theMillwatermag
Does your child suffer from anxiety? Feeling sick, sore tummies, fearful, shy, clingy, emotional outbursts over little things, difficulty sleeping, irritable, tearful, easily embarrassed and overwhelmed – do any of these sound like your child? I see many children who become anxious about things that happen at school. They may be overwhelmed by schoolwork, a teacher, bullying, friendship issues, or it can be a specific incident of deep embarrassment or injustice that’s blocking them. As a parent, you may be encouraging your child to ‘just be themselves’ when, in fact, that’s exactly what they are worried about. Especially if they are teenagers, they want the reassurance that they are like their peers, they do fit in and they do belong.
For parents helping their child suffering from anticipation anxiety, it’s about getting the balance of honouring their feelings. You can do this by helping them have a plan A, B and C to deal with those feelings so they can carry through going to camp, or continuing with swimming classes, or delivering their speech. With younger children, you can create a ‘small-step x small-step’ plan to increase their independence. For example, saying, “I will say hello to the teacher with you and then you can go to your friends by yourself”. If you feel your child’s anxiety is getting in the way of their dayto-day life, or having a significant effect on their schooling or relationships, it might be time to get some help. After working through anxiety with an 8-year old client, this is what his mother had to say: “Previously, he would spiral into a crisis that drained him and the family with every little thing that happened. With this supportive step-by-step process, it was easy for him to understand his feelings, then move on and be free of it. It’s made such a difference to home and school life.” By Mary Ashby-Green
Artful Fashion Continues until 01 May
Exhibition of extreme artworks as items of fashion, artist talks, workshops & demonstrations Featuring guest artist Jeff Thomson
April Exhibitions • • • •
John Hoby - Abstract Painting Tony Gibbs - Photography Val Cuthbert, Bas Cuthbert, Bev Head, Debbie Martin and Merryl Houghton ‘Everything that Glitters’ - Jewellery
unlocking your child's potential I specialise in working with children to ‘clear the hidden blocks’ that prevent them from happily progressing and thriving at home and school. I combine my previous experience as a teacher and principal, with therapies including NLP, to help them with issues including • dyslexia and learning difficulties • sibling rivalry and other behavioural problems • anxiety, anger, bullying, depression, OCD
School Holiday Art Programme
18 - 29 April Booking essential
Let’s clear the way for your child to live confidently and learn with ease. Find out more at www.maryashbygreen.co.nz
Term 2 Arts Programme starts 10 May
214B Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa admin@estuaryarts.org 09 4265570 www.estuaryarts.org
Open Daily | Free Admission
P: 09 427 9904 M: 027 4941102
E: mary@ashbygreen.co.nz www.maryashbygreen.co.nz
