ABSTRACT
Anxiety and fears are common in young children and can stem from widely differing experiences. Some children are fearful and withdrawn as a feature of their personality. They are shy socially, rarely speak out, and hide behind their mothers. Some have great difficulties with separation and cling to their mothers in a developmentally inappropriate manner. Other children will have experienced a traumatic event in their lives that caused their problem. Parents’ divorcing or the experience of a bereavement are significant triggers. Children will also develop fears and phobias, like adults, in response to unpleasant experiences.
