Expert tips on comforting an anxious child 

Rather than trying to smooth things over, parents need to acknowledge little one's feelings and help them to navigate their emotional world

Connection and relationship are at the core of parenting and go a long way in seeing your children through their anxious times

When your child comes to you, clearly anxious and seeking comfort, how do you feel? Like your own anxiety has been ratcheted up by a factor of 10? Like you have to immediately solve the problem so it can be quickly dismissed?

It’s good if parents take a pause, do a self-check, before attending to an anxious child, says Dr Anne-Marie Casey, senior clinical psychologist in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and member of the Psychological Society of Ireland.