Show Notes
From birthday parties and loud noises to school and social situations, everyday experiences can feel overwhelming for an anxious child. But what's actually happening, and what can parents do to help?
This week on Help! My Child's Anxious, Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss, go back to basics to explain childhood anxiety and share practical ways to help children feel safer and more confident.
In this episode: - Why children become anxious, even when they're safe - How anxiety can spread from one situation to another - How to identify what's really worrying your child - Why forcing an anxious child into a situation can backfire - Small changes that can help children build resilience - How parents can manage their own phobias without passing their fears on to their children
Plus, Saskia answers a listener's question about her fear of cats, shares a fun game to play with children, and explains why Strictly Come Dancing can be brilliant family viewing.
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Are today’s children really a “snowflake generation”, or are they dealing with levels of anxiety that previous generations simply didn’t face? Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss unpack the growing mental health crisis among children and young people, following Professor Peter Fonagy’s argument that today’s young people are not “snowflakes” and that it has genuinely become harder to be young. Saskia explains why the pandemic may have left a lasting imprint on children’s anxiety, how prolonged emotional states can influence the way we respond to the world, and why parents should listen before immediately trying to fix an anxious child’s problem. They also answer a difficult question from a parent whose seven-year-old has started calling herself “fat” and restricting her food, discussing body image, self-esteem and what parents can do when children begin criticising their bodies. Plus, Vanessa discovers that sometimes the best childhood memories cost absolutely nothing… provided you have an enormous marrow. Subscribe for more honest conversations about childhood, parenting and anxiety. Produced and distributed by 11-29 Media.
Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss look at the explosion of mental-health content online, why some children are identifying strongly with diagnostic labels, and how parents can take their concerns seriously without accepting everything an algorithm tells them. They discuss misleading ADHD content on TikTok, why symptoms can look different between children, what teachers can help parents spot, when a professional assessment may be useful and why children can often receive helpful support even before a diagnosis. Plus, Saskia answers a parent's question about mysterious stomach aches before school and explains how anxiety can produce very real physical symptoms. Help My Child's Anxious with Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss. This podcast provides general information and discussion. It is not a substitute for individual medical or mental-health advice. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HQyo0clazko