Photo by Kevin Dooley via Flickr

How do you help boys deal with change and anxiety? And how can parents deal with boys' incessant energy? 

Those are just a few of the questions we tackle in our first listener Q & A of 2020!

Jacquie asked:

How do you help boys adjust to change and uncomfortable situations (new school, daycare, meeting new kids...)?

Eden and Katie also wanted advice on helping boys (and themselves) cope with anxiety, albeit at different ends of the age spectrum. Eden asked:

How do you help your teen boy with anxiety?

while Katie said

My 3.5 year old boy strongly dislikes going to preschool. He started 3 months ago. The teachers reassure me that after I leave, he adjusts and is fine. However, it feels awful to force him through the front door, with the teacher grabbing him on the other side, and him saying he doesn't want to go? Any tips?

Ashley -- an introvert -- asked how to cope with her energetic boys:

I have 3 boys who love to roughhouse ALL the time. I'm an introvert and thrive in quiet environments. I'm struggling to adjust to the natural rambunctious behavior of little boys.

In this episode, Janet & Jen discuss:

Helping boys adjust to change and uncomfortable situations

How age and personality affect boys' response to change

Working with your son to increase his comfort level

Using playacting & anticipatory guidance to prepare boys for new situations

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression

Affordable at-home treatment for anxiety

Differentiating anxiety from nervousness and excitement

Separation anxiety

Tips for dealing with overwhelm

The importance of self-care for introverted boy parents

How you can make your house more movement-friendly

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

Helping Teens Cope with Anxiety, Depression & More -- ON BOYS episode

Anxiety & Depression in Boys -- ON BOYS episode

COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) -- evidence-based program proven to help kids with anxiety & depression (mentioned at 7:14)

Age of Anxiety: Are We "Pathologizing" Normal Emotion? -- article mentioned at 10:18

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn -- book mentioned at 15:35 (great for those dealing with separation anxiety!)

Meagan Francis of The Mom Hour: Parenting in the Digital Age -- ON BOYS episode

4 Ways to Make Your Home Movement-Friendly -- Understanding Boys article by Jen

Learning to Live with Boys (w Katy Rank Lev) -- ON BOYS episode mentioned at 23:44

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