Anxiety is a normal emotion – it’s one of our body’s natural reactions to stress. 

For young people, some level of anxiety is normal as they grow up and learn to navigate the world. However, it’s important that they have the tools to manage feelings of anxiety and can tell the difference between normal emotions and more severe anxiety which is interfering with their everyday life. 

What are the signs of anxiety in children?
When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

• become irritable, tearful or clingy
• have difficulty sleeping
• wake in the night
• start wetting the bed
• have bad dreams
• often have stomach aches or headaches

In older children you may notice that they:

• lack confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges
• find it hard to concentrate
• have problems with sleeping or eating
• have angry outbursts
• have a lot of negative thoughts, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen
• start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or going to school

Important things that children need to learn about anxiety:

• that anxiety is a normal emotion 
• that different people may experience anxiety differently and in response to different stimuli 
• anxiety can affect our bodies as well as our minds 
• strategies that help them to regulate strong feelings  
• coping strategies that could help people in different situations 

Useful resources:

Watch to help children understand anxiety, along with some tips about how to manage these feelings, using child-friendly messaging.

For more information, visit NHS advice for parents.

Seven ways to support children who are worried.