Health

Anxiety and Fear:

Ways to Spot Them in Your Children and How to Help

By Dr. Angelique Snyder, a Pediatric Psychologist at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

A new school year can spark many emotions for both parents and students. Unfortunately, those may also include anxiety and fear. Parents can help prepare their children by talking through these anxious feelings and normalizing this experience for children.

There is also room to reduce this anxiety through practice. Practice getting to bed earlier, waking up, and ‘getting ready’ for school with your child. Routines and familiarity can calm worried children by providing a sense of predictability in a world full of change.

In addition to the typical anxiety that a new school year brings, children now face another challenge, feeling safe at school.

Unfortunately, this has become a very real fear for many kids. So, parents will want to be able to ensure their safety.

Check with your child’s school or district and ask them what their protocols are and what plans they have in place to keep students and teachers safe.

Parents can use that information to talk with their children. Make a plan with them, so they know who and how they can go to a trusted adult at school if feeling unsure or unsafe. Create practical steps to take these actions.

I also want to encourage parents to trust their judgment. If you are feeling uncertain about what your child is experiencing, know there is support available.

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio has pediatric psychologists trained to treat anxiety.

If you feel as if your child’s anxiety or fear is becoming overwhelming or it is taking them away from things they enjoy, seek help.

It’s also no secret this past school year ended in horrifying tragedy for Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, and it has been difficult for parents to shield their children from those headlines as well as others across the country.

So, as parents get their back-to-school shopping done, ensuring their children are equipped with all of the essential supplies and new clothes, it’s equally, if not more important, for parents to ensure they are able to spot and help with any difficult emotions their child may be expressing ahead of a new school year.

One of the best ways to do this – talk to your children and pay attention.

Parents know their children best. If your child is dealing with some emotions they may not be able to express, look for changes.

For children, anxious cognitions (thoughts) tend to be about the future. They may ask a lot of “what if” questions, seem a bit more on edge or tense, they may complain about stomachaches or headaches, or you may notice changes in their behavior.

Another way to spot anxiety is to notice if your child seems to be avoiding something, is overly clingy, and/or asks for a lot of reassurance.

Some of this could be typical anxiety related to the start of a new school year as anxiety often accompanies changes: new school, new teacher or classroom, making new friends, etc.