Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Does your child have anxiety, especially if they are new to Elementary school? I saw a post on the school age parenting board about changed behavior and a few here, too. Why are our kids so anxious or having such adjustment issues? I am floored at how much anxiety DD has since staring K. She is very good at school but has had a lot of negative behavior changes at home. I try and get to the root of her anxiety but she just gives me answers that don't add up. She almost throws up every morning before the bus, cries for me some days at school (I worked FT since she was 12 weeks old until this past June so not like we've been attached at the hip), complains about everything being too loud and just always says she misses me.
It is breaking my heart and I am so dumbfounded. Is this common and we are just more in tuned to it? Is my anxiety (even though I try my best to keep it under wraps) causing her anxiety? I try and be positive about school and helping her problem solve, etc. but it just seems to be so rampant lately. I just don't remember ever hearing about this as much as I have since DD started school.

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

The expectations for a child in Kindergarten are not what they were when we were kids. I think K is really what we knew and experienced as first grade. There is a lot more pressure placed on kids and much more testing. Depending upon the teacher, and sadly, if he or she is younger, in my experience they place much more unwarranted pressure than the older more experienced teachers who have been at a school for more than eight years and really know what they are doing.

If a child was vomiting like you are describing, I would absolutely take them to a child psychologist to help both of you develop coping strategies. I am so sorry that your child is so stressed about school. For my kids, I got a review book, and before the school year, we do many pages in it to act as both a refresher and allow them to see what they will study the following year so that it is not as daunting to be faced with entirely new materials.

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Wow she sounds like my daughter! I have been going through this with my DD for a few years now with vomiting. It started when she was 2 years old, then it stopped and now 1st grade its back. I also get mixed answers when we are trying to find the root of the problem, she keeps saying she doesn't like music class, or when the kids sing its too loud and she misses us and etc...I try to reassure her that we will see her later and that i am in the car waiting outside waiting (which is not true i go to work but it has been helpful) I feel like this is more than a phase so I decided to meet with a therapist since I thought we finished this phase. Haven't met yet but will be soon to see how we can handle this. I feel like we need to know to handle it and we don't we get frustrated and irritated and I am sure that effects her anxiety more. I wish i had answers but I am in the same boat!

ETA: Her teacher has been great with communicating with us and she always says shes doing great. I think its the driving from home to school is the main issue but once shes on school (except when its music class) shes great.

Message edited 10/20/2016 12:50:43 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

My DS was like this. He was fine in school but his anxiety before and at home was awful. I put him in therapy at the beginning of 1st grade and I swear he was like a different child within 3 months. I'd give that a shot.

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

What worked wonders for my DD in Kindergarten (I also work full time since she was 5 months old), was to put a picture of me and her on her desk. Her teacher said the change was immediate. She began to relax and said it helped her so much to "see" me during the day.

Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Transitions are hard for kids. I teach 6th grade, and can't tell you how many kids take a few months to adjust socially and emotionally. And, at this age, kids are much more aware of feelings/causes for feelings, yet they still have a hard time

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

My dd suffers with anxiety. I def believe we are more tuned into it and aware of it then previous generations. I def believe that a child can sense our emotions so much better than we realize. And even when we try to hide it then can sense it still.
I also know that even though I'm not anxious at all, my dd is still quite anxious about situations that shes used to.
I work part time and my mother and mother in law have been watching her since shes 6months old. She will still cry hysterically that I'm leaving. She will wake in the middle of the night sometimes the night before she knows I'm going to work because shes anxious.
Any change in routine causes her anxiety.
I am VERY concerned about school next year. She starts Kindergarten and will be taking a bus to a new school. I may be in the same boat as you next year.

I just bought a book that Ive been reading and absolutely LOVING called The Emotionally Intelligent Child. Its made me see some mistakes Ive been making with her. Its helped me to understand her perspective a bit more so that I can just talk to her.

Just sending big hugs and maybe it pays to consider having your DC talk to someone.
As an adult who suffers with anxiety, talking to someone made me so much better. Made me feel so much better. And made me understand it, allowed me ways to manage my feelings.
I have been considering it more and more now that I see my dd anxiety about things that haven't even happened yet get worse (ie effecting sleep); she doesn't want to try things because shes scared; she doesn't want to talk about it.

You also have to keep in mind, your dc has no idea what they are feeling therefore leaving her that much more frustrated. Lonely. even Scared.
Also with things being too loud that's my dd as well. Its a sensory thing. Look it up, its all connected the anxiousness and the loud noises
I bet your child is sensitive as well? like emotionally sensitive. again just all connected.

Message edited 10/21/2016 1:08:22 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

My DD is in 1st Grade and has just started having issues with anxiety since school started. It's not about school but I feel the change may have been a catalyst for it. She's always been a bit of a worrier but now it's definitely gone past that. She'll worry about having to go to the hospital over allergies or bumping her leg, she'll worry about me any time I leave. You name it, she'll lay in bed obsessing over it.

I asked her ped about it and she said it is common since they're becoming more aware of things around them and that things can happen at this age but if it gets worse to speak with a therapist. It seems to be getting a bit better and I found some yoga videos which really help calm her. Might be worth a shot. I'm going to check out some kids yoga classes in my area too and see what they offer.

Good Night Yoga by Mariam Gates

Here are the moves step by step.
Yoga poses

She also has Good Morning yoga too!

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety

Re: Spinoff to Child Psych post--anxiety