Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychiatric disorders seen in children and can cause conflict with relationships, school, and life at home. Hill, Waite, and Creswell (2016) stated that about one in four people have anxiety at some stage of their life. Think about that in terms of your own classroom, that’s a lot! The Mayo Clinic describes some symptoms as excessive worry, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, and uneven breathing, all of which could greatly impact a child’s learning in the classroom (“Generalized anxiety disorder”). How can teachers support students with anxiety disorders is an ill-structured problem that many face today. There are multiple forms of anxiety disorders and each student might show different symptoms or have different triggers. There is not a single solution for a teacher to support these students, however, I found an app that might help cushion the symptoms. Stop, Think and Breathe Kids has both affordances and constraints that come with it. Below is a chart that analyzes some: Continuing on, in her blog post Corliss explained how researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that mindful meditation can ease symptoms of anxiety, which in turn would help anxious students get refocused in their learning (Corliss, 2014). I believe that a student who has an anxiety disorder would benefit from Stop, Think, and Breathe Kids because its allows them the opportunity to take a step back, focus on what they are feeling, and try to control it.
References: Corliss, J. (2014, January 8). Mindfulness meditation may ease anxiety, mental stress [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-201401086967 Generalized anxiety disorder. (2017, October 13). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20360803 Hills, C., Waite, P., & Creswell, C. (2016). Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Paediatrics and Child Health, 26(12), 548-553. Retrieved from https://www-clinicalkey-com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S1751722216301469 (n.d.). Retrieved from https://kidsapp.stopbreathethink.com/parent
1 Comment
7/9/2019 07:45:55 pm
Hello Erica,
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