How do you support your child through grief when you’re grieving too?

In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson answers your top questions about helping kids navigate death, loss, and big emotions. He covers how to support neurodivergent kids when grief shows up as anger or outbursts, whether it’s okay to talk about death directly, how to explain loss to young children, what to do when waves of sadness hit out of nowhere, how much to show your own emotions, when grief becomes something more serious, and even the surprising role imaginary friends can play in healing.

Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org

What you’ll learn

• “All feelings are welcome, all behaviors are not” — validating emotion while holding boundaries
• How grief can look different in kids with ADHD or ODD — and how to respond
• The clearest language to use when telling a child someone has died
• What not to say when trying to soften the news
• How to talk to a 5-year-old about loss in three simple steps
• Why grief comes in unpredictable waves — and how to help kids ride them
• How to model healthy coping when your child sees you cry
• Signs that suggest it may be time to seek additional support
• How pretend play and imaginary friends can actually aid the healing process

How do I talk to my child about death and grief—without making things worse or shutting down their feelings? In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Katie Peinovich, LCSW, to share compassionate, practical guidance for supporting kids through loss. Drawing on years of experience working with children in New York City schools who’ve faced trauma, Katie explains why it’s important to be direct, validate emotions, and model coping—even when you’re grieving too.

Key topics include:
• Why kids need clear, honest language (and why euphemisms don’t help)
• What grief looks like in children—and why it often comes in waves
• How to sit with a child’s feelings without trying to “fix” them
• When to worry that grief may be interfering with daily life
• Scripts for answering tough questions like “What is death?”
• Whether children should attend funerals or memorial services—and how to prepare them
• Creative ways kids can remember loved ones, from memory boxes to rituals
• Why it’s okay for kids to see parents grieve, as long as they feel safe and loved

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Importance of Self-Care for Parents
• Talking to Kids About Death and Grief
• Positive Parenting: Talking About Difficult Topics

How do you help your child do well in school—without constant stress or conflict?

In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson answers your top questions about supporting kids’ academic success. He covers how to support teens when peers aren’t motivated, what to do when school doesn’t fit your child’s learning style, setting boundaries that stick for disruptive behavior, handling drop-off anxiety, balancing activities without burnout, keeping kids focused when they’re not interested, building organizational skills, what to do when kids say they “hate school,” and how to talk about grades without piling on pressure.

Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org

What you’ll learn
• Using motivational interviewing to help teens set their own academic goals
• How to collaborate with teachers on realistic supports for neurodivergent learners
• Daily report card systems that improve classroom behavior
• Drop-off rituals and coping strategies for separation anxiety
• A developmental checklist for balancing school, activities, and downtime
• Practical focus hacks: participation checklists and active note-taking
• Visual cues and positive reinforcement to build independence in organization
• When to narrow school complaints and focus on “islands” of support
• Shifting the conversation from grades to effort and process

How can I help my child do better in school—without pushing too hard or taking over? In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Adam Zamora, a clinical neuropsychologist at the Child Mind Institute, to talk about how to build the habits, mindset, and support systems that help kids thrive academically. From kindergarten through college, they cover everything from procrastination and motivation to homework battles, parent-teacher communication, and how to know when it’s time to get extra support.

Key topics include:

• Building a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset
• Effective homework routines (without micromanaging)
• When to push, when to scaffold, and when to step back
• How to work with schools and teachers as part of your child’s “village”
• The value of neuropsych evaluations and what they actually tell us
• Prepping kids for college success—academically and emotionally

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• College Readiness Toolkit
• Learning, ADHD, and school success articles
• Growth mindset and praise strategies for parents

Teens can be a rollercoaster - mood swings, pushback, and “leave me alone”… until they need a ride. In this Q&A, Dr. Dave Anderson answers parents’ real questions about staying connected when teens shut you out, handling blow-ups, setting boundaries that actually stick, supporting motivation for school, navigating dating and consent, spotting the line between “typical teen” and depression, coping with rejection, and social media comparison.

Have a question for a future episode? Email podcast@childmind.org.

In this special episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt for a live conversation on how smartphones and social media are transforming childhood — and what parents, schools, and policymakers can do in response.

Recorded at Guild Hall in East Hampton, this discussion dives into the big questions raised in Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation — and the points where he and Dr. Anderson see things differently.

They talk candidly about screen time, youth anxiety, social media “addiction,” digital literacy, tech regulation, and why we’re seeing such sharp mental health shifts in teens and tweens.

Whether you’re alarmed by what you see on your kid’s phone or just looking for practical next steps, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and room for multiple perspectives.

Topics include:
– The “post-play childhood” and decline in free time
– When (and if) kids should be using social media
– Why phones in schools are so hard to manage
– Where tech harms hit boys vs. girls differently
– What parents can do now — even if the genie’s already out of the bottle

Resources
– Learn more about The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: jonathanhaidt.com
– Explore the Child Mind Institute’s Screen Time & Technology resources: childmind.org/topics/screen-time-technology

Learn how to help kids use screens in a healthy way.
Special thanks to Guild Hall and the Hamptons Institute for hosting this event, and to journalist and filmmaker Perri Peltz for moderating with insight and care.

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

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