62 / 92 emotional, and behavioral symptoms. when they are present together is when you know you?re truly dealing with anxiety. and most of the time, you can trace them back like dominos. for example: john is presented a reading passage, and he immediately experiences fear of failure (emotional). he also begins having racing thoughts and heartbeat (physical), and therefore, begins squirming in his chair excessively (behavioral). because the behavioral symptoms are easier to notice, children are often scolded for that one symptom. as adults, we tend to focus on the end result of getting the passage read. however, in order to decrease the behavioral component, you must back up and teach the child to address the first emotional one.? what you can do trust your gut, and investigate changes in your child?s behavior. have daily time together to connect without distractions. morris adds, ?ideally, there should be mental health screenings on all children at regular intervals throughout the school year beginning in kindergarten, or even prek, to both identify issues and monitor them over time. children don?t yet have the language to say, ?i?m anxious,? or ?i?m struggling with depression,? but their behavior tells the story. identifying the signs of emotional distress could be life-changing for a child or teenager. untreated emotional problems will directly impact a child?s academic performance and social functioning.? tirza fernandez-brazier, director of counseling and guidance of east baton rouge parish school system, adds, "we must be sure to care for our