Self-care for parents isn’t selfish. It’s fuel.

In this episode of the Thriving Kids podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, talks with Joanna Kim, PhD, about what real self-care looks like for busy parents — especially those who feel guilty even thinking about taking a break.

We cover:
• Why “self-care” can feel privileged or unrealistic
• How to “fill your cup” in 1–5 minutes (no spa day required)
• The science of parent engagement and what gets in the way
• How sleep, boundaries, and saying no protect your energy
• Why modeling rest and balance matters for your kids

From tea with a daily quote to pocket Sudoku to sleeping in without guilt — this episode is about small, doable changes that help you show up as the parent you want to be.

Follow Joanna Kim’s Engaging Families Lab:
Instagram: @engagingfamilieslab
Website: engagingfamilieslab.org

Further Reading
The Impact of Parental Burnout, American Psychological Association (APA)
Mental Health Resources for Parents, Mental Health America (MHA)
Why Self-Care Is Essential to Parenting, Child Mind Institute

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

Is your child struggling with stress — or is it something more?

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Dylan Gee, a professor of psychology at Yale University, to explore the vital difference between managing stress and simply trying to avoid it. While it’s natural to want to "pave the road" and remove obstacles for our children, learning to tolerate discomfort is one of the most important emotional skills a child can build.

We discuss the "avoidance trap," where stepping in to solve every problem can actually make a child's stress worse over time. Dr. Gee explains how kids can learn to recover from hard moments and why your own emotional state as a caregiver is the most powerful tool for helping a stressed child feel safe and supported.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Avoidance Trap: Why helping kids avoid stress can undermine their ability to build long-term resilience.
• The Power of Parental Regulation: How staying calm and regulated helps your child cope when things feel overwhelming.
• Validation and Labeling: Why identifying big emotions like "frustrated" or "scared" is the first step toward managing them.
• Challenging Extreme Thinking: How to guide kids away from "all-or-nothing" thoughts and toward more balanced perspectives.
• Filling the Coping Toolbox: Practical strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness, and creative expression to help kids bounce back.