual Scavenger Hunt. If the app they are using has cool filters, teach them how to use them.

Try suggesting that they start the call by having a contest to see who can make the silliest face or find the funniest filter to help break the ice. Starting off this way can set the tone for the whole conversation.

Be sure to stay positive and have patience with your child as you create more opportunities for them to make new friends or meet new people. Overcoming social anxiety is scary and challenging. They will need to feel your long-lasting love and support through the process. If they aren’t ready for a new social interaction, listen to their concerns, and be willing to take a step back until they are ready.

Let Their Teacher Know

If your child is in preschool or elementary school, let their teacher know about their social anxiety. They may have tips to help your child build social confidence. You can work together to help your child cope with their social stress.

Our team at Kids’ R’ Kids Avalon Park is experienced in helping children overcome tough challenges like social anxiety. If you are looking for a safe, supportive VPK program or learning lounge for your child, contact us to learn more! Enrollment for our new Center has started.