Helping Kids Overcome Worries, Fears, and Anxiety with Dr. Zucker

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I will be the first to admit that I struggle with anxiety and finding ways to overcome it. Sadly, Spunk seems to have inherited this quality as well. We are learning and researching ways to cope with it for both of us. When I heard about the release of the second edition of Anxiety-Free Kids, I knew I had to add it to my library. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but all opinions are my own. What I love most about this book is the fact that parents and children are meant to work through it together. Parents detach the "Kids Only Companion Guide" from the main book and give it to the child. Both parents and children read the corresponding chapters at the same time. The "Kids Only Guide" is written in kid friendly language, while the adults read the same information on a more detailed level. There are 8 chapters where parents and children read and complete exercises together, plus 4 additional chapters to teach parents to empower their kids. We have just begun using this book; but I can tell that Spunk and I will both benefit from having strategies to work on and ways we can help each other get over our anxieties. If you know someone in your life dealing with an anxious or fearful child, give them this book and your support

About the Book:

ANXIETY-FREE KIDS: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children by Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D.

This book offers parents:

• strategies to help their children become happy and worry free
• methods that relieve a child’s excessive anxieties and phobias
• tools for fostering interaction and family-oriented solutions

Now in its second edition, Anxiety-Free Kids features two new chapters on sleep and how to best parent a child with anxiety. It uses a unique companion approach that offers two books in one:

1. a practical, reader-friendly book for parents
2. a fun workbook for kids

Research has shown that if left untreated, children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to:

• perform poorly in school
• to have less-developed social skills
• to be more vulnerable to substance abuse

You will find information and tips for the six most commonly occurring anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, specific phobias, social phobias, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Zucker’s top 5 successful strategies for parenting children with anxiety are:

• Relaxing the body through calm breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery, mindfulness meditation, and yoga
• Conquering worries by using positive self-talk
• Changing thoughts by recognizing thinking mistakes and errors
• Facing fears through repetition, frequency, and prolonged exposure
• Building confidence by strengthening self-esteem, discovering social power, and making proactive decisions