6 Common Fears for Kids Who Learn

and Think Differently

 Kids who learn and think differently might have more fears than other kids.
 The fear often stems from something they struggle with.
 Understanding what your child’s afraid of can help you find solutions.
Trouble keeping up. Difficulty socializing.
Being “found out.” The challenges of
learning and thinking differently can cause a
lot of stress and anxiety for kids. And those
feelings can give way to fears that affect
them in and out of school.

You can help. Here are some common fears

to look out for and talk about with your child.

1. Failure
When kids fail at something the
first time they try it, they might want
to throw in the towel. And if their
self-confidence has taken a
beating, the fear of failure might
creep in and keep them from
charging forward to tackle anything
new or different.

It can be a painful cycle—kids don’t

take risks or have new experiences
because they don’t want to “fail.”
But without trying, they can’t make
progress, either.

Get an expert’s advice on how

to help your child overcome fear
of failure.
2. Social Situations
Struggling with social skills can
make kids fearful of social
situations or group interactions.
They might have trouble picking up
on social cues or following social
rules.

For example, kids who

have trouble making
conversation might feel like they
don’t know what to say or how to
say it. They might be afraid of
saying or doing something
embarrassing in front of others,
especially if they’ve had bad
experiences before.

3. Not Being Able to Keep

Up
This fear often shows up in grade
school. In the elementary years,
kids tend to start comparing
themselves to their peers. They
might notice that they’re not
keeping up or fitting in the way they
want to.

In studies, kids who learn and think

differently often report feeling
“stupid” or anxious about being
different. Find out what to say if
your child says “I’m dumb.”
4. Leaving Home or Their
Family
Kids who learn and think differently
often drag their feet about going to
school or being away from their
parents for any amount of time.
They may avoid overnight trips,
sleepovers, or any other
experiences without you.

Get tips on what to say if your

child doesn’t want to go to
school.

5. Getting “Found Out”

Kids—especially tweens and teens
—want to be accepted by their
peers. They want to fit in. They
may fear that if their friends find out
about their learning and thinking
differences, they won’t be
considered cool or fun anymore.

As a result, they might refuse help

in school. Or they might avoid
situations where their differences
could be on display, like reading
out loud.

6. The Future
This fear can take many forms.
Kids might be afraid of doing poorly
on an upcoming test, music recital,
or sports event. Or that they won’t
be able to get into college or find a
job. They may be overly anxious
about the outcome of a family
situation, like a parent’s job loss.

If your child is fearful, there are

ways you can help your child
overcome it. If your child seems
especially anxious, use an anxiety
log to track what you’re seeing.

Share your concerns with your

health care provider, a teacher, or
a friend. Sharing your concerns out
loud with a trusted adult is a good
first step to finding solutions to
reduce your child’s fears.