This can be difficult. Generally, experts recommend that parents trust their judgment. If a child's fear has lasted for a long time, is interfering in family activities or is causing the child great anxiety, it may be time to take actions to help overcome the phobia. They immediately feel severe anxiety, even terror, whenever they encounter the dreaded object or situation. Their hearts race, they feel dizzy and may have trouble breathing.
Simple phobias are more likely to develop in girls and generally begin before the age of five.
Unlike someone who is simply shy, children suffering from social phobias experience extreme anxiety, panic and fear in social situations. Social phobia generally results in a child becoming reclusive and avoiding any involvement in group activities. This can greatly interfere with a child's ability to establish friendships that are essential in the normal child and adolescent development process. Other children will simply refuse to go to school or attempt to avoid school by having temper tantrums or crying. School phobia generally first appears in kindergarten or first grade and reaches its most severe stage in second grade.