Building Social Confidence in Anxious Children: Fun Activities and Strategies

If you’re a parent, you want to do anything and everything you can to show up for your child however they may need to be supported. If they’re hungry, you cook a meal for them or find them a snack to eat. When they’re thirsty, you get them water or juice. If they’re tired, you put them to bed for a nap or bedtime.

But you’re not just there for their basic human needs. You’re also there during those hard and challenging times, too. If they slip and fall on the playground, you’re there to hold them, wipe their tears, and help them heal.

When you see your kid struggling, you want to jump in and help them. But not everything can be fixed at the moment. Some things like building confidence or comfort levels take some time. If your kid tends to be a little shy or anxious, you and they are not alone.

Here are some fun activities and strategies that can help build social confidence in anxious children.

Butterflies in Your Stomach

You’ve probably heard the saying “butterflies in your stomach” before. It’s typically used to describe the feeling of fluttering or tingling when you’re feeling uneasy, nervous, or anxious. You can use this saying to help your child better relate to what they’re feeling with the help of an activity.

Print out butterflies or draw butterflies on a piece of paper and cut them out. Next, find a net image or draw one and cut that out. Ask your child about how they’re feeling and what may be causing them to feel this way. Write their triggers directly onto the butterflies. After you have their worries, have your child catch them with the next so that they don’t have to worry about them anymore. This activity can show your child that they’re the ones in control.

Body Movement

Moving one’s body is beneficial for one’s physical health, but it can be equally important for one’s emotional and mental health as well. Movement can naturally reduce stress levels and improve one’s overall mood. Encourage your kid to be active. This could mean going for a walk around your neighborhood, riding a bicycle, jump roping, swimming, or playing a sport like baseball or basketball.

Gradual Exposure

Gradual exposure is a great way to get your child involved in social situations to slowly overcome that fear that they have and build their confidence levels. Start small by setting up a playdate or park meetup with a family member or friend. Over time, you’ll be able to build on this exposure to involve more people or different events and activities.

Role Play

You can help your child prepare for social situations by giving them as much information as you can so that they feel more prepped and ready before heading into the social situation. Try to let them know things like when the event is, how many people will be there, the people they may have already met, and what you’ll be doing. You can even try to role-play different conversations or interactions with them so that they can worry a little less about what could go wrong and focus instead on what could go right.

Seek Professional Help

If your child is showing signs of social anxiety, there’s nothing to worry about. A lot of children and even adults struggle with social anxiety. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your child is to reach out for additional support. A mental health professional will be able to help your child better understand what they’re experiencing and help them work through and better manage the associated signs and symptoms. Reach out today to find out how child therapy can help support your child’s overall well-being.