Skip Nav
Love It. Save Your Favorites Now.
49 Phrases to Calm an Anxious Child
View On One Page
Photo 14 of 49  
ADVERTISEMENT ()
14

"Let's count _____."

This distraction technique requires no advance preparation. Counting the number of people wearing boots, the number of watches, the number of kids, or the number of hats in the room requires observation and thought, both of which detract from the anxiety your child is feeling.

Previous Next
I Tried a Postpartum Personal Assistant
Parenting
How a Postpartum Personal Assistant Helped Me Through the Newborn Trenches
by Kelsey Garcia 6/18
r/MomForAMinute Reddit Community Offers Maternal Support
Mother's Day
Meet the Reddit Community That Will Be Your Mom For a Minute
by Taylor Andrews 5/07
Nacho Parenting: Expert Explains Parenting Strategy
Family Life
Why "Nacho Parenting" Could Be the Solution For Your Blended Family
by Taylor Andrews 2/25
What Co-Sleeping With Kids Is Really Like
Family Life
What Co-Sleeping as a Family Actually Looks Like
by Lena Felton 12/16/25
Sundown Scaries: An Expert on New Parent Anxiety at Night
Family Life
How to Survive the "Sundown Scaries" as a New Parent
by Taylor Andrews 12/01/25
I Didn't Have a Sleep Supportive Family: Why I Sleep In Now
Parenting
I Have "Sleep Supportive Family" Trauma, but I'm Trying to Nap Anyway
by Taylor Andrews 10/01/25

From Our Partners

Now You Know

Love Is Blind: Where Do Those Engagement Rings Come From?

Fashion

Everything to Know About the "Love Is Blind" Engagement Rings

by Sarah Wasilak 2/19

shopping

Oprah's Favorite Things List Has Major Gems, Including an Under-$100 Air Fryer

by Balim Tezel 11/06/25

Fitness

Paralympians Earn the Same Pay For Medals as Olympians, but Is It Enough?

by Karenna Meredith 8/29/24

health

How Often Should We Be Getting COVID Vaccines?

by Alexis Jones 8/23/24

Food

Pumpkin Spice Season Is Back Aug. 22

by Lauren Mazzo 8/21/24

Beauty

The Exact Red Lipstick Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Swears By

by Alaina Demopoulos 8/20/24

health

What to Know About the Latest Mpox Outbreak, According to MDs

by Alexis Jones 8/16/24

health

Céline Dion Promised Her Children She’d Live: “They Already Lost a Parent.”

by Sara Youngblood Gregory 6/11/24

Latest Family
We're Hiring! Write For Us Advertise With Us Accessibility Contact Archives
Power Your Happy
Terms Privacy Policy
©2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.