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(Unit 3) Topic 7: The Anxious Child

1 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education

What Teacher's Should Know

​Topic 7 Page 3

There are many different types of anxiety. This can make it difficult for teachers to identify it in the classroom.
​Here is a list of the most common anxiety disorders according to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services:   ​

General Anxiety
Students with general anxiety experience extreme or unrealistic worry in their daily lives. These children are tense, often perfectionists, and have a very strong need for reassurance. ​

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
In order to alleviate worrisome thoughts, children can begin to engage in repetitive behaviors or compulsive rituals.  Examples of this are obsessive handwashing, counting, or the rearrangement of objects. ​

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Phobias
Children with phobias fear a specific object or situation (i.e. spiders, needles, or the dark). ​

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​Social Phobias 
Children with social phobias are excessively self-conscious, making it difficult for them to interact with peers. They fear being watched, criticized or judged harshly by others.  ​

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​​Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is most commonly associated with individuals that have experienced some sort of trauma in their lives. This could be abuse (physical or sexual), domestic violence, natural disasters, home invasion or fire, or serious illness. Sometimes you as the teacher will know about this information and other times you may not. 

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​Separation Anxiety 
Children with separation anxiety fear being away from their parents or caretakers. Almost all children experience separation anxiety in their lifetime, and it is a normal part of development. However, separation anxiety should dissipate over time. Typically by age four separation anxiety should only be occurring occasionally, and it should not be a part of daily school life.

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Know the Limits of Your Expertise 
Please remember that as an educator, you should never diagnose a child with any disease, disorder, or condition. That is a job for a licensed medical professional. However, you should be familiar with the signs, document them if asked, and be ready to work with parents and doctors for the overall health of the child. ​

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