We live in a time where instant access to information is at our fingertips. If you have a question, you can ask Siri, hop on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and find an answer almost instantly. While this accessibility is incredibly convenient, it has also created a world where children don’t often have to sit with the unknown. The skill of tolerating uncertainty is something that many children—and even grown-ups—struggle with, especially in a world that thrives on answers and quick fixes.

Right now, drones are making headlines. Whether it’s news reports, social media discussions, or conversations, drones have become a hot topic. And with those conversations, we’re seeing a rise in anxiety, not just among grown-ups but also among children. Many kids are hearing bits and pieces of conversations, seeing headlines, or watching TikTok videos that spark their curiosity, or their fears. For children, the unknowns of drones can feel overwhelming. So how can we help kids process their anxiety about drones? Here are 9 tips to guide your conversations with children who are nervous about drones.

1. When Kids are Anxious About Drones, Validate Their Feelings

When a child shares that they’re feeling nervous or scared about drones, the first and most important step is to validate their emotions. You can say something like:

By acknowledging their feelings, you're letting children know it’s okay to feel anxious. Dismissing their fears, laughing at them, or saying, “There’s nothing to worry about,” can make them feel unheard or ashamed of their emotions. We don’t want our kids to stuff down their emotions because that’s when they go underground, and as Carl Jung wisely said, "What you resist persists."

Encouraging children to name their emotions is a powerful way to help them process their feelings. When kids can say, "I feel scared” or "I’m nervous about drones,” it allows them to externalize their emotions instead of being consumed by them. Research shows that naming feelings activates the thinking part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, and helps regulate the emotional response triggered by the amygdala. This process reduces activity in the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, while engaging the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation (Lieberman, et. al, 2007). In essence, naming a feeling is the first step in giving a child the tools to manage their feeling instead of feeling overwhelmed by it.

You can validate children's feelings and also help them understand the power of this skill by saying something like:

Naming feelings helps children realize that emotions are temporary and manageable. No feeling lasts forever. It also teaches kids that all emotions are valid and an important part of being human. When we help kids see emotions as something they can talk about openly, we’re giving them lifelong tools for mental wellness. You can even model the process by naming your own emotions by saying something like:

2. Reassure Kids with Facts about Drones

Children often fear what they don’t understand, and drones can feel mysterious or intimidating to them. Providing age-appropriate information about drones is a useful way to demystify them and reduce some of their fear. Start by explaining that drones are flying machines controlled by people, much like a remote-controlled toy. They are often used for helpful and creative purposes like taking pictures of landscapes, delivering packages, or helping rescue teams during emergencies.  

It’s also helpful to emphasize that there are rules and regulations about flying drones. Explain that, just like driving a car requires a license, flying certain types of drones requires a special license too. You can say:

3. Limit Exposure to News and Social Media

Children can quickly be exposed to alarming or sensationalized stories about drones through the news or social media like TikTok or YouTube, where algorithms often show more content that is similar, reinforcing their fears and keeping them focused on the topic.

These news and social media stories can quickly become exaggerated or distorted, presenting worst-case scenarios that amplify anxiety, especially for children who lack the tools to process what they’re seeing. Without the ability to discern fact from fiction, children may interpret speculative or even fictional content as real, making the unknown feel even more scary.

This constant stream of dramatic or fear-driven content matters because news

stories and social media algorithms are designed to capture attention, often by focusing on extreme cases or emotionally charged narratives. Children are not yet equipped to contextualize this information and may struggle to separate reality from sensationalized content which can lead to heightened fears.

This is why it’s essential to limit children's exposure to unmonitored or overly mature content. Consider setting boundaries around screen time, especially on platforms not designed for kids, and engage with content alongside them when they are curious. For example, if they want to learn more about drones or see a news story about them, watch it together. This allows you to provide age-appropriate explanations and reassurance in real-time so they are not marinating or ruminating on something they watched and don't understand.

Encourage your child to come to you with their questions or concerns instead of relying on social media for answers, which often lacks nuance and context. You can also consider parental controls on devices. In my family, we use Bark parental controls. You might say something like:

An open dialogue like this not only addresses their immediate concerns but also models critical thinking and media literacy. To learn more about digital citizenship and teaching kids about using the internet safety, please check out this blog post.

