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 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

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 actress and author Busy Philipps about parenting, mental health, technology, and staying actively involved in kids’ lives.

Dr. Dave discusses how parents can stay connected to what kids are seeing on the internet, including how to help them think critically about influencers and what to do when they start wondering if they have ADHD, depression, or another diagnosis based on mental health content they see online. He also explores how ADHD can be missed in girls and high-achieving kids, how to talk with children about scary news and current events, and why building a parent “village” can help families better understand what’s happening socially, online, and at school.

This episode offers practical guidance for staying curious, setting limits, building trust, and helping kids develop the critical thinking skills they need as they grow more independent.

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:
• How to stay involved in kids’ online lives without becoming “Big Brother”
• Why screen independence should grow through an “I do, we do, you do” model
• How to help kids think critically about influencers and online algorithms
• What to do when kids self-diagnose after seeing mental health content online
• How AI and social media can be useful tools without replacing real support
• Why ADHD is often missed in girls, women, and high-achieving kids
• How to talk with kids about politics, school safety, traumatic upsetting news, and current events

Further Reading
Social Media and Self-Doubt
Does Social Media Use Cause Depression?
Not All Attention Problems Are ADHD
Big Talks

Don’t forget, you can now watch Thriving Kids on Apple Podcasts and our Thriving Kids YouTube channel!

Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with best-selling author, actor, and activist Busy Philipps to discuss the challenges of modern parenting. Busy talks about her adult ADHD diagnosis, helping kids navigate mental health TikTok, and how to broach tricky conversations about the “manosphere” and politics with honesty and love. 

They also cover:

• Active parenting in the digital age. Busy shares why watching YouTubers and learning Roblox alongside her kids was more effective than setting blanket screen-time rules. 

 
• TikTok, self-diagnosis, and critical thinking. Mental health TikTok can empower kids to seek earlier diagnoses, but it can also lead impressionable teens to misidentify normal traits as disorders. Dr. Dave and Busy emphasize teaching kids to think critically about online health content and come to trusted adults with questions.

• Talking to kids about politics. A recent survey found that kids want open civic discourse. Dismissing children's political views is psychologically harmful, while honest, values-driven conversations — grounded in love and critical thinking — help them thrive.

Further Reading 

Teen Self-Diagnosis and How to Respond, Child Mind Institute

When Parent and Child Both Have ADHD, Child Mind Institute

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Candice Odgers about kids, social media, and what the research really says about screens and youth mental health.

Dr. Dave discusses how parents can set healthy limits around phone use without reacting out of fear, why screens are often part of a much bigger picture, and how families can focus on the core drivers of kids’ well-being — including sleep, school, friendships, family connection, offline activities, and caregiver mental health. He also explains how to respond when kids see something upsetting online, how to manage parent anxiety around tech headlines, and how to model healthier screen habits at home.

This episode offers practical guidance for helping kids use technology more intentionally, while keeping the focus on connection, communication, and the everyday habits that help children thrive.  

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:

• How to tell the difference between healthy phone limits and fear-based reactions
• Why screens should be considered in the context of a child’s whole life
• What to focus on first when you’re worried about a child’s mental health
• How to respond when kids see something upsetting online
• Why parents should avoid passing tech anxiety on to kids
• Why caregiver mental health is a major driver of child well-being
• How to approach online risk when a child is already struggling offline

Further Reading
How to Set Limits on Screen Time

Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages

How Phones Ruin Concentration
Common Sense Media
American Association of Pediatrics

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Dr. Candice Odgers, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine, whose research focuses on adolescent mental health and the role of smartphones and social media in kids’ daily lives. Together, they discuss what the evidence does — and does not — show about technology and youth mental health, and why the most popular explanations are not always the most accurate. 

In this episode, they cover: 

• What current research can tell us about the relationship between smartphones and social media and adolescent mental health — and why correlation does not necessarily prove causation 
• How adult anxiety about technology can shape the way we talk about kids 
• Why family conflict, school stress, and peer relationships are still central factors affecting youth mental health 
 

Key takeaways 

• The research on social media and youth mental health is more complicated than many headlines suggest. 

