04/30/2024
An excellent strategy, thanks for sharing Allied Pediatrics!
TIP TUESDAY with Dr. Delia! 💡 A lot of kids are undergoing testing right now, and we thought we would share a strategy to help with feelings of anxiety, stress, and worry!
This strategy comes by many names, and lots of therapists and pediatricians talk about it. Even adults can use this technique to help combat worry and stress!
All you're doing is recognizing things in order using the five senses. Simply FIND...
🔹 FIVE things you can SEE
🔹 FOUR things you can HEAR
🔹 THREE things you can SMELL
🔹 TWO things you can TOUCH
🔹 ONE thing you can TASTE
Do this with your kids at home; tell them they can easily do this quietly at their desk without anyone knowing! This tidbit alone will give them confidence that they can help themselves stay calm (or calm down!) without anyone even suspecting their worries. Because - let's face it - sometimes getting upset in front of ones peers can escalate those feelings of stress, compounding the feelings and worsening things.
Also, point out that some of these things they won't actually be able to do (like touching the fuzzy chair, or tasting the skittles in their lunch bag). But they can recognize the items in their minds and move on through the steps.
Plain and simple, this strategy gives people something specific to place their focus, helping them regulate their emotions and gain control of themselves. Feeling in control goes a long way in staying calm, and staying calm helps us recall the important info we need during testing season.
Counselor Keri also mentions an even easier approach to the 5-4-3-2-1 method for younger kids (using only sight) in her article here: https://www.counselorkeri.com/2019/04/02/help-kids-manage-worry/
❤️👩⚕️
