When your child is feeling anxious it can be incredibly hard to know how to help them. Every child is unique and what works for one child might not work for the next. That's why it's so important to trust yourself as a parent and view your child's emotions holistically - seeing them as a whole and complex human being, as only you can.

Be open to new ideas and creative about how you try them with your child. Below are just a few tips to help you and your child work together to tame their anxiety.

1. Find the right time and place to talk

Sitting down with your child to "have a chat" might not be the best strategy, as it could feel unnatural and intimidating to them. Try to broach the subject while you're doing a calm activity, just the two of you. Perhaps gardening, walking, cooking or colouring together. Having something else to focus on, and less eye contact, can make tricky conversations flow more easily. Take the pressure right off and don't push if they don't want to talk or can't articulate what's wrong. Have patience, trust your gut and let them take the lead.

2. Read between the lines

If your child insists nothing is wrong, it's worth considering what barriers there may be to expressing themselves fully. Often children might be worried about angering or upsetting you, so you can try reassuring them in advance.

If you've reacted emotionally to something they've told you before, first of all forgive yourself. Acknowledge it to your child and apologise: "I know I got angry that time we talked before, and that was wrong of me. I'm sorry and I promise I won't get angry with you this time." The aim is to help your child feel safe and unpressured, so don't ever push them to talk. Trust that they will come to you when they're ready.

3. When your child is panicking

When humans feel high anxiety, our rational brains shut down. In addition to shortness of breath, a need to hide and a racing heartbeat, often the outward signs of a panic attack in children might be labelled as bad behaviour.

It helps to shift your perception and view it as an involuntary expression of panic rather than "acting out". An anxiety attack is an ever-changing situation, so you need to stay calm, move with it and be intuitive. One moment your child might need to be spoken to in a clear, firm voice; the next, they're ready for a hug. Do not expect your child to make sense or be articulate. Resist the impulse to lecture, question or shame your child. You can discuss any problematic behaviour later, right now your focus is to help your child regulate their emotions and feel safe again.

4. Get creative

Studies have shown that creativity is a core part of healing emotional struggles. Whatever your child's preferred medium, don't underestimate the power of exercising creativity. Try to play down the idea of good and bad, focus on the process and let them create without pressure or comparison with others. If your child gets stuck for something to create, give them inspiration. Here are a few ideas to get their creative juices flowing:

• Your dream house
• A poster for the film of your life story
• A restaurant menu
• A magazine article about your favourite hobby