In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Caroline Maguire about friendship, neurodivergence, masking, and building authentic relationships.

Dr. Dave discusses how parents can help kids make friends without making them feel like they have to change who they are, how to understand the difference between practicing social skills and masking, and how to support kids who over-apologize, over-explain, or spiral after awkward social moments. He also offer advice on navigating social anxiety, loneliness, and friendship expectations — and talks about how adults can model healthier friendship habits for kids.

This episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for helping children build meaningful connections, tolerate the ups and downs of friendship, and find relationships where they feel accepted for who they really are.

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:

• How to help kids make friends without pressuring them to change who they are
• Why one awkward moment does not mean a friendship is ruined
• What to do when kids say they “don’t need friends”
• How to help kids who move too quickly from meeting someone to “best friend”
• How adults can model boundaries, repair, and healthier friendship habits

Further Reading

• How to Help Kids Who Are Lonely
• Helping Young Children Who Are Socially Anxious
• How to Help Kids Who Are Too Hard on Themselves
• Caroline Maguire
• Why Will No One Will Play With Me

From gentle parenting to strict rules about screen time, today’s parents are constantly bombarded with advice about the “right” way to raise their kids. But how much of that advice is actually supported by research?

In this special Summer Hot Takes episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with developmental psychologist, bestselling author, and Raising Good Humans podcast host Dr. Aliza Pressman to explore some of parenting’s most talked-about topics. Together, they discuss why it’s important for any approach to be rooted in science, how authoritative parenting (not to be confused with the harder-to-define gentle parenting) balances warmth with boundaries, and how families can develop healthier relationships with technology.

They also talk about the importance of letting kids experience disappointment, navigate failure, and learn from difficult emotions without treating every feeling like an emergency. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Dave and Dr. Pressman remind parents that thoughtful, flexible parenting is the goal, not perfection.

In this episode, they cover:

• What people often mean when they talk about “gentle parenting” and common misunderstandings about the term
• What authoritative parenting is and why it remains one of the most evidence-supported parenting approaches
• Practical ways to create healthier screen habits for children and teens
• Why boredom, waiting, and feeling lonely sometimes can help kids build resilience and independence
• How to help kids tolerate disappointment, failure, and rejection

Key takeaways

• Healthy screen habits focus on balance, connection, and intentional use.
• Kids benefit from experiencing age-appropriate disappointment and failure.
• Parents don’t need to solve every emotion immediately to support emotional health.
• Parenting trends come and go, but warmth combined with clear boundaries remains the most effective approach.

Further reading from the Child Mind Institute

· Helping Kids With Flexible Thinking

· Three Common Parenting Traps

· How to Set Limits on Screen Time

More from Dr. Aliza Pressman

· Raising Good Humans With Dr. Aliza (podcast)

· The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans

Back-to-school season can bring a lot of excitement, but it can also bring anxiety — stressful mornings, friendship worries, homework battles, and questions about how to help kids adjust after summer break.

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson tackles some of the biggest concerns families face as a new school year begins. From how to tell the difference between normal first-day jitters and more serious anxiety to how to reset kids’ sleep routines after summer, Dr. Dave offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies you can put into practice right away.

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:

• How to recognize the difference between typical back-to-school nerves and anxiety that may require extra support
• Practical ways to reset sleep schedules, screen time, and morning routines after the summer break
• How to help children build friendships and navigate worries about fitting in
• Why stomachaches and headaches can sometimes be signs of anxiety — and when to seek a medical evaluation
• Strategies for supporting students with ADHD, learning disorders, and executive functioning challenges
• How to partner effectively with teachers at the beginning of the school year

Key Takeaways

• Small, gradual routine changes make the back-to-school transition easier for children.
• Anxiety about going to school is common, but persistent school avoidance can benefit from early support.
• Strong parent-teacher partnerships help children succeed academically and emotionally.
• Sleep, consistent routines, and healthy technology habits create a stronger foundation for learning.
• Family schedules should prioritize wellness, not just productivity.

Further Reading

Back-to-School Hub

The Child Mind Institute’s comprehensive collection of expert advice for preparing children and families for the new school year.

Help for School Refusal

Managing Back-to-School Anxiety

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Caroline Maguire, an ADHD and executive function coach and author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults. They discuss friendship, social anxiety, and how neurodivergent kids and teens can build more authentic relationships without feeling pressured to hide or “mask” who they are.

In this episode, they cover:

• What masking is and how it can affect kids’ mental health
• Why getting support for social skills doesn’t mean people need to abandon their authentic selves
• How black-and-white thinking can make social situations feel more painful
• How parents, clinicians, and coaches can help kids build confidence in relationships

Key takeaways

• Masking — hiding how you really feel — can help people get through social situations, but over time it may lead to anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and disconnection from the self.

• Neuro-affirming social support should help kids and adults connect with others while still honoring their own needs, values, and personalities.

• Social mistakes are part of being human, and over-apologizing or repeatedly revisiting them can make anxiety worse.

• Black-and-white thinking can turn a mostly positive interaction into something that feels like a failure.

