14/01/2025
Worries Across Childhood
Worries are normal and common across childhood. Fears change as children develop. It can be tricky to figure out when a child’s worry might be indicative of anxiety that needs additional support.
Common, age appropriate worries:
~ Toddlers: separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, loud noises (name me a toddler that likes the hand dryer!?!).
~ Preschoolers (3-5): the dark, monsters, separation anxiety, fear of getting hurt.m, doctors visits
~ Primary school aged children (5-12): friendship worries, performance anxiety, fear of death/ illness, natural disasters, fear of criticism and social rejection, and getting into trouble.
~ Adolescents: academic pressure, body image, social acceptance, independence.
🌪️ When may a young person need more support?
• Excessive worry - worries about lots of different things at once, lots of “what ifs”.
• The worry is often manifesting physically - tummy aches, headaches etc
• Avoidance behaviours - of school, activities, social situations.
• Disrupted sleep - struggling to fall and stay asleep.
• Negative impact on daily life - interfering with family life, friendships & school. A child may be seeking excessive reassurance from others.
How to help?
• Normalise and Validate - everyone feels fear - it’s natural. Provide reassurance without shaming
• Model coping skills - they copy and learn through their caregivers
• Address your own fears - young people pick up on your anxiety
• Be aware of outside influences - shield your child from overwhelming news stories.
• Take small steps - gradual exposure to fears is heavily supported by research. Start small and build your child’s confidence.
