Most people experience some day-to-day anxieties. For some people, however, the worry can be quite debilitating. And it can affect anyone from a grown adult to a young child. Learning about anxiety can be reassuring for kids who suffer from the condition, and also help non-sufferers understand what they deal with on a daily basis. One way to help your child it find some books to help your child with their anxiety. Being familiar with these types of stories can also help prepare anyone for a situation when the worries reach an all time high. And the easiest way to help kids become familiar with a difficult topic is to put it in terms they understand.
From conquering specific fears to addressing chronic worry, these stories make a complicated topic and condition much easier to comprehend. Not to mention, they teach kids how to be understand and be compassionate when the situation arises. Additionally, the books on this lost don't dismiss the concerns that children may have. Rather, they address them head-on and try to offer some comfort and help to those who need it.
If your child suffers from anxiety themselves or are close to someone who does, these books can offer some help.
1'After The Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again' by Dan Santat
After The Fall is an uplifting story about what life is like for Humpty Dumpty after his famous fall from the wall. This book explores how much Humpty Dumpty misses his wall that he once loved, but is too afraid to go up high for any reason. When he faces his fear, the result is spectacular.
2'Wemberly Worried' by Kevin Henkes
Wemberly is a chronic worrier. She voices so many worries that many kids might have, and her parents just don't get it. They tell her not to worry, as if that will help. What does help is meeting a friend who feels the same way she does. Wemberly Worried reassures kids that there are people out there who can understand what it feels like to be anxious.
3'What If...' by Anthony Browne
The illustrations in What If... are dark and foreboding, just like Joe's thoughts as he and his mother walk toward a friend's house. Joe is going to a party, but his worries and fears about the party are overwhelming. This book might show the scary part of anxiety, but the ending is bright and reassuring.
4'The Sound Of Silence' by Katrina Goldsaito
Although The Sound Of Silence doesn't depict a character with anxiety, it does teach a wonderful lesson about mindfulness that anxious kids could find very helpful. Yoshio walks around Tokyo in search of ma — silence. There is always noise and confusion, but eventually Yoshio finds silence in between the sounds.
5'The Fix-It Friends: Have No Fear!' by Nicole C. Kear
The Fix-It Friends is a new series of books about a group of classmates who want to help their friends. In the first book, they have a friend Maya who is so afraid of spiders, she doesn't want to go outside for recess. After a few misguided attempts to help her, the fix-it friends finally find a way to help Maya conquer her fears. This book even has a little break down of this technique at the conclusion of the story.
6'As Brave As You' by Jason Reynolds
In As Brave As You, the main character Genie questions what it means to be brave and why facing fears is so important.
7'The Best Worst Thing' by Kathleen Lane
Intended for slightly older readers, The Best Worst Thing is a captivating story that depicts OCD with understanding and compassion. Maggie's worries spiral out of control when a cashier at her local convenience store is robbed, shot, and killed. The worries about the murderer, paired with fears about starting middle school and dealing with bullies, overwhelms Maggie who begins relying on compulsions to silence her fears.
8'George' by Alex Gino
The titular character George has a lot to worry about, especially because she's a girl and no one knows. This story does a great job of showing how hard it can be to keep a part of yourself hidden, and how empowering it can be to be true to yourself.
9'Help! I've Got An Alarm Bell Going Off In My Head!' by K.L. Aspden
Help! I've Got An Alarm Bell Going Off In My Head! explains anxiety and panic attacks in an easy-to-understand way. Scientific and based in cognitive-behavioral theories, this would be a great book to help children understand how the overwhelming sensations they experience come from the parts of our brain that work so hard to keep us safe.
