What to Say to an Anxious Child PDF

A handout for parents on responding to an anxious child without arguing with the worry or getting caught in cycles of reassurance.It explains why logic and repeated answers rarely settle worry, then sets out five common responses alongside warmer alternatives that acknowledge the feeling and move the child towards a coping tool. A note on reassurance explains how to offer comfort once and then support the child to manage the worry themselves. It draws on the SPACE program and on validation from dialectical behaviour therapy.An A4 PDF handout, ready to print or share digitally.