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All kids are fearful sometimes, but how can we tell when normal childhood fears cross over into something that should concern us?
What’s covered in this show:
1. Why you can’t eliminate all fear and anxiety in your child’s life.
- Emergence: Emergent children are encountering novelty, and novelty tends to scare them a little (or sometimes a lot). When they try new things and explore new places despite their fears, they gain many virtues, including courage and perseverance.
- Separation: Healthy children are attached securely to their caregivers, but when we’re attached we occasionally experience separation alarm.
2. Typical developmental fears
I explain the typical fears kids experience at different developmental stages. These fears tend to fade with maturity.
3. Signs a child’s fears are atypical and harmful
A child’s alarm system is a gift – it’s meant to keep him safe. But when the alarm system goes haywire, it can hurt our kids. Highly anxious kids develop specific obsessions and compulsions. In this case, you may want to seek professional guidance.
RESOURCES
ICP
Why So Anxious. My 2-part blog on childhood anxiety and how you can help your child cope with it.
6 Ways Our Kids Attach to Us. Podcast about the 6 roots of attachment.
Books
Helping Your Anxious Teen: Positive Parenting Strategies to Help Your Child Beat Anxiety, Stress, and Worry (Sheila Josephs)
It Will Be Okay: Trusting God through Fear and Change (Lisa Terkeurst). Read aloud with children to help them bring their fears to God.
Professional Help