“The Anxiety Workbook for Kids: Take Charge of Fears and Worries” by Robin Alter and Crystal Clarke

Have you ever cared for a child that was scared to go to school, eat a new food, join a sport, or so extremely shy that they were unwilling to play with kids at the playground? Does the child become irritable, jittery, over-tired, sleepless, or have physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches due to no physical illness?

All children go through phases of anxiety. During the pandemic I have cared for kids who have increased anxiety. Adult anxiety has increased during the pandemic too. This is due to the fact that all change is stressful. Any time a child experiences change their behavior may regress and they may feel anxiety. But when anxiety keeps children from participating in daily activities they should be able to join in, then it may require professional intervention.

Whether a child is experiencing a temporary fear or chronic anxiety, I have found using the worksheets and activities in The Anxiety Workbook for Kids very useful.

The Anxiety Workbook for Kids uses engaging illustrations and fun activities based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most proven-effective and widely used forms of therapy today, this Instant Help workbook presents a unique approach to help children harness the power of their imaginations to reduce anxiety and build self-esteem.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to treat people with anxiety disorders. There are two aspects to this type of therapy — the cognitive component, which helps to change how a person views a situation, and the behavioral component, which helps to change how a person reacts to the situation.

Millions of children suffer from anxiety, which can be extremely limiting, causing kids to miss school, opt out of activities with friends, and refuse to speak or participate in a variety of situations. Furthermore, children who are diagnosed with anxiety or brought into therapy often feel embarrassed about not being “normal.” Focusing on the problem of anxiety can stress kids out and make them feel ashamed. But when the focus is on their strengths and their vivid imaginations, children are empowered to face their anxiety head-on.

The Anxiety Workbook for Kids is a fun and unique workbook grounded in evidence-based CBT and designed to help children understand their anxious thoughts within a positive framework — a perspective that will allow kids to see themselves as the highly imaginative individuals they are, and actually appreciate the role imagination plays in their anxiety. With this workbook, children will learn that, just as they are capable of envisioning vivid scenarios that fuel their anxiety, they are capable of using their imagination to move away from anxious thoughts and become the boss of their own worries.

With engaging CBT-based activities, games, and illustrations — and with a focus on imagination training and developing skills like problem solving, assertiveness, positive thinking, body awareness, relaxation, and mindfulness — The Anxiety Workbook for Kids will help kids stand up to worry and harness the power of their imagination for good.

You can purchase this workbook by clicking the links in the article or visiting my storefront at https://www.amazon.com/shop/bethebestnannynewsletter