All children experience anxiety.
Anxiety in children is expected and normal at specific times in development. Young children may have short-lived fears, such as fear of the dark, storms, animals, or strangers. Anxieties can become severe and begin to interfere with the daily activities of childhood, such as separating from parents, attending school, and making friends. You should discuss concerns you have about your child's anxieties with your child's physician. The physician may then refer your child to a mental health professional for an evaluation.