Raising a teenager isn’t easy — but it is possible to stay connected.

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Janine Domingues to explore how caregivers can support teens through adolescence — from emotional shutdowns to risky behavior to the weird world of YouTube.

Together they unpack:
• What’s really going on in the adolescent brain
• How to connect with your teen even if they won’t talk to you
• The power of shared rituals, from car rides to diner breakfasts
• Why you should care about what they care about (yes, even Minecraft)
• How to model communication — and stay regulated when they roll their eyes
• Tips for keeping teens safe around drugs, alcohol, social media, and more
• What to do when your teen shuts you out

Whether your child is 13 or 18, this conversation offers practical insights for building trust, maintaining open communication, and guiding kids through one of the most intense developmental phases of their lives.

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Resources for Parents & Teens:

🔹 Communicating with Teens
childmind.org/article/tips-communicating-with-teen/

🔹 Teens and Young Adults Resource Center
childmind.org/topics/teens-young-adults/

🔹 10 Parenting Tips for Preteens and Tweens
childmind.org/article/10-tips-for-parenting-your-pre-teen/

🔹 How do I help my child through the challenges they face in the teen years?
childmind.org/positiveparenting/teen-challenges

🔹 Principles of Parenting: Communicating with your Teen
aces.edu/blog/topics/home-family/principles-of-parenting-communicating-with-your-teen/

🔹 Talking to Your Teen About Healthy Relationships
riseandshine.childrensnational.org/talking-to-your-teen-about-healthy-relationships/

🔹 What Should I Teach My High School Aged Teen About Relationships?
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents/high-school/what-should-i-teach-my-high-school-aged-teen-about-relationships#:~:text=You%20can%20help%20them%20expect,think%20makes%20a%20good%20relationship.

How do you help your child feel confident in who they are — without creating pressure to be perfect or the best at everything?

In this Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers thoughtful questions from listeners about how to support self-esteem in kids and teens. Building healthy self-worth isn’t just about praise — it’s about helping young people feel capable, valued, and grounded even when life is hard or they fall short.

Drawing from clinical insight and everyday parenting strategies, Dr. Anderson tackles common concerns around negative self-talk, comparison, perfectionism, and how to model healthy self-esteem as an adult.

Topics Covered

• How to build kids’ confidence without making them feel entitled
• What to do when your child says “I’m stupid” or “I hate myself”
• Helping kids avoid harmful social media comparisons
• Encouraging risk-taking when kids are afraid to fail
• Supporting kids when they hear something unkind from a peer
• Knowing the difference between low self-esteem and a rough patch
• What to do when a child’s self-esteem depends on one area (like sports)
• Moving beyond achievement as a source of pride
• How to support perfectionists without reinforcing pressure
• Why how you talk about yourself matters — and how to model healthy self-worth

Resources Mentioned

Find expert tips and tools for supporting kids’ self-esteem in our show notes at childmind.org/podcast

🎧 Subscribe to the Thriving Kids Podcast for weekly episodes on parenting, mental health, and child development.

💬 Got a question you’d like Dr. Anderson to answer in a future Q&A? Submit it at childmind.org/podcast

In a world full of comparison — from the classroom to social media — it’s not always easy for kids to feel confident, capable, and valued just as they are. In this episode of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Dr. Jenny Louie, a clinical psychologist in our Anxiety Disorders Center, to explore how parents can help children develop true self-esteem that lasts.

You’ll hear about creating a safe, supportive home environment, encouraging healthy challenges, and finding the right balance between nurturing and pushing kids to grow. Dr. Louie shares practical, real-world examples (yes, even from her own parenting life) that show how small shifts in what we say and do can make a big difference in how kids see themselves.

In this episode:

• Why unconditional love is the foundation of self-esteem
• The role of challenge and the “zone of proximal development”
• Encouraging kids to try new things — even when they’re nervous
• Why effort matters more than achievement
• Helping kids recover from mistakes and “beautiful oopses”
• The pros and cons of participation trophies
• Avoiding overscheduling and making space for intrinsic motivation
• Supporting self-esteem in the teen years

Tips for Parents & Caregivers (from Child Mind Institute):

• Show your love daily — not just with words, but with your presence.
• Share family values as guiding principles, not just rules.
• Expose kids to a variety of activities so they can discover their passions.
• Encourage meaningful, attainable goals — not too easy, not too hard.
• Focus on effort and the learning journey, not just results.
• Celebrate perseverance and model confidence.
• Help kids see mistakes as opportunities to grow .

Resources & Links:

• 7 Tips for Raising Confident Kids
• Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids
• More episodes of the Thriving Kids Podcast