Resources for Managing Child Anxiety
Ages 1 - 24+ Years
Anxiety is common among everyone, and is especially common among people affected by heart defects. For some kids, anxiety can become a problem that limits their opportunities and enjoyment. These resources can help families to understand anxiety, and to learn strategies that can help improve it. Families should use these resources in addition to consulting their doctor and developmental providers.
In this section
The titles and links on this page are provided as resources only. Boston Children's Hospital and the Benderson Family Heart Center don't necessarily endorse all of the information in these resources.
Adult Books about Anxiety
These books are written for adults. They can help parents and providers to understand and reduce their child's anxiety.
Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents, by Reid Wilson and Lynn Lyons
Anxiety Relief for Kids, by Bridget Flynn Walker
Be Calm, by Jill Weber, Callisto Press
Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD, by Eli Lebovitz, Oxford University Press
Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, by Tamar Chansky, Harmony Press
Helping Your Anxious Child, by Ronald Rapee, Ann Wignall, and Susan Spence, New Harbinger Publications
The Opposite of Worry, by Lawrence Cohen
Taking Control of Anxiety, by Bret Moore, APA Life Tools Publishing
Unwinding Anxiety, by Judson Brewer, Avery Publishing
When the World Feels Like a Scary Place, by Abigail Gerwitz
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Anxiety Workbooks for Kids and Teens
These workbooks can help young people to better understand their emotions, and to cope with their feelings of stress and anxiety. Workbooks are usually most effective when young people can work through them with a trusted adult.
The ACT Workbook for Kids, by Tamar Black
The Anxious Thoughts Workbook for Teens, by David Clark
The Anxiety Workbook for Kids, by Robin Alter and Crystal Clark
The Anxiety Workbook for Teens, by Lisa Schab, Instant Help Publishing
The Mindful Breathing Workbook for Teens, by Matthew Dewar
The Perfectionism Workbook for Teens, by Ann Marie Dobosz
The Relaxation and Stress-Reduction Workbook for Kids, by Lawrence Shapiro and Robin Sprague
The Relaxation and Stress-Reduction Workbook for Teens, by Michael Tompkins and Jonathan Barkin
The Self-Regulation Workbook for Kids, by Jenna Berman
The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens, by Jennifer Shannon
What to Do When the News Scares You, by Jacqueline Toner
What to Do When You Worry Too Much, by Dawn Huebner and Sabine Rothmund, Magination Press
The Worry Workbook for Kids, by Muniya Kanna and Deborah Ledley
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Little Kid Books about Anxiety
These books are written for young children, or for older children with lower developmental skills. They are best rest aloud by an adult. Some of these books directly name and address anxiety, and others discuss it more indirectly.
Brave Every Day, by Trudy Ludwig
Fraidyzoo, by Thyra Heder
Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective, by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett
Me and My Fear, by Francesca Sanna
Puppy in my Head, by Elise Gravel
Ruby Finds a Worry, by Tom Percival
The Worry Monster, by Catherine Cook-Coltone
Too Many Bubbles, by Christine Peck
Wemberly Worried, by Kevin Henke
The Whatifs, by Emily Kilgore
When Worry Takes Hold, by Liz Haske
Wilma Jean, Worry Machine, by Julia Cook
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Kid and Teen Books about Anxiety
These books are written for children and teens, and can help kids to better understand their bodies and brains, and to take control of their emotions. Some of them directly discuss anxiety and strategies for coping, and other tell stories related to managing anxiety.
Better with Butter, by Victoria Piontek
The Deepest Breath, by Meg Grehan
Growing Pangs, by Kathryn Ormsbee
Guts, by Reina Telgemeier
A Kids' Book About Anxiety, by Ross Szabo
Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid's Guide to Managing Anxiety, by Dawn Huebner
The Panic Workbook for Teens, by Debra Kissen, Bari Goldman Cohen, and Kathi Abitbol
Mindfulness for Teen Worry, by Jeffrey Bernstein
Rewire Your Anxious Brain for Teens, by Debra Kissen, Ashley Kendall, Michelle Lozano, and Micah Ioffe
A Smart Girl's Guide: Worry, by Nancy Holyoke and Judy Woodburn
Sometimes I'm Anxious, by Peggy O-Neill
The Summer of June, by Jamie Summer
Superpowered: Transform Anxiety into Courage, Confidence, and Resilience
The Teen Girl's Anxiety Survival Guide, by Lucie Hemmen
Unstuck, by Barbara Dee
The Worry Monster, by Catherine Cook-Coltone
You Are Not Alone, by Jennie Allen
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