This post is part of a series where our team of child mental health professionals answer real questions submitted by readers like you. This post deals with issues related to anxiety. Please take care when reading.
When should you worry about your child’s anxiety? This is a question Little Otter works to answer:
“My child seems anxious when he watches YouTube videos like Roblox, Aphmau, & Among Us. He puts his shirt in his mouth and chews on it until he’s done watching YouTube. Should I worry?”
- T., Texas
Thank you for your question regarding your son’s anxiety. I applaud you for recognizing that chewing on his shirt could be a sign of anxiety.
If this is the only context in which he is chewing on his shirt, it may be that these videos are stressing or overwhelming to him in some way.
Do you notice any other signs of anxiety? Does he display other behaviors consistent with anxiety in additional settings?
If not, you might want to consider reducing or limiting his exposure to these types of videos for a while. However, if you notice that he is displaying more anxious behaviors, you may want to speak with a pediatrician or child mental health professional to see if he could benefit from some additional support.
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