• Many studies show associations between screen use and mental health symptoms, but that does not mean screens are the primary cause. 

• Family conflict, pressure to succeed at school, peer stress, and caregiver mental health are major factors that affect young people’s well-being. 

• Tech companies should be held accountable, but blaming social media alone can distract from other urgent supports kids and families need. 

• Parents can help kids more effectively by investing in relationships, routines, school support, and open conversations rather than focusing only on restrictions. 

Further reading
What We're Getting Wrong About Teens and Tech
Screen Time & Technology
Does Social Media Use Cause Depression?
How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers
Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages
How Much Should You Monitor Your Teen’s Social Media? 

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Alfiee about youth mental health, community care, and what it really means to help young people thrive.

Dr. Dave discusses how parents can talk with kids about mental health without making them feel like something is “wrong” with them, how to help children process stressful news and current events, and how families can think about social media in a balanced way. He also explores the mental health needs of marginalized kids, how to reduce stigma around therapy — especially for boys and young men — and why community support can make parenting feel less isolating.

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:

• What to do when kids are stressed by politics, current events, or frightening news
• How to balance concerns about social media with the belonging some kids find online
• What parents should understand about the mental health needs of marginalized kids
• How to reduce stigma around therapy, anxiety, depression, and asking for help
• Why boys and young men may need extra support talking about emotions
• Realistic ways to build community around parenting and caregiving
• What parents can do while waiting for therapy or additional support

Further Reading
Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

Helping Children Cope With Frightening News

Mental Health Challenges of LGBTQ+ Kids

Mental Health Support for Black Families

Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Black Adolescent Boys

What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious

Video Library

Family Resource Center

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Dr.  Alfiee Breland-Noble — better known as Dr. Alfiee — psychologist, founder of The AAKOMA Project, and author of Rise and Thrive: An intentional guide to caring for your mental health. Together, they discuss youth mental health, the importance of community-based care, and how parents, caregivers, and mental health professionals can better support young people as they navigate stress, stigma, social media, and the challenges of growing up today.

In this episode, they cover:

• How political news, social media, and stigma affect young people’s emotional well-being  
• Why social media can be both risky and meaningful for marginalized kids
• How community-based organizations can help make mental health care more accessible  
• Why representation, empathy, and cultural understanding matter in mental health support  

Key takeaways

· Young people are managing a wide range of stressors, including anxiety, depression, political unrest, and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

· Social media can pose real risks for kids and teens, but it can also provide connection, community, and support — especially for young people who may feel isolated offline.

· Stigma remains a major barrier to mental health care, even as conversations about mental health become more common in popular culture.

· Community-based organizations can play a powerful role in helping families access mental health support from people they already know and trust.

· Representation matters, but so does what Dr. Alfiee calls an “empathy match” — the feeling that someone understands your experience and can meet you with compassion.

Further reading

Does Social Media Use Cause Depression? – Child Mind Institute

Quick Guide to Anxiety in Children – Child Mind Institute

Dr. Alfiee – Dr. Alfiee’s website with research, 
interviews, and more

Rise and Thrive by Dr. Alfiee

Couched in Color – A podcast with Dr. Alfiee

The AAKOMA Project

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers parents’ questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, a neurosurgeon who talked about how the death of his son led him to face his panic attacks over public speaking.

In this episode, he covers:

• What parents can learn from doctors about staying calm in a crisis
• Why anxiety can run in families — and what parents can do about it
• How parents can help kids face their fears
• How to encourage to kids to take risks while still keeping them safe
• How to talk to kids about grief and loss

Key takeaways

·      To try and figure out if your child’s anxiety is problematic, consider the frequency, intensity, duration, and level of impairment.

·      Facing your fears is about being able to ride the discomfort. It doesn’t necessarily mean you feel comfortable.

·      Encouraging your child to try something scary by taking a small step can help them push themselves to try hard things.

·      If you're experiencing loss and you're sad, it’s important to label that and let your kid know it's okay for them to feel those emotions.  

Further reading

Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids

Why Childhood Anxiety Often Goes Undetected

Treating Anxiety in Kids by Working With Parents

Panic Attacks and How to Treat Them