Anxiety in Children: What Is Typical and What Is Not
Updated November 7, 2026
Fear is a normal part of growing up. Anxiety becomes a problem when it is stronger than the situation calls for, lasts a long time, and starts to shrink a child's world.
Fears that are part of development
Many fears come and go at predictable ages. Babies and toddlers are often wary of strangers and upset when separated from a parent. Preschoolers may fear the dark, monsters, animals or loud noises. School-age children often worry about injury, illness, school performance or bad things happening to their family. Teenagers commonly worry about how they look, what peers think and the future. These fears usually fade with time, reassurance and gentle experience.
When anxiety may be a disorder
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in children. Signs that worry has moved beyond the typical include:
Avoiding school, parties, sports or other activities because of fear
Needing a lot of reassurance, asking the same "what if" questions again and again
Physical complaints such as stomachaches, headaches or nausea before feared situations
Trouble falling asleep, or needing a parent nearby to sleep
Panic: a racing heart, shaking, short breath and a feeling of dread that comes on suddenly
Repeated rituals, such as checking or washing, that the child feels driven to do
Not speaking at all in certain settings, such as school, while talking freely at home
Common types include separation anxiety, generalized anxiety (worry about many things), social anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorder, selective mutism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis.
How anxiety is treated
The treatment with the strongest research support for childhood anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, children learn how anxiety works in the body, practice noticing and challenging anxious thoughts, and face feared situations step by step, starting small. Parents are usually involved so they can coach the same skills at home. For moderate or severe anxiety, a doctor may also discuss medication. More on approaches is in types of therapy for children.
What helps at home
Take the feeling seriously, not the danger. "I can see you're really scared" is more helpful than "there's nothing to be scared of".
Avoid too much avoidance. Letting a child skip everything that frightens them brings short-term relief but tends to make anxiety grow. Help them take small, manageable steps instead.
Limit repeated reassurance. Answer a worry once, then help the child use a coping skill rather than answering the same question many times.
Praise brave behavior, even small steps.
Model calm coping. Children learn from how adults handle their own worries.
Keep routines steady, especially sleep, which affects how well a child copes.
If anxiety is keeping your child from school, friends or activities, or if it has lasted for several weeks, talk with your pediatrician or a mental health professional.
Types of Therapy for Children and TeensA plain-language overview of common therapy approaches for children: CBT, play therapy, PCIT, family therapy, DBT, trauma-focused CBT and more.
How to Talk With Your Child About FeelingsPractical ways to help children name and manage emotions, listen so they keep talking, and handle difficult conversations at each age.
This guide is general information, not medical or psychological advice. For questions about your child, talk with a pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988 or call 911; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.