Empathy as a Means for Reducing Anxiety

Sometimes when our kids are nervous about something, we spend a lot of energy trying to fix it when really what they most need is to hear that you understand. Instead of saying, "Oh don't worry -- you're going to love your new preschool!," try empathy. "Gee, this is hard to switch schools isn't it? Tell me about what you are going to miss the most." When children feel understood, they stop feeling like they need to justify their worries and shift their energy towards moving forward. Hope this helps!

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