Brave Steps
Within ‘Brave Steps’ we are developing and investigating a Dutch treatment program for children aged 3 to 6 years who are shy and/or anxious. Brave Steps is a stepwise (matched-care) intervention, meaning that the level of support is tailored to the specific needs of each child and family.
Within the Brave Steps project, we believe it is important that families of children with mild anxiety symptoms, as well as families of children who may already show clinical levels of anxiety, are offered a fitting treatment trajectory.
Throughout the treatment trajectory, parents receive guidance and support on how to respond effectively to their child’s shy and/or anxious behavior, and how to best support their child in coping with anxiety.
The aim of this project
An increasing number of children and adolescents experience anxiety or a low mood. The prevalence of anxiety disorders and depression has risen in recent years. These problems often begin at a young age. This can have significant consequences, such as sleep problems, insecurity, and difficulties at school.
For this reason, we believe it is important to identify these problems at an early stage. Behavioral inhibition and shyness are known risk factors for the development of both anxiety disorders and depression. With the Brave Steps project, we aim to support children aged 3 to 6 years who fall into this risk group, together with their parents, by helping them recognize and address anxiety symptoms early. In doing so, we hope to prevent these difficulties from becoming more severe later in life.
The program
The Brave Steps program is tailored to the level of anxiety and shyness by the child. Every family participating in this project starts with step 1 of the program. If it fits the needs of the family, they may move on to step 2, or in case more individualized support is needed, to step 3.
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Step 1 consists of a parent webinar that includes psychoeducation and online knowledge clips. Parents receive accessible information, insights, and practical tips about anxiety in young children.
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Step 2 is the Cool Little Kids parent training, offered as a preventive program for children who are vulnerable to anxiety.
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Step 3 is an individual treatment for parents and children who experience more severe symptoms and require personalized guidance.
At the same time, the project examines which form of support is most suitable for which children and families.
Do you speak Dutch? And is your child more shy/anxious compared to his or her peers? Visit our Dutch website to see more information about joining one of our programs!
Go to our Dutch website!