When Anxiety Starts Early: What’s Changed For Kids Today

·11 min·1 clip

School counselor Jennifer Licati explains how social media access is making kids grow up quicker and fueling anxiety in elementary school.

The episode opens by noting a steady increase in youth mental health issues over the past decade, according to CDC data. It introduces school counselor and educator Jennifer Licati, who observes firsthand the shifts in what students deal with. Licati identifies early access to social media as a primary driver, exposing children to constant comparison and communication without reprieve, eroding the boundary between school and home. Academic pressures have also intensified, with coursework once introduced later now appearing earlier, and parents sometimes adding pressure through comparisons. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced prolonged uncertainty and fear that children absorbed from adults. Licati notes anxiety symptoms often ramp up around third and fourth grade, coinciding with earlier smartphone access. Anxiety in children frequently presents through physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, and irritability, which they struggle to articulate. The American Academy of Pediatrics has noted this pattern of physical discomfort preceding emotional recognition. Behavioral changes, such as a child quitting a previously loved activity like soccer, can signal anxiety. Parents are advised to celebrate efforts and wins, model healthy coping mechanisms, and avoid fostering perfectionism. Coping skills like journaling, exercise, deep breathing, and creative outlets are recommended. When anxiety limits a child's participation or pursuit of goals, professional support from a school counselor or therapist is suggested. The episode concludes that while anxiety is a part of life, early intervention can equip children with long-term skills to manage it.

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