In this Thriving Kids Q&A episode, Dave Anderson, PhD, answers parent questions about child stress, anxiety, avoidance, burnout, and emotional coping.

Building on a recent conversation with Dylan Gee, PhD, professor of psychology at Yale University, this episode focuses on how kids learn to respond to stress — and how parent behavior can either ease anxiety or reinforce it over time.

Dr. Dave addresses common situations parents face, including school anxiety, physical symptoms of stress, overscheduling, achievement pressure, and burnout. He explains why avoidance often makes anxiety worse and how parents can support kids without pushing too hard or accommodating in ways that keep stress stuck.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How kids model parental stress — and how to change your own venting habits
• Why avoidance increases anxiety over time
• Why anxiety often shows up as stomachaches or headaches
• How to help kids face stress without overwhelming them
• When reassurance backfires — and what to do instead
• How accommodation can unintentionally reinforce anxiety
• How to support overscheduled teens under college pressure
• What teen burnout looks like after prolonged stress
• Simple tools to reset a child’s nervous system before tests, games, or performances

This episode draws on evidence-based approaches from cognitive behavioral therapy, child development research, and clinical practice. It’s designed for parents of elementary-, middle-, and high-school-aged kids navigating anxiety, perfectionism, stress, and emotional overload.

Thriving Kids is a parenting podcast from the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children with mental health, behavior, and learning challenges.

Resources mentioned:

• How do I help my child cope with stress? https://childmind.org/positiveparenting/coping-with-stress
• Anxiety resources for teens and parents https://childmind.org/topics/anxiety
• The art and science of mindfulness https://childmind.org/article/the-art-and-science-of-mindfulness

For more expert guidance and free family resources, visit:

https://childmind.org/resources