If it feels like childhood anxiety is everywhere lately, you’re not imagining it.
Over the last few years, I have witnessed a clear trend. More and more parents are coming to me with versions of the same questions:
Why is my child so worried?
Why are they afraid of… everything?
Is this normal?
And the honest answer is: yes, anxiety does seem to be more prevalent today than it was in previous generations.
So let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on and, more importantly, what you can do to support your child in a way that actually helps.
Why Are So Many Kids Anxious?
Anxiety can feel complicated because it’s generally not caused by one simple thing. It’s typically a combination of biology, environment, and life experience.
But there are several common threads shaping this generation’s emotional world:
- More social media, less real connection.
- Less free play and outdoor time.
- Increased academic pressure, younger and younger.
- A more structured, scheduled life with less room for natural independence.
- More information about emotions (which is good!)… but fewer skills for managing them.
- A parenting culture that, out of love, often steps in too quickly to fix or solve struggles rather than giving children the space to work through challenges on their own.
On top of all that, we now talk about emotions much more often. We ask our kids what they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, what’s going on inside. That’s a beautiful thing – emotional awareness is key to healthy development – but it also means they’re more likely to verbalize their worries and anxieties, and we’re more likely to notice them.
All of this can make it feel like anxiety is everywhere.
And of course, we can’t ignore how much you, the parent, are holding too. Modern parenting is full of overwhelm. So much information and advice, it’s hard to know what to trust. Less support and community. More pressure to “do it all” and “get it right.”
It’s no wonder both kids and parents are more anxious than ever.
But Wait! Is Anxiety Bad?
Not exactly.
We tend to treat anxiety as a problem that needs to be eliminated. But in truth, anxiety is a universal human emotion, and it evolved for a good reason.
Anxiety (and its close cousin, fear) is protective. It keeps us alert. It warns us of danger. It motivates us to prepare, plan, and stay safe.
We actually benefit from some anxiety.
So the problem isn’t that your child feels anxious. The problem is when that anxiety overwhelms them, limits them, impedes healthy functioning, or when they don’t yet have any tools to manage it.
That’s when anxiety starts to take over and interfere with daily life.
And that’s when we, as parents, need tools – not to erase the anxiety, but to help our children face it, understand it, and move through it.
How Do You Know If Your Child Is Anxious?
Anxiety can be hard to recognize in children because it doesn’t always look like worry. Our kids don’t usually come right out and say, “I’m anxious.” Instead, they show us in all kinds of indirect ways.
Here are a few of the most common signs:
Physical:
- Unexplained stomachaches or headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Bathroom issues
- Flushing, rapid breathing, or racing heart
Behavioral:
- Clinginess or separation struggles
- Big emotional meltdowns
- Irritability or frustration over small things
- Repetitive behaviors (nail-biting, chewing, checking, washing)
Emotional:
- Excessive worrying
- Needing constant reassurance
- Repeated “What if” questions: What if you forget me? What if the teacher calls on me? What if something bad happens?
Tricky Signs:
These often go unnoticed or get misinterpreted.
- Unexplained discomfort (itchy clothes, uncomfortable shoes, hair that’s “never right”)
- Pushback about everything from breakfast to brushing teeth
- Always shifting the “problem” from one thing to the next
And I know what you’re probably thinking: Oh no! This list basically describes every child! It certainly describes my child!
Don’t worry – we’re not jumping to conclusions here. This isn’t about rushing to get a formal diagnosis or labeling your child. It’s about understanding what your child is experiencing and learning how to support them in a way that actually helps. (And doesn’t hinder)
And if you’re nodding along as you read this, you’re not alone. You’re also in exactly the right place to learn exactly what to do next.
So… What Can You Do About It?
If you’re in the middle of this, it probably doesn’t feel theoretical at all.
It feels like standing in your kitchen early in the morning while your child clings to you, saying they don’t feel well – again. It feels like watching them freeze up before a birthday party or school presentation. It feels like answering the same worried questions over and over, trying to reassure them, while quietly wondering if you’re helping… or making it worse.
It’s exhausting and it’s heartbreaking.
Because you want to protect your child from pain, but you also want them to be okay without you having to hold everything together for them.
Here’s the shift that matters:
You don’t help an anxious child by removing fear. You help them by teaching them how to face it.
You help them learn that worry doesn’t mean danger. That discomfort doesn’t mean they can’t cope. That anxious thoughts are not facts, and they don’t have to control their choices.
You help them build internal trust, not just dependence on your reassurance. You help them feel safe enough to feel uncomfortable emotions and move through them, instead of avoiding them or being ruled by them.
And you do all of this without shame, pressure, or pushing them too far too fast. This is not about forcing bravery. It’s about building skills.
The Support You’ve Been Looking For
This is exactly what I walk you through step-by-step in my Everything Anxiety Course.
I created this course for real parents navigating real anxiety and the everyday worries that quietly take over family life if we don’t know how to respond.
Inside the course, you’ll find:
Clear, practical tools for separation anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, perfectionism, and general worry. Guidance for easing physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, sleep struggles, and “I don’t feel well” mornings. Specific language and scripts for responding to constant reassurance-seeking and endless “what if” questions.
And most importantly, tools to help your child build confidence, resilience, and trust in themselves.
Anxiety doesn’t disappear when we avoid it. It loosens its grip when children learn they can handle it.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed…
If your child is struggling…
If you’re stressed out wondering if you’re saying the right things or doing enough…
You don’t have to figure this out alone. You and your child deserve proven support that actually helps.
I’m here to guide you – calmly, clearly, and with compassion – every step of the way.
👉 [Explore the Everything Anxiety Course here]
Inside you’ll learn:
Your foundational tools – 19 core skills for any anxious moment. These are the building blocks that help children understand what anxiety feels like in their body and mind, and what to do when it shows up.
From there, we go deeper into the most common ways anxiety shows up in everyday life.
We cover separation anxiety, including school drop-offs, clinginess, bedtime struggles, and goodbyes of all kinds, so you can support your child without prolonging the distress.
We address social anxiety, from shyness and fear of judgment to peer struggles, perfectionism, and the worry of not fitting in.
We talk about physical anxiety – those stomachaches, headaches, sensitivities, and “I don’t feel well” moments – so you can understand what’s really behind them and respond in a way that actually helps.
There’s an entire section dedicated to “what if?” questions, where you’ll learn how to stop the reassurance loop and support your child without unintentionally feeding the fear.
And we walk through transitions and change – new routines, unexpected shifts, big life changes – so anxiety doesn’t take over every unfamiliar moment.
You’ll also get 12 downloadable resources you can use again and again, including:
- Reflection activities to help your child process their thoughts
- Exploration tools that gently build confidence
- A coping skills toolkit for anxious moments
- The Story of What I Can Do to strengthen internal trust
- A complete parenting toolbox
- And 7 practical cheat sheets for quick guidance when you need it most
Everything inside this course is designed to help your child learn one essential truth: Anxiety may show up, but I know what to do when it does.
And just as importantly, it’s designed to help you feel calmer, more confident, and less alone in supporting them.
If anxiety has been quietly running the show in your home, you don’t have to keep guessing your way through it. Support your child with tools that build confidence, not fear.
