Which anxiety treatments are evidenced-based and which ones aren’t.Why common strategies such as reassuring children or making them do something backfires.The first thing you should do when your child is upset that will calm him down and help him think more clearly.The emotion anxious children have the most difficulty with (starts with a “u”).How modern life can set off false alarms in kids and what parents can do about it.How to tell when anxiety is normal or problematic.The parenting style that exacerbates anxiety in kids.Huebner explains why anxiety is on the rise, what is really going on inside an anxious child’s brain, and how parents can help support their child in overcoming anxiety. Huebner’s newest book, Something Bad Happened provides support for children learning about ‘bad things’ happening in the world. She is the author of 9 books for children including the perennial bestseller, What to Do When You Worry Too Much and more recent, Outsmarting Worry. In episode 27 of The Healthy Family Podcast, we have on Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, and Parent Coach specializing in anxiety.

In many ways, the modern world is the perfect storm for anxiety, so it’s important parents understand how best to respond to anxious kids.

According to the CDC, 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Over the last two decades anxiety in children has been on the rise. And the more you try to convince a child that everything will be fine, the worse the fear seems to get. Something as safe as going to a party, completing a project, or sleeping can invoke fear. It can make parents more anxious, certain topics or activities off-limits, and everyone waiting like a shoe is about to drop.

A child’s worry can take over a household.

Outsmarting Worry by Dawn Huebner