4. Help Children Practice Sitting with Uncertainty

A significant part of anxiety comes from the fear of the unknown—those "what if" questions that spiral into worry. For children, uncertainty about drones or other unfamiliar topics can feel overwhelming, especially when they hear snippets of conversations or news stories without the full context.

Teaching kids to tolerate uncertainty in a way that feels safe can help reduce their anxiety and build resilience. Start by acknowledging the unknown in a calm and reassuring way. You might say something like:

This approach is important because it normalizes the idea that not knowing is part of life and that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away.

5. Teach Kids About the Stress Response and Coping Skills

Helping children understand our natural response to stress as humans can empower them to manage their feelings when they’re worried about drones—or anything else that triggers anxiety. When kids learn about the stress response, often called “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn,” they can begin to understand that their body is trying to protect them, even if the threat isn’t real. You can explain this to them by saying something like:

To make it relatable, you can compare the stress response to a fire alarm since kids often have to do multiple fire alarms each year in school but are less often and rarely exposed to fires. You can say something like:

For older kids, you can also teach them about the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn stress response. You can share with them that when their brain's stress alarm goes off, their body might react in four different ways. Sometimes, they might feel like they need to fight, which means standing up to something or getting ready to protect themselves. Other times, they might feel like they need to run away or hide, which is called flight. They could also feel frozen, where they feel stuck and unable to move or say anything. Another way their body might respond is by trying to fawn, which means making friends with what’s scaring you so it feels less threatening. All of these reactions are your body’s way of trying to keep you safe.

After normalizing the stress response for kids, it's important to teach them practical ways to manage their stress alarm to regain a sense of control. In my work with children, we use a 4-step strategy called Feeling-Breath-Thought-Skill, or F-B-T-S for short. You can learn more about this strategy in my book, Skills for Big Feelings: A Guide for Teaching Kids Relaxation, Regulation, and Coping Techniques. The first step in the strategy is to name your Feelings. The second step in the strategy is to take three slow, deep Breaths. The third step in the strategy is to choose helpful, happy Thoughts like:

• I am safe and grown-ups are here to help.

• Drones are just machines, like remote-controlled toys.

• It's okay to not know everything about drones.

• I can ask questions if I feel scared or don't understand something.

• I can focus on what makes me feel safe.

  
  

The last step in the strategy is to practice a Skill. We learn and practice fun coping skills like "Flying Bird," "Snowman Stress Melter Breath" or "Ice Cream Twist" and 30+ other somatic, CBT, trauma-informed, and expressive arts-inspired skills you can learn more about in my book Skills for Big Feelings.

After you've taught children about the stress response, you can remind them:

By incorporating strategies to address their stress response, kids not only gain tools to calm down at the moment but also build long-term resilience to face future stressors. Understanding the stress response can help kids normalize their emotions and see them as a natural and manageable part of being human. I often tell kids, "Emotions are part of being a human. There's nothing wrong with them."

6. Encourage Curiosity as a Tool for Managing Fear About Drones

I am convinced that curiosity is one of the most powerful and underrated emotions. Curiosity has the unique ability to transform our fear and anxiety into wonder and exploration. When children are anxious about something, like drones, you can encourage them to approach the topic with curiosity rather than fear. This can help shift their mindset from “What if something bad happens?” to “I wonder how this works...”

By fostering curiosity, you can activate the thinking part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala, that is responsible for fear. This shift opens the door to learning and problem-solving while empowering children to feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the unknown.

To cultivate curiosity, if the child is at a place developmentally to explore, start by asking open-ended questions like: “What do you think drones are used for?” or “Why do you think they make that buzzing sound?” Explore the topic together in engaging ways, such as watching a kid-friendly video about drones, reading an article, playing with a remote-controlled car, or even building a paper or cardboard drone for play.

Modeling curiosity yourself is also a powerful way to inspire children. For instance, you might say, “Hmmm... I wonder how drones stay in the air. Let’s find out together!” This shows them it’s okay not to have all the answers. Reassure them with simple explanations such as:

Encouraging curiosity not only helps children overcome fears about drones but also equips them with a valuable life skill: the ability to approach the unknown with openness and wonder rather than anxiety.

So instead of focusing on “what could go wrong” with drones, guide the conversation toward learning about their uses. You could explore how drones help firefighters, deliver medicine to remote areas, or take incredible pictures of wildlife and nature. Turning their attention to discovery and wonder helps them shift their focus from anxiety to engagement. This mindset shift reduces fear in the moment and prepares children to handle future uncertainties with more confidence.

