Anxiety - How OT Supports Kids with Anxiety

Occupational Therapy (OT) can be a key part of helping kids manage anxiety, as it focuses on improving both physical and emotional regulation, making it easier for children to engage in everyday activities.

Here’s how OT supports kids with anxiety:

1. Building Emotional Regulation

OT helps children develop coping strategies for managing overwhelming feelings. Techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness can help kids stay calm when feeling anxious.

2. Sensory Integration

Anxiety can often be triggered by sensory overload (noisy environments, crowded spaces, or even certain textures). OT practitioners use sensory-based interventions to help children process sensory information more effectively. This might include activities like deep pressure (weighted blankets, squeezes), movement activities (swinging, jumping), or calming tactile input (soft fabrics, fidget tools).

3. Building Routines & Structure

Having a predictable routine can significantly reduce anxiety. OTs work with kids and families to set up structured schedules, which provide a sense of security and control over their environment. Visual schedules or planners can be particularly helpful for younger kids.

4. Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies

OTs incorporate techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), such as helping children recognize negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. They guide kids in reframing anxious thoughts or practicing exposure to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled way to reduce fear.

5. Social Skills Development

Anxiety can make social interactions intimidating. OT can help children build skills like problem-solving, communication, and role-playing to make social situations more manageable and less stressful. They also help kids practice self-advocacy so they can communicate their needs when they’re feeling anxious.

6. Strengthening Self-Esteem & Confidence

When children are struggling with anxiety, they may lack confidence in their abilities. OT works to enhance a child’s self-esteem through activities that provide mastery experiences, helping them feel more in control and capable.

7. Environmental Modifications

An OT might suggest changes in a child’s environment (home, school, etc.) to make it more conducive to their emotional well-being. This could include setting up quiet spaces for decompression, adding sensory breaks throughout the day, or offering calming tools that can be accessed during stressful moments.

8. Self-Regulation Skills

OTs teach self-regulation techniques to help children identify when they’re beginning to feel anxious and take proactive steps to calm themselves before the anxiety escalates. This can include using visual or auditory cues, creating a “calm-down corner,” or engaging in self-soothing activities.

By integrating these approaches, OT empowers kids with the tools and skills they need to manage anxiety, improve their emotional regulation, and ultimately navigate daily challenges with greater confidence. Our bodies are complicated and Wonderfully Made Therapy loves to help children learn tools to help them with skills and emotions.