Are you seeking effective strategies to help your anxious child thrive and grow? In an interview with clinical psychologist and best-selling author, Regine Galanti about her book, "Parenting Anxious Kids, Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage", we talk about the importance of differentiating between "normal" and problematic anxiety in children, spending one-on-one time with kids to build self-esteem, and the use of praise. Regine also describes how parents can focus on changing behaviors rather than controlling feelings. Her book is an incredibly empowering resource and offers many strategies and guidance on creating realistic parenting goals for anxious kids. Whether you're a parent, work with children, or plan to have kids in the future, this conversation is full of valuable tips and science-backed insights!

Listen and Learn: 

What inspired Regine to write Parenting Anxious Kids: Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage

Why our brains are wired to feel anxiety as an emotion and why it can be a good thing 

How have cultural shifts informed parenting, and what role does anxiety play in this? 

Examples of typical parental worries and fears at different ages and stages that don't mean a child has an anxiety problem

What behaviors cross into problematic anxiety in children?

Explaining accommodation, a fundamental concept in childhood anxiety and parenting

What is reassurance giving, how can this be a problem for your child's anxiety, and how can you respond differently to interrupt the loop?

If a magic button made your child's anxiety completely disappear, how would your child's life be different? How would your life and your family's life be different, if at all?

Introducing the principle of special time and why it's so key to parenting anxious kids

Are anxious kids more sensitive to experiencing shame? 

What is the HALT acronym, and how is it helpful?

Parental strategies for dealing with frustration tolerance issues in the 6-10 age group

Supporting middle and high schoolers with anxious thoughts 

Resources:

Long Island Behavioral Psychology: https://www.longislandbehavioral.com/team

SPACE Treatment: https://www.spacetreatment.net/

Connect with Regine on: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.galanti?lang=enhttps://www.instagram.com/regine.galanti/reels/https://twitter.com/reginegalanti?lang=en

About Regine GalantiRegine Galanti is a clinical psychologist and best-selling author with expertise in anxiety and OCD in kids and teens. Dr. Galanti started writing in order to share the tools she teaches families in therapy with a wider audience. She also enjoys speaking to parents, schools, and media outlets to share information about effective mental health information in children. She has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Buzzfeed, and other sources. When she's not working, or writing, she lives in Long Island, NY with her husband and 3 daughters. 

Related Episodes: 

344. Differently Wired Kids with Deborah Reber

332. Middle School Superpowers with Phyllis Fagell

324. Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

54. Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Veronica Raggi

14. Mindful Parenting

212. Stuff That’s Loud: OCD and Anxiety with Lisa Coyne and Ben Sedley

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices