Your Concerns about Worries or Fears, Preschool

You said that your child has some worries or fears. It is common for young children to worry from time to time. Some preschoolers are:

• Shy around new people
• Slow to warm up in new situations
• Afraid of:
• Thunderstorms
• Shots or needles
• Certain animals, such as dogs

The worries you reported are common in children your child's age.

You should be aware of warning signs that your child's worries or fears are getting worse. These include:

• Fears become so strong that your child cannot go about his/her daily activities (e.g. doesn't want to go to preschool/daycare, avoids friends, has problems falling asleep)
• Sleep problems become so bad that he/she cannot get through his/her day
• Your child becomes extremely upset when faced with something s/he fears

If you think these problems are getting worse talk to your child's doctor even if you have discussed these things before.

Adapted in part from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care (DSM-PC) (1996) .