Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety in Children Age 5 and under

Anxiety in children under age five can look different from older children. For your little ones, please be observant. Knowing if it is normal developmentally or in a concerning zone can be challenging. Many times, I have had parents ask me to observe their child to help determine if behaviors are expected or more. When observing, I am looking for the following kinds of behaviors:

• Excessive clinginess: Yes, a certain amount of difficulty separating from caregivers is expected. If brief separations are met with really strong protests or the clinging increases when a child has a lot of other interesting choices, this can suggest an anxiety.
• Irritability: In little ones, anxiety often presents as irritability e.g. tantrums, outbursts or being overly upset over minor changes or disruptions.
• Trouble sleeping: Children with anxiety typically have sleep issues. They want to co-sleep longer than their same-aged peers. They may have nightmares and night terrors at a higher rate. Falling asleep and staying asleep can be challenging. And sometimes, I can see in parents the fatigue caused by this happening.
• Avoidance behaviors: Children may avoid certain situations or activities that trigger their anxiety, such as going to school, socializing with peers, or trying new things.
• Excessive worry or fear: Young children may express worry or fear about a wide range of things, such as monsters, separation from parents, or other imagined fears.
• Difficulty concentrating: Anxiety can make it challenging for children to focus on tasks or follow instructions, especially in situations where they feel anxious or overwhelmed.
• Regression: Some children may exhibit behaviors that are developmentally younger than their age, such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, or baby talk, as a way to cope with their anxiety.
• Hyperactivity: In some cases, anxiety in young children may manifest as restless or hyperactive behavior, making it difficult for them to sit still or engage in quiet activities.



It's important to note that occasional anxiety is normal in young children, especially during times of change or stress. However, if these symptoms are persistent, severe, or interfere with the child's daily functioning, it may be a sign that they need professional support. Also some children have a few of these behaviors but not all; another set of eyes and ears can determine if support makes sense. And for children with these behaviors, support can really help to reshape behaviors. At this young age, most interventions focus on helping parents with tools that lower anxiety in little ones.