By Yorkship Healthy Lion reporters | It’s important for kids to know what to do when they’re faced with anxiety so that it doesn’t stop them from doing things they like to do.
Simply connecting to a pet, especially a dog, can help relieve stress, according to the experts from heart.org, the website of the American Heart Association.
There are many strategies that help kids deal with anxiety, including talking to a trusted adult.
Healthy Lion fifth-grade reporters interviewed school social worker Ms. Cane about the impact anxiety can have on students and how they can deal with it. The interview has been lightly edited.
Q: Describe your job and how you help people.
Ms. Cane: I conduct social evaluations by asking parents questions to evaluate students.
Q: How do you define anxiety?
Ms. Cane: Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear, or dread. It can be related to a future event or an event that has already occurred. It could even be related to something that you said or did in the past.
Q: How can anxiety affect a child’s mental health?
Ms. Cane: Sometimes a certain level of anxiety can be a good thing. It may encourage you to study and prepare for an upcoming test. Sometimes it can motivate you to try harder. Sometimes it can be the opposite. It can sometimes prevent you from focusing and it can have negative effects on your health.
Q. How can anxiety affect a child’s physical health?
Ms. Cane: Anxiety can cause tension and make your muscles tight. It can also drain your energy, cause headaches, and stomachaches. Anxiety can also lead to phobias. A phobia is an extreme or irrational fear or avoidance of something.
Q: What do you want kids to know about anxiety?
Ms. Cane: I want kids and families to know that anxiety is treatable. There are strategies and treatments for people who deal with anxiety. I want kids and families to know that they are not alone when it comes to dealing with anxiety. Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. Most importantly, if you find yourself experiencing anxiety, do not try to deal with it all by yourself. Talk to a trusted adult.
Q: What are some strategies to reduce anxiety?
Ms. Cane: It is important to learn and develop strategies so that anxiety doesn’t take over your life and prevent you from doing the things you love to do. There are some very effective strategies such as meditation and deep breathing, engaging in physical activities such as walking, and being out in nature. Some students may use stress balls or fidgets to cope with anxiety.
Illustration by Tajah, 5th grade, CCSA, 2025-26.
