How to Help Kids Face Fear and Build Resilience

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers parents’ questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, a neurosurgeon who talked about how the death of his son led him to face his panic attacks over public speaking. In this episode, he covers: • What parents can learn from doctors about staying calm in a crisis • Why anxiety can run in families — and what parents can do about it • How parents can help kids face their fears • How to encourage to kids to take risks while still keeping them safe • How to talk to kids about grief and loss Key takeaways • To try and figure out if your child’s anxiety is problematic, consider the frequency, intensity, duration, and level of impairment. • Facing your fears is about being able to ride the discomfort. It doesn’t necessarily mean you feel comfortable. • Encouraging your child to try something scary by taking a small step can help them push themselves to try hard things. • If you're experiencing loss and you're sad, it’s important to label that and let your kid know it's okay for them to feel those emotions. Further reading Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids - https://childmind.org/healthyminds/ Why Childhood Anxiety Often Goes Undetected - https://childmind.org/article/detecti... Treating Anxiety in Kids by Working With Parents - https://childmind.org/article/treatin... Panic Attacks and How to Treat Them - https://childmind.org/article/panic-a...