As part of Barron’s Educational Series, Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child is a wonderful addition to an extensive list of guides on matters ranging from exam preparation to college curricula. In this second edition, Dr. Katharina Manassis, Psychiatrist and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children, as well as Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, explains the skills needed for parenting an anxious child. The text is elaborated with parents in mind, and it certainly focuses on their needs and questions, whether the child’s anxiety is mild, moderate, or extreme. The patient population discussed is anxious children aged 7 to 12, but the principles remain informative beyond this age range.
Each of the 35 short chapters, or “keys,” is of remarkable depth. Akin to variations on a theme, their style is rich and inventive. While each can suffice in addressing a specific facet of childhood anxiety, readers are encouraged to be flexible and open to different approaches. This is helped by the ample internal references, making the work very coherent. At times, these may be more numerous than needed.
The author introduces the topic of anxiety fluently. After commenting on prevalence and etiology, she emphasizes the importance of desensitization, thereby stating the unifying theme of the book: anxiety is severe when it interferes with age-appropriate activities, and the most effective treatment consists in the child facing the situations that trigger it.
The second part of this book is centered on an illustrative figure, in which anxiety is conceptualized as resulting from an interaction of stressor(s) with innate vulnerability that can be offset by an affected child’s coping skills and support. The two sides of this equation are fully explored, yielding a rich series of “keys.” Dr. Manassis encourages parents to use incentives, time charts, and attention to subtle change in the effort to shift the balance away from anxiety. She then brilliantly addresses the notion of medication use, helping parents understand the full spectrum of anxiety treatments in clear and accessible terms.
In the third section of the book, the author touches upon specific areas of impairment, such as school refusal, unassertiveness, and perfectionism. Vivid examples help to apply the methods previously listed. One leaves this series of “keys” with an understanding of the breadth of anxiety and the need to be consistently supportive, all the while recognizing the child’s strengths and ability to improve.
The final section illustrates the complex interactions between the anxious child and his or her surroundings, for instance family, friends, the community, or health care professionals. Parents are reminded that they are the “conductor,” and that their efforts to support the child will yield the best outcomes only if these are exerted in harmony with all entities.
Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child offers a comprehensive view on pediatric anxiety issues and gives parents a realistic and poignant perspective of the child’s experience. It should be particularly useful for parents who want to play an active role as part of a team helping a child who is anxious, as well as for those living in under-serviced areas.