10 Warning Signs of Anxiety in Children to Look out for

Worries, nervousness, and fears are all normal parts of childhood and adolescence. But sometimes young people experience anxiety more frequently or intensely than is typical. Unfortunately, kids and parents don’t always recognize when anxiety is rising to clinically concerning levels. When anxiety sneaks into your child’s life undetected, it has the potential to become persistent and interfering.

Recognizing the warning signs of anxiety in children and teens early helps parents support their child before symptoms worsen. Here are ten key indicators to watch–ranked from most to least obvious.

Read until the end for ways you can help your child if you notice they’re struggling with anxiety.

10 Signs of Anxiety in Children

10. Excessive Worrying and “What If” Questions

Your child may worry about a variety of topics, such as school, health, friendships, death, their pets, and future careers. The “what if” questions (“What if I get Covid?” “What if my friends don’t like me?”) that go with these worries might be the clearest signal of anxiety. An even clearer signal is when your child continues to ask these questions despite your attempts at reassuring responses.

9. Avoiding School or Activities

If your child suddenly refuses to go to school or participate in activities they used to enjoy, anxiety may be at play. They may blame illness or “not feeling well” for their avoidance of school, despite no observable or consistent signs of illness. School avoidance has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Clinginess or Separation Anxiety

Crying, clinging to your leg, or excessive distress when separated from you can be a sign of how much your child loves you, but can also indicate anxiety. Sometimes children with separation anxiety can handle the initial separation well but then call or text you excessively while you’re apart.

7. Procrastination

When students delay getting started on assignments, it’s often attributed to “laziness” or lack of motivation. While disinterest in schoolwork can be a factor, it’s more often anxiety that gets in the way for otherwise strong students. Worries about being able to get the work done or getting a good grade may paradoxically interfere with putting forth their best effort.

6. Trouble Sleeping or Nightmares

Difficulty falling asleep, restless nights, or recurring nightmares can be red flags for anxiety. Anxious children often have racing thoughts at bedtime or wake up worried about the day ahead. Sometimes children worry about sleep itself, which causes stress that keeps them awake, trapping them in a vicious cycle. 

5. Withdrawal from Friends or Family

Anxiety can lead children to disengage even when they’re around friends and family. They might seem less interested in connecting with others because their minds are preoccupied with worries and fears. Even when they’re physically sharing space with you, you might find your child lost in their thoughts and unable to enjoy the moment.

4. Distractibility

If your child seems distracted or lost in daydreams, anxiety could be to blame. Worry can crowd out other thoughts, making it hard for kids to pay attention or complete schoolwork. While often confused for ADHD, distractibility due to anxiety has characteristic ebbs and flows dependent on the context of their anxiety, while ADHD symptoms are persistent.

3. Irritability and Emotional Outbursts

Anxiety doesn’t always look like fear–it can look like frustration or anger. If your child seems easily annoyed or “touchy,” this may reflect underlying anxiety–especially if the irritability increases around anxiety-related situations. This is among the trickier signs of anxiety in children to spot because often kids and teens themselves don’t realize they’re experiencing anxiety.

2. Frequent Physical Complaints

Headaches, stomachaches, lightheadedness, and chest pain can all be signs of anxiety. It’s important for your child to receive a full work-up to rule out any medical conditions. But if all tests come back clear, the source of their ailments may be psychological. Note that their discomforts are still real–they’re just stemming from anxiety that isn’t well-managed. These symptoms can also trigger additional anxiety that lead to endless specialist visits.

1. Perfectionism

The straight A student and star athlete may seem to have everything under control, but their excellence may be fueled by perfectionism and hidden anxiety. Some anxious children hold themselves to impossibly high standards. While they often meet those standards, it comes at the price of excessive preparation and worrying. And because nobody’s perfect, when small errors and disappointments inevitably occur, it can lead to a meltdown.

When to Be Concerned

Occasional worry is part of life, but if your child’s anxiety lasts for weeks or months, or starts interfering with school, friendships, or daily routines, it’s time to take a closer look. The signs of anxiety in children listed above can help you spot anxiety that would otherwise be overlooked. Persistent anxiety symptoms in children are best addressed early—with compassion and professional guidance.

How Parents Can Help

• Listen, label, and validate: When you notice your child is experiencing anxiety, label it to help them learn to identify it for themselves. Let your child know it’s okay to feel worried and nervous. Avoid minimizing or dismissing their feelings.
• Teach calming strategies: Deep breathing, mindfulness, and consistent self-care routines can help children feel safe and in control. Bonus points if you can show them how you use these strategies when you’re feeling anxious.
• Promote independence and courage. The antidote to anxiety is confidence in handling new, unexpected, and challenging situations. Giving your child opportunities to be independent and face their fears fosters this confidence and keeps anxiety at bay.
• Seek professional support: A child psychologist can assess your child’s needs and offer effective treatment options, such as individual or parent-based therapy.

Anxiety in children is common and treatable. Recognizing the signs of anxiety in children is the first step toward helping your child feel secure, confident, and in control. If you’re concerned, don’t wait to reach out for support. With early intervention and consistent care, children can learn to manage anxiety and thrive.