Some 20 percent of preschool-age kids in this country have some type of anxiety disorder. That's according to a 2014 paper published in the Journal of Clinical Adolescent Psychology.
Youngsters with anxiety can find it challenging to enjoy activities like summer camp.
And that's where Camp Kid Power comes in.
Camp Kid Power gives kids with anxiety a camp experience while teaching them skills to help them cope with their anxiety. It's offered by the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Kate Fitzgerald is an associate professor in the U of M Department of Psychiatry, and Melissa Boulanger sent her son Oliver to Camp Kid Power last year. They joined Stateside to discuss the program.
Listen above to learn about the causes and symptoms of anxiety in young children, how Camp Kid Power works to teach preschoolers coping skills, and why a parent may want to send their child to a camp tailored to help treat anxiety.
Learn more about Camp Kid Power here, or sign up for the camp here.
Minding Michigan is Stateside’s ongoing series that examines mental health issues in our state.
