Show Notes
The BBC has cut scenes from Horrible Histories, including sketches about child labour and slavery. But are we protecting children from frightening subjects, or avoiding conversations they actually need?
In this episode of Help! My Child's Anxious, Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss, tackle a big parenting question: how much should we shield children from the frightening realities of life.
From the Titanic and the Great Fire of London to death, divorce and scary films, Saskia explains why some children become fascinated by frightening things while others develop fears that spread into everyday life.
They discuss how parents can talk about difficult subjects, why age-appropriate explanations matter and whether shielding children from distressing content really builds resilience. Plus, a parent asks why their previously adventurous eater is suddenly refusing familiar foods. Saskia explores food anxiety, fussy eating, texture sensitivity and practical ways to help children feel more comfortable trying different foods.
And in Never Felt So Good, the family's extraordinary pet marrow continues its adventures. Subscribe for more practical conversations about childhood anxiety, parenting and emotional wellbeing with Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss.
Watch more: https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaandSaskia
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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