Anxiety symptoms are common in children and adolescents, with 10 to 20 percent of school-aged children experiencing anxiety symptoms. An even larger number of children experience stress that does not qualify as an anxiety disorder. So how can you help to reduce your child's anxiety and stress? Here are some tips to reduce your child's stress and anxiety: *Encourage your child to face his/her fears, not run away from them. *Tell your child that it is okay to be imperfect. *Focus on the positives. *Schedule relaxing activities. *Model approach behavior, self-care, and positive thinking. *Reward your child's brave behaviors. *Encourage good sleep hygiene. *Encourage your child to express his/her anxiety. *Help your child to problem solve. *Stay calm. *Practice relaxation exercises with your child. *Never give up. Anxiety and stress can be a chronic struggle. Often, the source of a child's anxiety changes over time so it can feel as though you are always putting out fires. With repetition of the anxiety and stress management techniques, your child will learn how to lower his/her anxiety level and how to cope with anxiety-provoking situations. The key is repetition, so keep it up!