Picture books to help soothe worries

The rise in child mental health issues is an ongoing concern in the UK. According to NHS England, approximately ‘1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023’, and around 500 children a day in England are being referred to mental health services for anxiety alone.

Regular reading of picture books about worries from this thoughtful list for ages 3 to 7, will open up discussions, helping you give children early support for their worries, and hopefully avoiding more significant problems with anxiety down the line. Worries and fears related to big changes, like starting school, fear of water or bedwetting, can be common in children, and these topics are all covered in these beautifully illustrated, inclusive, child-centred books.

This diverse booklist, covering the tricky topics of worry and anxiety, will give children the tools they need to manage their worries better. They will realise the importance of talking about their feelings while being gently encouraged to build resilience.