Dr. Solomon Laktineh

Childhood Anxiety Help

Help for an anxious child, from a pediatrician of 40 years

If your child is more anxious than they should be, the right approach can give you a clear, calm plan. Most families see meaningful change within weeks.

Childhood anxiety has become one of the most common reasons parents reach out. After forty years in pediatrics, I can tell you that anxiety in children is highly treatable when it is approached calmly and consistently. The earlier the right support arrives, the faster anxiety responds.

What I can help with

  1. Separation anxiety and school refusal

    When a young child cannot tolerate drop-off, when an older child cannot get into the building, when stomach aches show up every Sunday night.

  2. Social anxiety and friendship struggles

    Children who are paralyzed in groups, who cannot ask for help in class, who are slowly retreating from friendships.

  3. Generalized worry and overthinking

    Children who worry about everything, who ruminate at bedtime, who ask the same reassurance questions many times a day.

  4. Specific fears and phobias

    From thunder to throwing up to needles. The general approach is similar: validate, then gentle exposure.

  5. Anxiety that shows up in the body

    Stomach aches, headaches, sleep disruption, appetite changes. Children's anxiety often speaks through the body before it speaks through words.

How Dr. Solomon helps

The free Script Pack includes word-for-word scripts for moments when big feelings take over. The YouTube channel covers anxiety-specific topics including school refusal, worry, and emotional coaching. The book goes deeper on building resilience and helping children sit with hard feelings rather than avoid them. For a specific question about your child, use the contact form.

What this is not

None of this is a substitute for therapy with a child psychologist or psychiatrist when those are needed. For many anxious children, both pediatric guidance and therapy work well together. Part of my job is to help you decide what kind of support makes sense for your specific child.

Frequently asked

When is anxiety in a child a real concern?
When it interferes with school, sleep, friendships, or daily functioning, or when it persists for more than a few weeks. Brief worry around a transition is usually normal. Anxiety that takes over the day is not.
Should I take my child to therapy?
Often yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly effective for childhood anxiety. Your pediatrician can help you decide whether therapy is the right next step and what to look for in a provider.
Will my child need medication?
Sometimes, but not as the first step in most cases. Therapy and family-based strategies are usually tried first. Medication can be a good tool for moderate to severe anxiety. The decision belongs to you and your prescriber.
What ages do you work with?
From toddlers to teens. Anxiety looks very different at each age and the right strategies are age-specific.
How do I get started?
Start with the free Script Pack, which arrives in your inbox within minutes. The YouTube channel covers anxiety-specific topics and is available immediately. The book goes deeper on building resilience and emotional regulation.

Related reading: how to help an anxious child and back-to-school anxiety.

Help an anxious child, calmly

Get the free Script Pack for practical tools you can use tonight. Then go deeper with the YouTube channel and the book.