Most toddlers and young children feel anxious or scared when they go through big life changes or try something new. Starting preschool, meeting new friends, moving homes, or even potty training or switching to a big kid bed can all spark anxiety. These feelings are completely normal. As parents, it’s our job to learn how to help kids with anxiety in a gentle and reassuring way.
One simple and effective approach is to introduce a comfort object. A trusted LullaBaby doll can be one of the most comforting tools to help kids with anxiety.
How to Help Kids with Anxiety Using Dolls
A simple way to help kids with anxiety is to give them a sense of security and comfort with a Lullababy doll or plush. Their doll becomes a cuddly companion they can lean on or squeeze when they’re feeling anxious.
Acting as a friend, a listener, and a source of unconditional comfort, a child’s snuggly soft LullaBaby doll helps them feel safe and secure, even when things around them feel overwhelming.
If your child reaches for their doll or plush when they’re relaxed or happy, give them their doll when they’re sad to help them offload those feelings to their friend.
You can talk to their doll, expressing what you think your child might be feeling. The more you speak with them, the more likely your child will model that behavior. Soon, your child will confide in their doll, learning to express their emotions instead of suppressing them.
Encourage your child to whisper their fears to their LullaBaby doll whenever they need. Learning to vocalize their emotions instead of holding them inside or acting out will help immensely as they grow.
How to Help Kids with Anxiety in Social Situations
Children often feel shy or intimidated in new environments, like starting school or entering a new playgroup. This is where a doll can become a true confidence booster. With their LullaBaby doll tucked under an arm or close by, kids know they have a friend to hug, lean on, and turn to for comfort. Holding onto their doll helps them feel braver and more grounded when surrounded by people they may not know well.
At large family gatherings, or weddings, bringing along their LullaBaby doll or favorite toy is a simple way to create a safe space as they navigate new faces and places.
Most daycares and preschools allow children to keep a doll or plush toy with them as they adjust to a new group or class. If dolls or toys from home aren’t permitted, you can still provide comfort by having their doll waiting in the car seat at pickup, ready for a big squeeze after a day of courage.
When it comes to understanding how to help kids with anxiety, the answer doesn’t have to be complicated. A soft, supportive doll offers comfort, courage, and a safe outlet for expressing feelings. With daily routines like whispering worries, cuddling at bedtime, and bringing a doll along during stressful moments, children learn healthy ways to process and manage anxiety.
