Understanding Preschooler Anxiety

Worry #2: "That dog is gonna bite me!"

What You Do: If your child's worry stems from a past experience -- suppose he tried to pet a dog and the dog barked in his face -- emphasize that there are ways to prevent that from happening again, says Carl Weems, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of New Orleans. "You want your child to feel in control of the situation, rather than feeling helpless."