Shining a Light on Childhood Anxiety and Depression10 Ways to Support Our Kids: 10 Ways to Support O

Childhood is often imagined as a golden time of life-carefree, playful, bursting with laughter and the sweet simplicity of being young. We think of playgrounds and birthday parties, storybooks and silly games, family holidays and firsts: the first lost tooth, school play, and sleepover. And indeed, childhood can hold all of that magic. But for many children, especially in today's world, there's more beneath the surface-more complexity, pressure, and emotion.

More children today face emotional struggles than ever before, and not because they are weaker or more fragile. In fact, in many ways, they are stronger. But they are growing up in a world that moves faster, expects more, and allows less room for slowness, reflection, and emotional exploration. The result? a generation of children who are often overwhelmed but don't always have the tools-or permission-to say so.

Children can experience anxiety. Children can feel sadness that doesn't go away. Children can struggle to understand their emotions, express their needs, or ask for help. They might not have the words, but they do have the feelings. And those feelings can shape everything: how they learn, relate to others, and see themselves.