LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Anxiety can be a tough topic for parents and kids to talk about any time of year, and that anxiety can increase as a new school year approaches. 

Dr. Katy Hopkins with Norton Children's Hospital stopped by WDRB Mornings Monday to give parents some tips for dealing with an anxious child. 

Hopkins said it's normal for anyone to feel anxious when doing something new or different.

"First of all, anxiety is normal when you're trying something new or something that you haven't done in a few months -- or at all."

Hopkins stressed to parents that "kids can't feel confident if you don't. So it's got to start with parents really expressing and feeling confidence that their kiddo is going to do well."

She said parents should appear calm about the new school year, but to also acknowledge that they understand feelings of anxiety. 

"So just sitting with them and saying, 'I know you're feeling a little bit nervous,' or 'I understand that you're worried about what's coming up, but I feel confident that you're going to be able to handle it.'"

Hopkins said sometimes there may be more than a bad case of nerves, and there are some red flags if that happens.

"Think about how you know when your kid is getting sick and you can see it in their eyes," Hopkins said. "You can know when a kid is suffering from more significant anxiety when they're really struggling to do something that you know, based on their age, is a normal thing for them to do. So like going to school, for kids ages 5 to 18 -- that's a part of their life."

She said if kids are feeling overly nervous about those normal things or refusing to do things other kids their age are capable of doing -- that can be a clue. Also, look for other signs like disruptions in sleep, changes in behavior and eating patterns, which can all be signs that "something's a little bit bigger than typical nervousness."

It's also good for parents to attend school functions leading up to the new year to help children socialize and get ready to make new friends while renewing old friendships. 

Social media can also feed into children's anxiety.

"We know that too much of anything can't be good. So if they are particularly watching content that reinforce storylines around being worried or being afraid of certain things socially, that can really get in the way," Hopkins said. 

That's why it's important to talk make sure they understand that what they see on social media is an edited version of real life. Help them avoid comparing themselves to people they see on social media. 

In some cases, parents may decide to seek therapy for their children. "A pediatrician is a great person to ask for where might we be able to get our child in sooner rather later," Hopkins said. 

She also recommended online resources like Psychology Today for families trying to find a therapist immediately.

"If you have found a therapist and you have to wait for that therapist, you may want to think about what do I do in the meantime: preserving sleep, making sure they're eating well, making sure that they're active and social. Those are all good foundational, strengthening life skills that you can do while you're waiting to get in to be seen." 

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