Are age-inappropriate fears considered phobias?
There are some age-inappropriate anxieties such as a 10 year old who can’t separate, or a 9 year old who can’t tolerate a stranger, or a 6 year old who should be able to go off to kindergarten or first grade and be appropriate. So, there are age-inappropriate fears that are considered phobias. However, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily diagnosable and will meet the criteria. It means that reassurance needs to be put in place and some family dynamic work may dissipate that for a child.