• Building authentic friendships often starts with understanding your own patterns, communicating your needs, and finding people who appreciate you as you are.

Further reading

Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends
Helping Girls With ADHD Make Friends
What Is Neurodiversity?

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour about how to “future-proof” kids in an uncertain world.

Dr. Dave breaks down the simple but powerful habits that help protect children’s mental health over time, including consistent sleep, family connection, face-to-face time with peers, satisfying hobbies, and emotional flexibility. He also discusses how parents can tell whether changes in a child’s mood, focus, or behavior might be related to sleep, how to handle bedtime resistance, and why family meals matter even when no one is having a deep conversation.

This episode offers practical guidance for helping kids build resilience, confidence, and a perseverance.

• The basic habits that support kids’ long-term mental health
• How sleep affects mood, focus, behavior, and stress
• What to do when kids push back hard against bedtime
• Why “pointless” hobbies can still build pride, confidence, and identity
• How to help kids practice flexible thinking when faced with a challenge

Further Reading

• Healthy Sleep Habits for Kids
• How to Help Kids Learn to Fail
• Raising Resilient Kids Who Are Prepared for the Future

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson welcomes back Dr. Lisa Damour for a conversation about how parents can help kids prepare for an uncertain future. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Damour explains why the most protective tools are often the simplest: sleep, safety, family connection, coping skills, and opportunities for kids to develop interests that truly belong to them.

In this episode, they cover:

• Why sleep is one of the most important foundations for kids’ mental health
• How safety, structure, and clear limits help kids feel secure
• Why family meals can matter even when the conversation is not perfect
• How hobbies help kids build confidence, identity, and coping skills
• Why parents should make room for interests that are not tied to achievement
• What families can do now to help kids face an unpredictable future

Key takeaways

• Sleep is one of the strongest protections for kids’ mental health, learning, attention, mood, and emotional regulation.

• Parents do not need to control every part of a child’s future, but they can build routines and expectations that help kids feel grounded.

• Safety is a reasonable area for parents to be firm about, including issues like seatbelts, helmets, substance use, and other non-negotiables.

• Family meals are not valuable because they are always magical; they matter because they create warmth, structure, and regular connection.

• Hobbies give kids a sense of ownership, pride, mastery, and healthy coping that may not come from school or achievement alone.

Further reading

Why Are Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived?
Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages
Helping Kids Who Struggle With Executive Functions
10 Tips for Parenting Anxious Kids
What to Do and Not Do When Children Are Anxious

Pre-Order Lisa Damour's newest book: The Emotional Lives of Parents: Caring for Ourselves to Better Care for Our Children

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by NBC News anchor and Senior National Correspondent Kate Snow for a conversation about journalism, mental health, and the power of telling stories that can reduce stigma. Kate discusses how personal loss shaped her reporting on mental health, as well as suicide prevention, substance use, access to care, and the systems that families often have to navigate during moments of crisis.

In this episode, they cover:

• Why journalists can play an important role in reducing stigma
• What Kate has learned from reporting on teen mental health, substance use, and access to care
• Why transitions or experiencing a loss of purpose can be mental health risk factors
• How young people are broadening conversations about mental health

Key takeaways

• Sharing personal stories about mental health can help people feel less alone and make it easier for them to seek support.

• Suicide loss can be traumatic for an entire family, and talking about it thoughtfully may help reduce shame and stigma.

• Young people may be more open to conversations about mental health than previous generations, but they still need trusted adults and systems that can respond when they ask for help.

Further reading (and viewing)

NBC’s Kate Snow Shares Impact of Her Father-in-Law’s Suicide on Her Family, Today Show

The Link Between Smartphones and Kids' Mental Health, NBC Nightly News
Opioid Crisis: Historic Cape Cod Town Experiencing Staggering Toll, NBC Nightly News

Allegations of Abuse at Home for At-Risk Kids, NBC News

Further reading from the Child Mind Institute

What to Do if You’re Worried About Suicide

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with NBC News anchor and correspondent Kate Snow about mental health, journalism, and how suicide loss has shaped her reporting.

Dr. Dave discusses how parents can talk with kids about suicide and mental health honestly and in age-appropriate ways, what changes in a child’s mood or behavior may indicate that they need support, and why asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not make those thoughts worse. He also explains how families can determine what level of care a child may need, what to look for in a treatment or residential program, and how to build emotional skills and family connection before a crisis occurs.

This episode offers compassionate, practical guidance for recognizing when a child may be struggling, keeping communication open, and helping families find the right support.

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:

• How to talk with kids about suicide or a suicide loss honestly and appropriately
• What changes in mood, behavior, and personality parents should take seriously
• Why parents should ask direct questions about sadness and suicidal thoughts
• How to understand the differences among therapy, psychiatry, school support, higher-level care, and emergency help
• What to look for in a treatment, residential, or intensive-care program
• How families and schools can build resilience and connection before a crisis

Further Reading

Signs a Child Might Be Suicidal

Reducing Suicide Risk With Safety Plans

Supporting Children After the Suicide of a Classmate

Complete Guide to Emergency Hospitalization