Every year, KKH sees about 200 pre-school children aged 2 to 6 for anxiety-related behaviour. If left unchecked, childhood anxiety problems can affect daily functioning, impact social and academic learning and lead to mental health challenges in adulthood.

As pre-school, children with anxiety may be too young or resistant to participate actively in therapy, this parent-based intervention programme equipped parents with skills to manage their child’s behaviour. Over 10 intervention sessions, parents learned about anxiety and how to reduce the frequency of accommodating or giving in to their child’s anxiety. They also understood how to support their child in anxious situations,and how to create a practical and detailed plan they can use to help their child cope with anxiety.