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Kids' guide · ages 7 to 12 · read it with a grown-up
Meet Whatif.
Whatif is a worry that talks way too loud. It says things like "What if your hands aren't clean enough?" or "What if something bad happens if you don't check again?" Whatif sounds like a boss. It isn't.
For you: what Whatif does
Everybody has worries. Whatif is a different kind. It wants you to do things over and over: washing, checking, asking "Are you sure?", counting, or doing things in a special order until it feels "just right."
When you do what Whatif says, you feel better for a little while. Then Whatif comes back, even louder. That's its trick.
Having a Whatif doesn't mean you're weird or bad. Lots of kids have one. And there are grown-ups whose whole job is helping kids make their Whatif smaller.
How to be the boss
Notice it. "Oh, that's Whatif talking, not me."
Name it. Give your Whatif a silly voice or a funny name.
Wait a little. Don't do what it says right away. Worries get smaller when you wait them out.
Practise with help. A grown-up or a therapist can help you get braver, one small step at a time.
Whatif
Whatif is a worry that talks too loud. Whatif only asks questions. Whatif never has the answers.
What if the door is still unlocked?
- What if the door is still unlocked?
- What if I said the wrong thing today?
- What if something bad happens tonight?
- What if nobody likes me tomorrow?
You do not have to answer Whatif. When you wait, Whatif gets smaller and quieter, all on its own.
The Whatif stories
Things to print and do
Draw your Whatif
What does yours look like? What silly name will you give it?
My brave steps
A ladder to fill in with your therapist, from easy steps to harder ones.
A note for my teacher
A simple page to help your teacher understand what's going on.
For grown-ups
OCD often starts in childhood. It's common, it's nobody's fault, and it responds well to treatment, especially when caught early.
Signs you might notice
Long bathroom or bedtime routines. Asking the same question many times and needing the "right" answer. Redoing homework or erasing until it's perfect. Needing things even or in order. Getting very upset when a routine is interrupted. Avoiding places, objects, or words for no clear reason. Children often hide rituals, so you may only see the distress.
How to talk about it
Separate your child from the OCD. Using a name like Whatif helps: "That sounds like Whatif talking." Stay calm, stay curious, and avoid punishing rituals. Your child isn't choosing them. Praise brave moments, even small ones.
What treatment looks like for kids
The most effective treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (ERP), adapted for children. Parents are usually part of it. Your child builds a ladder of small challenges with a therapist and climbs it at their own pace. Sometimes a doctor also recommends medication.
When to talk to a doctor
If the worries and rituals take a lot of time, cause distress, or get in the way of school, sleep, friends, or family life, talk to your family doctor or pediatrician. You don't need to be sure it's OCD first.