Thriving Kids

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Caroline Maguire, an ADHD and executive function coach and author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults. They discuss friendship, social anxiety, and how neurodivergent kids and teens can build more authentic relationships without feeling pressured to hide or “mask” who they are.

In this episode, they cover:
• What masking is and how it can affect kids’ mental health
• Why getting support for social skills doesn’t mean people need to abandon their authentic selves
• How black-and-white thinking can make social situations feel more painful
• How parents, clinicians, and coaches can help kids build confidence in relationships

Key takeaways
• Masking — hiding how you really feel — can help people get through social situations, but over time it may lead to anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and disconnection from the self.
• Neuro-affirming social support should help kids and adults connect with others while still honoring their own needs, values, and personalities.
• Social mistakes are part of being human, and over-apologizing or repeatedly revisiting them can make anxiety worse.
• Black-and-white thinking can turn a mostly positive interaction into something that feels like a failure.
• Building authentic friendships often starts with understanding your own patterns, communicating your needs, and finding people who appreciate you as you are.

Further reading
Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends
Helping Girls With ADHD Make Friends
What Is Neurodiversity?

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour about how to “future-proof” kids in an uncertain world.

Dr. Dave breaks down the simple but powerful habits that help protect children’s mental health over time, including consistent sleep, family connection, face-to-face time with peers, satisfying hobbies, and emotional flexibility. He also discusses how parents can tell whether changes in a child’s mood, focus, or behavior might be related to sleep, how to handle bedtime resistance, and why family meals matter even when no one is having a deep conversation.

This episode offers practical guidance for helping kids build resilience, confidence, and a perseverance.  

In this episode, Dr. Dave covers:
The basic habits that support kids’ long-term mental health
How sleep affects mood, focus, behavior, and stress
What to do when kids push back hard against bedtime
Why “pointless” hobbies can still build pride, confidence, and identity
How to help kids practice flexible thinking when faced with a challenge
 
Further Reading
Healthy Sleep Habits for Kids
How to Help Kids Learn to Fail
Raising Resilient Kids Who Are Prepared for the Future

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