Phrases Not to Say to an Anxious Child

Sometimes kids can’t quite drum up the right words to express their emotions, especially when they’re upset. This struggle can be particularly difficult for children with anxiety. It’s also a challenge for their parents. Go Zen created this infographic to help parents and caregivers better understand what’s going on inside a child’s head when they’re feeling anxious. The infographic outlines several different potential scenarios and corresponding examples of parent/child exchanges. It then provides an explanation of what the child really means, and how the adult could respond to more effectively calm the child while validating their emotions.