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Early childhood is a time when several risk factors for anxiety disorders emerge and can be addressed. For example, being withdrawn or wary in new situations coupled with shyness — known as behavioural inhibition — has long been recognized as a potent early childhood risk factor. One study, which followed nearly 1,000 children from ages four to six, found behavioural inhibition increased the risk for developing an anxiety disorder. Having a parent with high levels of anxiety also increased children’s risk.

These findings can be applied to help parents and other caregivers support children who are behaviourally inhibited. For example, parents can encourage children to face situations that cause them anxiety. This could include a father creating opportunities for his shy daughter to meet new children at a playground and supporting her to play with others. Similarly, educators can structure activities so that anxious children are paired with socially skilled and supportive peers. Parents and educators can also encourage children to be more confident in new situations by praising them for being so. As well, parents can support their children by addressing their own anxiety, so they are better able to model coping well in situations they find fearful.

The previously noted study identified other factors that influence the development of childhood anxiety that are particularly relevant for educators. For example, being a victim of bullying behaviour put children at risk while having good social skills protected them. These findings are salient for educators since bullying behaviours often occur in school and many effective antibullying programs can be delivered in schools. Educators are also well positioned to effectively teach children social skills.

For more information, see Vol. 18, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.