I recently picked up a copy of Dr. Dawn Hueber’s “What to Do When You Worry Too Much” (part of her “What to Do Guides for Kids” series). Other books include:

*  “What to Do When Your Temper Flares,”
*  “What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck” (for OCD),
*  “What to Do When You Grumble Too Much” (combating negativity).

These workbooks are designed for 6 to 12 year olds to help them process their anxieties and other cognitive challenges. My seven-year-old latched on to the “Worries” book and had soon filled it up with her full-color pictures of the things that are most worrisome to her. (Chief among them, Mommies who get sick and die and leave their children all alone.)

Anxiety manifests itself differently from child to child — some act out, some withdraw, some cling, some work out their feelings in their play — and the dark and disturbing images that can sometimes emerge may give even the most easy-going parent pause.

If you are looking for a way to help your child “map out” his or her inner landscape — perhaps as a way to assess whether professional intervention is needed or wanted — these workbooks provide a useful first step.