Are you a parent struggling with anxiety? Do you worry about how your anxiety might be affecting your children? In this episode of 'The Huddle Wisdom Podcast' with Dr Davin Tan explores practical strategies for managing parental anxiety. Discover how to identify your triggers, practice mindfulness, communicate effectively, and set healthy boundaries. Learn how taking care of your mental health can create a more positive and nurturing environment for your entire family.

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In the final episode of the Huddle Wisdom Podcast series, Empathic Guidance for Anxious CHildren, Dr. Davin Tan explores the importance of tailoring your approach to your child's mental age rather than their chronological age. Using the factory analogy, Dr. Tan explains how children develop at different rates across various domains and provides practical strategies for supporting them at their actual developmental stage.

Highlights:

• Recap of the factory analogy for understanding child anxiety

• Differences between mental and chronological age

• Story of Emma, a 12-year-old with varied developmental stages

• Practical strategies for preschool, primary school, and teenage developmental stages

• Identifying your child's mental age through observation and interaction

• Introduction to the "developmental gradient" method

Dr. Tan also introduces the Empathic Guidance course, a comprehensive program designed to help parents and caregivers develop a deeper understanding of child psychology and anxiety. The course offers in-depth insights and practical tools to nurture your child's emotional well-being.

Tune in to learn how to adapt your approach to meet your child's changing needs. Thank you for joining us throughout this series!

To learn more about the Empathic GUidance for Anxious Children course

www.huddlewisdom.com/course

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Join Dr. Davin Tan in this episode of the Huddle Wisdom Podcast to explore the power of encouragement in helping anxious children thrive. Recapping the factory analogy from previous episodes, Dr. Tan highlights the importance of recognizing and reinforcing a child's efforts to build self-confidence and resilience. Learn practical strategies to implement encouragement and help children navigate challenges.

Highlights:

• Recap of the factory analogy for understanding child anxiety

• Importance of empathy and positive reinforcement

• Story of Alex, a young boy overcoming his fear of speaking up

• Strategies for recognizing and reinforcing efforts

• Emphasizing intrinsic motivation over external rewards

• Creating a safe environment for mistakes and learning

Tune in to discover how encouragement can be the steady hand guiding anxious children through challenges. Don't miss the next episode on matching your approach to your child's mental age!

Learn more about the empathic guidance for children course:

www.huddlewisdom.com/practice

Part 2 of the Empathic Guidance for Anxious Children series; based off the course. Here, we explore how to build strong, empathetic connections with children to help manage anxiety. Using the analogy of a factory, Dr. Tan explains the importance of improving communication between the emotional and rational parts of a child’s mind. Discover the S.A.V.E. protocol and practical strategies for consistent connection.

Highlights:

• Recap of the factory analogy for understanding child anxiety

• Importance of secure attachment relationships

• Story of Sarah, a young patient overcoming panic attacks

• Introduction to the S.A.V.E. protocol: See, Acknowledge, Validate, Empathy

• Long-term strategies for maintaining consistent connection

• Insights on the "good enough" parent concept by Donald Winnicott

Tune in to learn how to become a communication specialist and validation machine for your child. Don't miss the next episode on using encouragement to reinforce behavior!

Learn more here about the course - Empathic Guidance for Anxious Kids

www.huddlewisdom.com/practice

In this episode, which is part 1 of a series based on the course 'Empathic GUidance for Anxious Kids'.

We dive into the complexities of anxiety in children. Discover how anxiety manifests, with examples and statistics from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Dr. Tan shares personal anecdotes and practical strategies, like the "balloon breath" and "worry box" techniques, to help manage anxiety. Tune in for insights on recognizing signs and providing effective support.

Highlights:

• Definition and forms of child anxiety

• Signs and symptoms to watch for

• Real-life example of a young patient, Tommy

• Importance of understanding root causes

• Strategies like breathing exercises and cognitive-behavioral techniques

• Upcoming topics on building empathetic connections

Join us as we support our children through the challenges of anxiety with empathy and practical tools. Don’t miss the next episode on fostering strong, empathetic connections!

Learn more:

www.huddlewisdom.com/practice

Dr Rucklidge is a world renowned researcher and psychologist. She shares findings from her research in easily digestible pieces and I believe this will give parents and other listeners useful things to think about when working out what to do about nutrition, diet and micronutrients. Her book the better brain is a great resource and I recommend that you read it!

Here's the link to the trial that was mentioned at the end of the episode.

The M&M Trial investigates the efficacy of micronutrients and mindfulness as interventions for children struggling with emotional dysregulation.

https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/about-uc-research/research-groups-and-centres/te-puna-toiora-mental-health-and-nutrition-research/The-M-M-Trial

In this episode of “Parenting with Huddle Wisdom,” we delve into the controversial topic of free-range parenting, exploring its benefits and potential pitfalls, while emphasizing the importance of context and individual circumstances.

We start with the definition and origins of free-range parenting, tracing its roots back to Lenore Skenazy’s 2008 article where she described letting her 9-year-old son take public transit alone.

Next, we examine a case study of Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s experience in Copenhagen, highlighting how cultural context influences parenting styles.

I provide my insights on safety, appropriateness, and factors like location and age. This includes a light-hearted moment featuring Liam Neeson’s unconventional advice.

We discuss the balance between independence and security, supported by child safety statistics and the perception versus reality. The influence of different cultural contexts and the legal implications in various jurisdictions are also touched upon.

Finally, I offer practical advice for increasing independence and safety skills in children. The goal of parenting is to raise well-adjusted, independent children by balancing individual needs, environmental factors, and community support.

If you have concerns about your child’s development or how to balance safety and independence, reach out to a child psychologist or psychiatrist for guidance.

Stay informed, engaged, and make parenting decisions based on your unique circumstances, prioritizing your children’s mental and emotional well-being.

credit: Film, Taken, Liam Neeson

Struggling to connect with your anxious child? In this game-changing episode, we reveal 18 powerful questions that will transform your conversations and help your child open up about their anxiety. From understanding physical sensations to identifying triggers, these expertly crafted questions cover every aspect of childhood anxiety.

You'll discover:
• The surprising origin of your child's anxiety (Question #1 is eye-opening!)
• A creative way to visualize anxiety that kids love (Question #6 will amaze you)
• The one question that unveils your child's secret coping strategies (Don't miss #12!)
• How to uncover the hidden impact of anxiety on your child's life (Question #13 is crucial)

Plus, we'll share tips on dealing with the dreaded "I don't know" responses and the silent treatment. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this episode is your key to fostering open communication and supporting the anxious child in your life. Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your relationship and help your child thrive!

Tune in now and transform the way you talk about anxiety with your child!

TO go deeper: Foundations of Connection COURSE