How to Help a Worried Child

Just like adults, even young children can sometimes worry. Learning to handle worry and anxiety is a crucial life skill. But sometimes children--like adults--lose perspective and worry too much. Parents should be concerned when worry shifts from a normal part of growing up to excessive anxiety. There are ways to help a worried child feel more at ease.

Instructions

• 1

  Pay close attention to your child's moods. Don't overly monitor his emotions, but keep an eye on what's happening in his small world. If he becomes worried, you will be more in tune with his feelings and be ready to help him,

• 2

  Recognize signs of excessive worry. Your child may fight going to bed or have bad dreams. She may return to younger behaviors, such as thumb sucking or bed wetting. Children who are extremely anxious are more likely to have stomach pain or headaches. Even when the cause is worry, the pains are real.

• 3

  Listen to your child. Ask questions, but don't push too hard. If your child seems reluctant to express his fears, help him by playing with dolls and stuffed animals to act out human situations. Your worried child may clearly express his concern through play.

• 4

  Follow routines as closely as possible, even if your own life is out of sync. Children feel safe when they can predict what will happen. Even if a situation where the cause of anxiety is clear and expected, such as a death in the family, it helps if you can keep your child in the usual eating and sleeping patterns.

• 5

  Assure your child he is safe, and that you will take care of him. Children are concrete thinkers. If he is worried about the house burning down, don't just try explaining there is a local fire department. Help him feel reassured by taking him to the neighborhood fire station, where he can talk to a fireman.

• 6

  Watch your own behavior. If you're a worried adult, you are more likely to have a worried child. Try not to instill your own anxiety in your child.

• 7

  Seek help for your worried child if the anxiety seems out of control. Your pediatrician can give you a referral to a child psychologist.