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Video: What Parents of Anxious Children Can Learn From the ‘Messy Room Meltdown’

See questions to ask children from the example of a boy who becomes overwhelmed when told to clean his room

messy-room
messy-room
Damien starts to panic over cleaning up his room in a video from the Gospel For Kids YouTube channel called "Messy Room Meltdown." Photo is a screenshot from the video on YouTube. 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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By Mary Richards, Church News

In the latest Growing Faith animated video from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called “Messy Room Meltdown,” Damien learns that Heavenly Father can help him when he is feeling anxious.

Damien becomes overwhelmed and emotional when he is supposed to clean his room. He prays to Heavenly Father for help, and his older brother and friend teach him different strategies and coping mechanisms as they help him clean up — one item at a time.

“It wasn’t how I thought I’d get help, but it’s what I needed,” Damien says to his parents afterward.

The video is available on the Gospel For Kids YouTube channel, along with others in the Growing Faith series.

Like in the video, it is possible for children to feel overwhelmed and not able to accomplish a task. Parents can watch the video with their children and have a conversation about it afterward.

Some questions parents might ask children include:

  • Have you ever felt like the boy in the story?
  • How does that feel in your body?
  • What do you do when you feel like him?
  • When you feel like him, what helps you feel better?
  • How can breaking big tasks down help you feel better?
  • When we ask Heavenly Father to help us, what does He expect us to do?
  • Does He usually just solve our problems for us?
  • How have your prayers been answered when you have prayed for help in the past?
Messy-Room
Messy-Room
Damien, center, starts to pick up his room with the help of his brother Travis and friend Miguel in a video from the Gospel For Kids YouTube channel called "Messy Room Meltdown." Photo is a screenshot from the video on YouTube. 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Download Photo

Church Resources for Emotional Health and Anxiety

The Church provides counseling resources to help leaders support members on a wide range of emotional and social issues. Additional resources for emotional health for members of all ages include the following:

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