Anxiety in children has become a huge part of my life, with Zarah having suffered symptoms of anxiety for about 5 years.

Learning about and understanding anxiety has been a journey! There are so many conflicting articles, ideas and guides that will have you pulling your hair out!! But as a mother to four children, I know that every child is their own person and will respond to different processes. 

Zarah, like many children, are comforted by routine and calmness. Once things get a bit hectic she loses her way and needs help. But other than prepacking lunch boxes and ensuring we are on time, what else can we do? Mediation at night and routines are a must but then school holidays hit and we all fall into a heap! Routine is out the window and we are all in each other's pocket!

With the release of Angry Birds on digital and DVD, the ultimately awesome Bonnie Morgan has created a mindful guide for young children. 

Bonnie has over 20 years experience teaching primary school children plus a masters in wellness education. Her passion for teaching has allowed her to come together with The Angry Birds crew and release a series of mindful exercises to help children create positive attitudes and encourage reflection. This exercises are aimed at young children and assist with ever growing level of anxiety in our children. 

Red bird is brace enough to be himself, regardless of what other think! Use the Red Bird exercises to help build confidence and create courageous kids. 

Chuck is the yellow bird and is the happy one! Creating a positive environment will allow your child to identify their feelings and be more mindful! Use the Yellow Bird exercises for a positive change! 

Matilda will give children an insight into being mindful through a variety of exercises that will help to calm and think situations through thoughtfully. Let Matilda show them the way! 

I hope these help you keep the peace these school holidays, and allow you and your child to connect and take a moment together. It really can't hurt can it? 

Zarah has a very real fear of animals, more specifically dogs.

It was something that was underlying for sometime. When we picked up our dog Jenna, she was two and did not like the idea of a dog, but when she came home she took a liking to her straight away. She was twelve weeks old then.

As Jenna grew Zarah adapted. She was wary of her most of the time and as she was an inside dog she learnt to deal with her being around. Then one day, like a switch, it changed dramatically. She couldn't be near her. She would have nightmares. She would scream and cry. At first we thought she just didn't want her inside or was putting on a show, but the fear in her eyes and in the sound of her scream was enough to put you on edge.

Sadly Jenna had to move into the back yard. She would sit at the back doors and look to us with such sad eyes. She received less and less attention as the kids took to not going outside because Zarah's fear had become that intense. Our own baby. The pup we brought home and cuddled and loved like one of our children.

She could no longer be in the car with her. She couldn't sit outside or even have her walk past.

Sadly we had to let her go. We thought about it and thought about it. And I cried about it and cried about it. Jenna was my baby. I loved that dog. For some reason or another, we have had to give up our dogs, every time. So saying goodbye to the most affectionate, psychotic yes, but still affectionate dog I have svn had the pleasure of meeting was the hardest thing I've had to do. So hard, it has taken me about six months to write this post.

A friend told me that we should get a dog, it will help with her fears. Laughable.

Although her anxiety seems to be settling, Zarah will still have an outburst occasionally. Mostly if the meeting with an animal is unexpected. Yet her fear of butterflies and birds seem to have settled a lot! Anxiety is not to be laughed at. It is a very serious condition that forever has me worried about her.

At the age five, such stress should not be existent in her life ... surely.