Childhood anxiety is on the rise, impacting millions of children and their families.
Understanding its causes and solutions is crucial for parents, educators, and mental health professionals. In this exclusive interview, I speak with Deb Prudhomme, an educator, author, and advocate, about childhood anxiety, its symptoms, and strategies for managing it.
Who is Deb Prudhomme?
Cindy: Tell us about yourself.
Deb: I am an educator, author, and advocate dedicated to supporting children’s emotional and mental well-being. With over 25 years of experience in education, I have worked extensively with students, parents, and schools to help children navigate social-emotional challenges. I spent two decades teaching 3rd and 4th grade, during which I became increasingly aware of the growing mental health struggles among students. This led me to focus on mental health education, presenting on topics such as childhood anxiety, emotional resilience, and suicide prevention.
Currently, I teach driver’s education and speak at high schools about mental health awareness and suicide prevention. My background also includes seven years of service in the Navy and Air Force, which has given me a unique perspective on resilience and adaptability. My mission is to empower children, parents, and educators with the knowledge and tools to recognize and manage anxiety, fostering stronger, more supportive communities.
A New Children’s Book on Anxiety
Cindy: I hear you have a new children’s book about anxiety. Can you tell us about it?
Deb: Absolutely! My book, Dear Anxiety, is written as a letter to that little monster we all know—anxiety. It was inspired by the dramatic increase in childhood anxiety I witnessed in my classroom. Over the years, I saw more and more children struggling socially, emotionally, and behaviorally without the vocabulary to express their feelings. Many adults labeled these as “behaviors,” but I saw them as “symptoms.”
Understanding Anxiety Symptoms in Children
Cindy: Can you expand on that?
Deb: Of course. Children with anxiety often display fear, withdrawal, outbursts, headaches, and stomach aches. They aren’t refusing to work, acting out on purpose, or pretending to be sick—they’re communicating through behavior. These are symptoms of an underlying struggle. This realization drove me to advocate for my students, collaborating with parents, special educators, and school administrators to ensure these children received the support they needed.
The Inspiration Behind Dear Anxiety
Cindy: Is that how the book came about?
Deb: Yes! I wanted to create a tool to help children, families, teachers, and therapists. Dear Anxiety uses playful, child-friendly language to describe common anxiety symptoms. Throughout the book, diverse characters tell anxiety to leave, scat, and skedaddle. It’s engaging and helps kids identify their feelings. I also included bonus pages for creative expression. It’s more than a picture book—it’s a self-help book for elementary-aged children, guiding them toward understanding and managing their anxiety. I’m incredibly proud of it!
The Rise in Childhood Anxiety
Cindy: What did you discover as you sought to understand the rise in childhood anxiety?
Deb: The rise in childhood anxiety is influenced by a combination of biological, environmental, and societal factors. Research shows that increased academic pressures, decreased unstructured playtime, and heightened social comparison—often exacerbated by social media—contribute significantly to children’s stress levels. Many children feel the weight of expectations at younger ages, leaving them with little room to develop emotional resilience through trial and error.
Additionally, societal changes, including increased screen time and decreased face-to-face interactions, have impacted the way children develop social-emotional skills. While technology has provided incredible opportunities for connection, it has also led to more isolation, less outdoor play, and a decline in meaningful, in-person interactions—all crucial for emotional development.
We also know that childhood anxiety is not just a response to external factors but can also be influenced by genetics, family dynamics, and exposure to chronic stressors such as trauma, instability, or excessive stimulation. With all of these factors at play, it is clear that addressing childhood anxiety requires a holistic approach, including education, early intervention, and supportive environments at home and in schools.
The Future of Mental Health Advocacy
Cindy: Thank you for sharing your insight. What hopes do you have for the future?
Deb: I hope to see kids more involved in community activities, but we need to make them engaging enough to compete with technology. We must meet children where they are and inspire them from there.
For myself, I want to continue writing children’s books that inform, inspire, and support our youth. I’m also working on a memoir and staying connected with my community. My future will be as diverse as my past—and that excites me! And, thank you, Cindy, for all that YOU do for children!
Learn More: Visit website: www.becuriouskids.com
Email: [email protected]
