How Parents Shape Their Child’s Stress - and What Actually Helps
Thu Feb 05 2026
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 habitsWhy avoidance increases anxiety over timeWhy anxiety often shows up as stomachaches or headachesHow to help kids face stress without overwhelming themWhen reassurance backfires — and what to do insteadHow accommodation can unintentionally reinforce anxietyHow to support overscheduled teens under college pressureWhat teen burnout looks like after prolonged stressSimple tools to reset a child’s nervous system before tests, games, or performancesThis 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-stressAnxiety resources for teens and parents https://childmind.org/topics/anxietyThe 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
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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 habitsWhy avoidance increases anxiety over timeWhy anxiety often shows up as stomachaches or headachesHow to help kids face stress without overwhelming themWhen reassurance backfires — and what to do insteadHow accommodation can unintentionally reinforce anxietyHow to support overscheduled teens under college pressureWhat teen burnout looks like after prolonged stressSimple tools to reset a child’s nervous system before tests, games, or performancesThis 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-stressAnxiety resources for teens and parents https://childmind.org/topics/anxietyThe 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