7. Be Mindful of Your Own Anxiety

Children often mirror the emotions of the adults around them, much like young animals in the wild look to their parents for cues on how to respond to danger. For example, when a deer senses something unusual, the fawn will often watch the mother closely. If the mother remains calm, the fawn stays relaxed, trusting that there’s no immediate threat. However, if the mother signals fear—by stomping, snorting, or running—the fawn will instinctively panic and flee. This natural behavior ensures that the young learn what is truly dangerous and when they are safe.

In the same way, children rely on their caregivers to interpret new or uncertain situations. If a child senses that a grown-up feels anxious or unsure about something, like drones, they’re likely to adopt those same thoughts and emotions. This is why staying calm when discussing drones is so important. Avoid speaking negatively or speculating about worst-case scenarios around your child, as it can amplify their fears.

If you’re feeling unsure about drones yourself, you can model healthy ways to cope with your uncertainty. Try saying something like:

Research in developmental psychology has shown that infants and children pick up on emotional cues from their trusted adults, which shapes how they perceive and respond to unfamiliar situations. When infants and young children look to trusted caregivers to interpret ambiguous situations it is called social referencing (Feinnan, et. al, 1992).

Studies show us that when caregivers show a calm and positive emotional response, children are more likely to interpret new or uncertain situations as safe and manageable. A recent study (Kim & Lee, 2024) explores how infants develop social referencing based on their comprehension of others' emotional responses and attention. By staying calm and not sharing your own anxiety or unhelpful thoughts about drones with your children, you can teach your child how to approach uncertainty with curiosity.

8. Putting Drones in Perspective

It can be helpful to explain to children that sometimes when people talk a lot about something, like drones, it can make it seem bigger or scarier than it really is. Help your child understand that just because something is being talked about a lot doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. Explain to them:

You can also talk to them about how the news and social media platforms talk about things in ways that get a lot of attention because they want more people to watch or click. Sometimes, this means they make things sound more dramatic than they really are. Helping kids understand this can give them a new perspective, showing them that not everything they hear is as big or scary as it seems.

9. Empower Kids With a Plan and Encourage Open Communication

Sometimes fear comes from feeling powerless, but giving kids a simple plan and fostering open communication can help them feel more in control. If they see a drone and feel nervous, encourage them to talk to you or another trusted adult about how they’re feeling. Let them know they can always come to you with their fears or questions, as anxiety often grows in silence. You might say something like:

You can even ask if the child wants to try to observe a drone from a distance and think about how it might be being used, like taking pictures or delivering a package. By giving them a clear response and showing them they have someone to turn to, you help make the unknown feel less threatening. This not only empowers them to approach the situation with confidence and curiosity but also reminds them they don’t have to face their fears alone.

More Tools to Help Kids with Anxiety

Helping children navigate anxiety about drones—or any other new or unknown thing—starts with patience and understanding. By validating their feelings, providing information, and modeling calm responses, you can help them kids confidence in handling the unknown.

Drones may seem scary now, but with the right tools and perspective, children can learn to approach them with curiosity instead of fear. For more ways to help kids with anxiety, be sure to read the book Skills for Big Feelings and check out these blog posts:

• Anxiety Triggers: Coping Without Avoidance

• Anxiety in Children: Symptoms, Signs, and How to Help

• Practical Tips and Books for Helping Children Cope with Anxiety

• Free Printable for Resources on Child Anxiety - Helpful for Educators and Parents

• 6 Things to Say Instead of "Don't Worry About it" and 5 Playful Strategies for Kids to Understand Anxiety

• Apps for Anxiety, Stress Relief and Relaxation for Kids and Adults

• Books for Parents, Educators and Counselors about Anxiety in Children

• Favorite Children's Books About Anxiety

References

Feinman, S., Roberts, D., Hsieh, K., Sawyer, D., & Swanson, D. (1992). A critical review of social referencing in infancy. Developmental Review, 12(4), 365–394.

Lieberman, M. D., Eisenberger, N. I., Crockett, M. J., Tom, S. M., Pfeifer, J. H., & Way, B. M. (2007). Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity in response to affective stimuli. Psychological Science, 18(5), 421–428 .

Kim, Y., & Lee, S. (2024). Variation in social referencing behavior according to infants’ understanding of indirect emotional signals. Current Psychology.