A new backpack, a different classroom, and an excited little learner–the new school year brings many changes and excitement for most children.
For other children, however, it can be a source of anxiety. Maybe they enjoyed the previous year but feel scared of the unknown of the new year. Or maybe your family has moved and they know they will have to make new friends.
Whatever the reason for the anxiety is, there are ways that you can help your child. Even if the anxiety is just normal, first day jitters, a little preparation can go a long way.
More Than Childhood Fear: How to Identify and Address a Specific Phobia
Many children hang on their mother’s leg with apprehension on the first day of kindergarten. Other children struggle to sleep some nights because of the monsters they think are under the bed. Or maybe the trip to the dentist each year is a source of anxiety for your child.
These are all normal childhood fears. They are specific to one experience, and they can be worked through, and the child quickly moves on from them.
When a child’s fears become disproportionate to the actual situation and are long-standing, bleeding into many areas of the child’s life, there may be more going on, such as a Specific Phobia.
A Specific Phobia centers on one particular activity, object, animal, or situation. The fear that the child feels drives them to avoid that trigger at all costs. An inability to avoid the trigger causes intense distress.
Read more3 Things to Do if You're Raising an Anxious Child
The past couple of years have been hard on all of us. But if you’re a parent, you’re a real hero. Working and parenting from home—all while tackling crippling pandemic anxiety—has become the new norm for many people.
And your children are likely feeling anxious too. They may not use the exact phrase “I’m anxious,” but the pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone. And they probably don’t even have the words to describe exactly what they’re feeling.
So it’s up to you to notice and tackle the issue head on.
Is the question, “Mom, what if…?” followed by the disaster of the day on repeat in your household?
Read moreChildhood Anxiety vs. Adult Anxiety: How Anxiety in Children Looks Different
Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions today.
7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have an anxiety diagnosis.(1) And it's estimated that 30% of children and adolescents will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.(2)
Anxiety disorders can develop at any age, though we know that half of mental health disorders begin in childhood. While both children and adults can struggle with an anxiety disorder, there are some key differences in how these disorders present themselves.
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