Exploring Anxiety: Empowering Your Homeschool Journey

Anxiety is a topic discussed widely in teaching environments, traditional and home education environments alike. But how do we, as parents, navigate this intricate world of anxiety, especially when it’s intertwined with our child’s broader sensory experience?

Anxiety in children

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as, “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

Notice how the words feelings and emotion are not used interchangeably. The feeling is the body’s reaction to the future-oriented perceived threat. The emotion is the brains interpretation. In this case, the tension, jitteriness, racing heart beat, and breathing rate is interpreted as anxiety. One way to help our children to understand and move through (notice I didn’t say “get over”) anxiety is to help them decipher the difference in feelings and emotions.

How often as parents have we faced an anxious child displaying discomfort as we prepare to transition—whether it’s returning to a routine after a long break or dealing with something new and overwhelming like a public restroom with its notorious automatic flushers? In these moments, we can notice what is happening in their bodies.

What do you see?

What do you hear?

What are your shoulders doing? etc etc.

These can be asked as questions to increase our children’s awareness or as a parent, you can state what you notice. For example, “I bet the toilet flush will be loud and I can already feel my heart beat speeding up. I’m going to cover my ears.”

The key to this preparation is the commitment to understand the signs—like changes in heart rate or changes in mood—and contemplating the context in which these signs appear. Are there patterns around holidays, specific activities, or environmental triggers? Understanding these nuances can make all the difference in the response strategy we adopt.

Focus on life skills

Focus on the life skills that cultivate emotional resilience, such as teaching children to tolerate and move through discomfort. Growth mindset, as defined by Carol Dweck, recognizes the importance in putting energy into learning. Turning challenging moments into opportunities for growth, so our children are not reliant on quick fixes but rather holistic approaches, including sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones, familiar smells, or preferred textures.

In our ongoing journey, the support doesn’t just stop with incorporating new tools; it includes building a support system and seeking professional guidance when necessary. In the OT is IN podcast, Dr. Sarah Anderson highlights the importance of finding the proper support—not just for the child but also for the entire family, because no family should have to navigate the terrain of mental health alone.

This reminds us of the depth and complexity of childhood anxiety. It urges us to embody patience and compassion, to stay curious about our children’s experiences, and to see the beauty in guiding them through their emotional landscapes. So, dear parents, let us embrace this valuable endeavor with open hearts and confidence, knowing that each effort is a vital step forward in our child’s personal growth and development.

OT is IN #60 Tackling Childhood Anxiety: How Occupational Therapy Can Help

I’m joined by fellow OT Sarah Anderson—an incredible therapist with over a decade of experience, now specializing in mental health. We discuss the intersection of OT and anxiety, especially how it shows up in neurodivergent kids with ADHD or autism.

Sarah shares her journey into the mental health field and offers powerful insights into identifying anxiety patterns, supporting emotional regulation, and creating environments that help kids feel safe during transitions. If you’ve ever wondered how OT can support your child’s mental health—especially when it comes to anxiety—you won’t want to miss this one.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Understanding Anxiety in Occupational Therapy
• Anxiety’s function and origin
• Neurodivergence and its connection to anxiety
• Importance of understanding the base of anxiety for treatment
• Identifying Sources of Anxiety
• Patterns and manifestations of anxiety
• Anxiety’s connection to neurodivergent conditions
• Sensory processing components
• Parent’s Role in Identifying Anxiety
• Observing and understanding child’s anxiety
• Early detection and support strategies
• Transition and routine change management
• Connecting Emotions, Feelings, and Body Responses
• Differentiating between feelings and emotions
• Interoception and alexithymia
• Methods to help children identify and express emotions
• Supporting Children Through Anxiety
• Tolerating discomfort and managing anxiety
• Environmental adjustments and tools
• Co-regulation and independence
• Therapy Approaches and Sessions
• What to expect in occupational therapy sessions
• Family-focused therapeutic approaches
• Sensory processing and executive functioning
• Progress and Emotional Management

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Elevated Wellbeing OT
• Occupational Therapy For The Anxious Child
• How Occupational Therapy Can Help The Anxiety Epidemic
• A Chameleon Tale Book
• A Chameleon Tale Book Guide
• Episode 1: Unveiling the role of OT in Homeschooling
• Episode 9: The Impact of Music on Executive Functioning: A Homeschooling Perspective
• Bonus Episode: Parenthood and Homeschooling: Choosing the Right Activities for a Balanced Lifestyle
• Episode 13: Beyond the Five Senses: Understanding Your Child’s Interoceptive World with Cara Kosinski
• Episode 14: Outdoor Activities to Develop Interoception in Children with Guest Caroline Santangelo
• Episode 15: From Morning to Night: Incorporating Social Emotional Learning in Homeschool
• Episode 16: Navigating the Interoceptive Sense: Insights and Strategies for Parents
• Episode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and Parenting
• What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
• Field Trips Can Build Executive Functioning
  

Connect with our Guest, Sarah Anderson

Dr. Sarah Anderson is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Elevated Wellbeing OT in Scottsdale, Arizona. She specializes in mental health, trauma, addiction recovery, and life transitions, using a neuroaffirming, client-centered approach to help individuals build sustainable habits and routines that foster resilience and well-being. With advanced training in perinatal mental health, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, and emotional intelligence (EQ-i 2.0, MSCEIT), she integrates sensory processing, cognitive strategies, and somatic-based interventions to support emotional regulation and recovery.

Dr. Anderson contracts with Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center, providing occupational therapy for individuals in addiction and mental health recovery at the PHP, IOP, and OP levels of care. She incorporates Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and sensory-based interventions to support anxiety, executive functioning, and neurodivergence, with a specialization in working with Autistic individuals and those with ADHD.

After seven years as a full-time faculty member at Midwestern University, Dr. Anderson recently stepped back to expand into a group practice. She continues to serve as an adjunct instructor, teaching the mental health curriculum and mentoring future occupational therapists.