Navigating childhood anxiety: Strategies for understanding and support

Last updated: January 24, 2025

Most of us feel anxious at times. It is normal and expected for your child to feel anxious sometimes as well. For example, your child may worry before a presentation or may feel nervous about making new friends on the first day of school. Low levels of anxiety can even be helpful—they can improve focus, problem-solving skills, and help us recognize potential dangers.

However, if your child’s anxiety becomes more intense or frequent, it may affect their ability to participate in everyday activities at school or at home. This could indicate a mental health problem that needs additional support.

What is anxiety? 

Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease associated with an anticipated event or perceived threat. It occurs when we think we’re in danger. How our body and mind react to danger prepares us to fight, flee, or freeze, an early adaptive response to physical threats in the environment, like an approaching bear. Unfortunately, the fight, flight, and freeze response can’t distinguish between real and perceived danger, so both scenarios produce the same feeling. 

How can I tell if my child is struggling with anxiety?  

Anxiety becomes problematic when what your child perceives as dangerous or scary is actually harmless. The following can indicate problems with anxiety: 

• struggles with school attendance 
• excessive worries  
• explosive anger/angry outbursts 
• recurring physical symptoms without medical explanation (e.g. stomach aches) 
• perfectionism or an inability to start or finish a task 
• sleep difficulties  
• social issues, like extreme shyness around peers 

How can I help my child manage their anxiety? 

• model calm behaviour 
• Switch to “coach” mode and motivate your child to keep trying. 
• Practice calming strategies together during a non-anxious time so they have tools when anxiety strikes. 
• Help them challenge their anxious thoughts and replace them with more balanced ones.  
• Help them brainstorm possible solutions to an anxiety inducing problem.   

When should I seek support?  

• if your child exhibits long-lasting anxiety (more than two weeks)
• if their anxiety increases
• if they have persistent anxious feelings and worried thoughts  
• if anxiety impacts their functioning at home, school, or in the community 

How can I find professional support for my child?   

At school: You can speak to your child’s classroom teacher or a staff member you feel comfortable with. Ontario schools offer assessment, brief prevention, and early intervention services from social work and psychology staff.

In the community: If more support is needed, school staff or your family doctor can connect your child with mental health services. If you do not have a family doctor/or nurse practitioner, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner to get connected.   

Note: Please see the PDF version for further descriptions and information

Helpful resources  

Anxiety Canada