01/22/2026
There is a moment every parent and educator knows all too well: your child is facing something new, and fear starts to take over. 🦋
Our first instinct is almost always to protect. We reach for reassurance and tell them, “You’re going to be fine.” We want to help them believe the fear isn't there.
However, in my work as a psychotherapist, I have observed that we do not always need to push fear away. Sometimes, it simply needs to be understood.
Reassurance can accidentally bypass what a child is actually feeling. What they truly need in those high-stakes moments is to feel understood. When we help them name their "flutters" and recognize what is happening inside their bodies, we are doing more than just comforting them. We are building the foundations of lifelong emotional regulation.
I wrote "Hello Flutters!" to be that bridge. It is a tool for parents and professionals to help children transform their relationship with anxiety, turning "I can't" into a grounded and confident "I'm ready."
I am proud to align this work with the clinical and educational standards advocated by organizations like the American Psychological Association, CAMFT, and NAEYC.
Let’s move beyond dismissal and toward understanding. Because when a child understands their fear, they find their own version of brave.
How do you help your little ones navigate big feelings? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments!
