74 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2025 Stress and worry are a normal part of childhood. Some anxiety is more than normal – it’s good. A baby or toddler’s fear of separation from his parents helps to keep him safe. A preschooler who’s afraid of the dark is actually trying to figure out the limits of her imagination. And worrying about social situations is normal for an elementary school child who’s learning how to interact with new groups on his own. From an infant’s separation anxiety to a child’s concern about the first day of school, stress is common a part of life. In fact, one in five kids will have anxiety at some point. How you respond to your child’s anxiety can set the tone for how they cope with it. Respond calmly, and your worried child will become a lot less panicky. Respond the wrong way, and you can actually make her fears worse. It’s a lot of pressure for parents. So how should you respond when you by Sara Tiller
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