A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

Dawn Huebner’s What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety is a practical and engaging workbook designed to help children manage excessive worry. Written in a warm, conversational tone, the book uses kid-friendly language and interactive exercises to teach young readers how to break free from the cycle of anxiety. Huebner, a clinical psychologist, draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles to provide children with concrete strategies for recognising, addressing, and reducing their worries.

Metaphors and humorous illustrations make difficult concepts easy to understand, while prompts to draw and write help children to master new skills related to reducing anxiety. For example, Huebner compares worries to a tomato plant: if you feed them with attention and energy, they grow bigger and stronger. By illustrating how worries can take over when given too much focus, she helps children understand why constantly thinking about fears makes them worse. This simple analogy resonates with young minds and gives them a new perspective on managing their thoughts.

Beyond explanations, the book offers a variety of hands-on exercises that empower children to take control of their anxiety. Huebner guides kids through breathing techniques, relaxation strategies, and problem-solving exercises that help them recognise their ability to overcome anxious feelings. The activities are structured in a way that makes them fun rather than intimidating, encouraging kids to actively engage with the material.

Huebner acknowledges that children need guidance in learning how to manage worry, and she provides clear instructions for parents on how to support their child without reinforcing anxious behaviours. The book serves as a valuable tool for families, offering a structured way to discuss anxiety and work through challenges together.

The book’s interactive format, complete with illustrations by Bonnie Matthews, makes it appealing and accessible for children. Rather than presenting anxiety as something to be feared, What to Do When You Worry Too Much reassures kids that worry is normal and manageable. The exercises are designed to be used repeatedly, allowing children to build confidence in their ability to handle anxious thoughts over time.