In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson takes on parents’ top questions about raising teenagers. Building on last week’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour, he shares research-backed guidance for navigating everything from therapy resistance and social media boundaries to privacy battles, motivation slumps, and shifting moods — all while keeping connection and communication strong at home.
Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org
What you’ll learn
• How to approach therapy when your teen refuses to go
• The best way to address vaping or substance use without pushing your teen away
• What to do when school motivation swings from “I love it” to “I don’t care”
• How to set limits around social media that actually stick
• Ways to balance trust, privacy, and safety at home
• How to support anxious teens without reinforcing avoidance
• Signs that moodiness is typical vs. when it’s time to seek help
• Why staying connected — even through protest — protects teen mental health
Find related resources at childmind.org.
Adolescence can feel intense, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming for families. In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Lisa Damour, psychologist and best-selling author, to share compassionate, practical guidance on what most powerfully supports teen mental health. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Damour explains why strong, caring relationships with adults are the single biggest factor in teen well-being, and why social media is only one small part of a much bigger picture.
Key topics include:
• The number one protector of teen mental health: consistent, caring relationships with adults
• How to put social media in perspective and keep connection at the center
• What healthy coping looks like for teens and four red flags to watch for (substances, avoidance, taking distress out on others, taking distress out on themselves)
• How to connect with teens through respect, transparency, and curiosity
• What to do when your teen’s behavior pushes your buttons
• The major developmental tasks of adolescence and how parents can support them
• Practical ways to respond when emotions or situations get heated
• How to keep showing up and maintain the bond that matters most
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Child Mind Institute resources on adolescent mental health
More from Dr. Lisa Damour, including her books, podcast, and newsletter
Rosalie, Dr. Damour’s AI librarian for guidance on raising teens
In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson takes on parents’ top questions about kids and sleep. From breaking the habit of co-sleeping to tackling bedtime fears, setting routines that stick, and knowing when to drop naps, he offers practical strategies to make nights calmer for the whole family.
Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org
What you’ll learn:
• Step-by-step ways to help kids learn to fall asleep independently
• How to create a bedroom environment that promotes restful sleep
• When a soothing bedtime routine turns into stalling—and how to handle it
• Signs that nighttime fears are typical vs. when they signal anxiety
• Why removing screens at night matters (and how to offer alternatives)
• Clues your child may be ready to shorten or give up daytime naps
• Tips for managing siblings with different sleep needs and schedules
• How to respond when kids keep getting out of bed after lights out
• The truth about weekend late nights and sleep-ins
Building healthy sleep habits is one of the most important and sometimes most challenging parts of parenting. In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Shelby Harris, a clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, to share compassionate, practical guidance for families looking to improve their child’s sleep. Drawing on years of experience helping kids and parents, Dr. Harris explains why sleep matters for mental health, learning, and behavior, and how small changes can make a big difference.
Key topics include:
• Why sleep is essential for children’s growth, mood, and focus
• How to create a sleep-friendly environment (and why “quiet, dark, cool, and comfortable” works)
• The most common sleep challenges at every age and what really helps
• How screens, routines, and even grandparents can impact your child’s sleep
• What to do when your child wakes up too early, can’t fall asleep, or keeps leaving their room
• When to worry about issues like snoring, night terrors, or persistent sleepwalking
• Tips for modeling healthy sleep habits as a family
• How to know when it’s time to seek help from a specialist
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Child Mind Institute’s Sleep Resources
More from Dr. Shelby Harris
Positive Parenting: Building Healthy Routines
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:
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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
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:
Tips for Parents & Caregivers (from Child Mind Institute):
Resources & Links:
What do you do when your child is struggling to make friends, or causing drama in the ones they have? In this Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers real questions from parents and caregivers about how to help kids build and maintain healthy relationships, from early childhood through the teen years.
We cover:
Whether your child is 6 or 16, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you guide them toward strong, supportive friendships — and build the social-emotional skills they’ll use for life.
Resources Mentioned:
Be sure to subscribe and check out last week’s main episode with Dr. Mandi Silverman: How Do I Help My Child or Teen Build Positive, Healthy Friendships?
Friendships are a major part of growing up — but they don’t always come easy. In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Mandy Silverman, clinical psychologist and member of the Child Mind Institute’s Clinical Advisory Council, about how to support your child’s social development at every stage.
From navigating playdates to managing screen-based relationships, they unpack what’s typical (and what’s not), how to encourage connection, and what to do when your child seems left out. Whether your child is struggling to make friends or just figuring out who they click with, this episode offers practical guidance and real-world perspective.
Subscribe for expert-backed parenting advice every other Thursday.
More free resources at childmind.org/thrivingkids
Resources Mentioned
From the Child Mind Institute:
• Friends and Socializing Resource Center
childmind.org/topics/concerns/friends-socializing
• How to Help Kids Make Friends: 12 Evidence-Based Tips
childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-make-friends
• Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends
childmind.org/article/kids-who-need-a-little-help-to-make-friends
• Helping Children Make Friends: What Parents Can Do
childmind.org/article/helping-children-make-friends-what-parents-can-do
• Contact a Clinician
childmind.org/contact
• The Thriving Kids Projects
childmind.org/education/outreach-partnerships/thriving-kids
Other Helpful Reading:
• APA – Help Kids Navigate Friendships
apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/08/help-kids-navigate-friendships
• Harvard Health – What Parents Can Do
health.harvard.edu/blog/helping-children-make-friends-what-parents-can-do-202301052874
• Verywell Family – Recognizing Controlling or Toxic Friendships
verywellfamily.com/signs-your-friend-is-controlling-and-a-bully-460803
• Raising Children Network – Encouraging Positive Behavior
raisingchildren.net.au/
In this first Thriving Kids Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers real parenting questions about kids’ behavior — what it is, how to shape it, and how to support children through challenges.
We cover:
For more on this topic, check out our full episode with Dr. Caroline Mendel: How do I promote good behavior in my children?
Resources mentioned:
In this premiere episode, Dr. Dave Anderson and Dr. Caroline Mendel dive into one of the most common questions parents ask: How can I get my child to behave better?
From toddlers to teens, they explore what really works when it comes to promoting positive behavior — and why quick fixes and harsh discipline aren’t the answer. Instead, they break down a proven, evidence-based approach that starts with the foundation of a strong parent-child relationship.
Guest: Dr. Caroline Mendel, Former Senior Director of Clinical Services at the Child Mind Institute
You’ll learn:
This episode is packed with realistic strategies, expert insight, and personal stories that remind us: there’s no magic solution — but there is a better way.
Resources Mentioned
From the Child Mind Institute:
Books We Recommend:
Parenting Programs & Online Tools:
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Download our College Readiness Toolkit: https://childmind.org/topics/college/#toolkit
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🔗 Subscribe to the podcast and the companion newsletter at childmind.org/podcast
💬 Got a question or feedback? Email us at podcast@childmind.org or DM us on Instagram @thrivingkidspod
What do I do when my child is anxious—or angry—or just shuts down?
Welcome to Thriving Kids, the new podcast from the Child Mind Institute. Hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Dave Anderson, each episode shares practical tools and clear answers to tough parenting questions—always evidence-based and judgment-free.
You’ll hear from experts and real parents, all focused on helping you raise confident, connected kids.
Subscribe now!
Learn more at childmind.org/podcast
