Your Anxious Child

Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College. He is one of the leading authorities on the importance of independent play for children and the natural ways children can learn. His new book Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety challenges the idea that social media and smart phone are the cause of the increased incident of depression and anxiety. In a very carefully constructed arguement, he maintains that schools adopting the Common Core curriculum with its emphasis on test performance is the primary culprit. In repeated surveys of children, school is always identified as the most stressful environment. Essentially the Common Core made school substantially more stressful. He also notes that our children are entering a digital world and simple restrictions may be doing them a significant disservice. His argument is thoughful and well constructed For more information about Peter Gray https://www.petergray.org/

Darbu Saxbe, PhD is clinical psychologist and professor  at the University of Southern California. Her book Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives has just been published. She explains how fatherhood can change the brain just as it does for mothers. For the purposes of this podcast we should note that father's often have an easier time with children at school drop off and at nighttime. Dr Saxbe  gives words to the experience of fathers both validating and normalizing their experience.   For more information https://www.darbysaxbe.com/ P.S. I have given her book to serveral dads-it so readable and informative

Please note this interview is for educational and informational purposes only and not a substitue for medical advice Dr Walker talks with me about the second edition of her book Anxiety Relief for Kids For more information about Dr Walker https://drbridgetwalker.com/

Bridget Flynn Walker, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who has just published the second edition of Anxiety Relief for Kids: On-the-Spot Strategies to Help you Child Overcome Worry, Panic and Avoidance. She is also the author of social anxiety relief for teens: a step-by-step guide to feel confident & comfortable in any situation.  For more information: https://drbridgetwalker.com/

Elizabeth Preston talks with me about her new book The Creatures' Guide to Caring: How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care. Her book and discussion with me is fascinating discussion about the evolution of caregiving and parenting on Earth. She demonstrates how animals have so much to teach us about cargiving and the conditions that promote it. Her discussion helps us reconnect with our biology and our relationship to the natural world. This is important because we know that when we ignore our biology, mental health problems frequently follow.    For more information: https://elizabethgpreston.com/