Understanding Preschooler Anxiety

Worry #4: "I'll get hurt."

What You Do: Ask your child what's causing his fear, suggests Philip C. Kendall, PhD, director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University, in Philadelphia. Sometimes, it's obvious.

If your kid fell off his scooter yesterday, he may worry about falling off again. "But you may not know of other possible triggers, like seeing a friend get hurt at school," points out Dr. Kendall. Once you find out what situation is troubling him, help him face his fear and explain that accidents can happen, but they're really unlikely.