Season 3: Episode 1
Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
School Anxiety: How Parents Can Help
When kids enter school-age years, you reach a new stage of parenthood. As fun as it can be to shop for the latest school supplies, it’s also the dawn of a new season—one in which your kids will face challenges you won’t be there to see, and perhaps most challengingly, solve. As parents, you want to say and do the right things to set them up for success. Our goal with this episode is to give you tools and resources to help your kids cope with the anxiety that stems from social and academic pressures in school.
On this special first episode of Season 3, we’re joined by Jody Baumstein, a licensed mental health therapist from the Children’s Strong4life Team. In the early days of this podcast, Jody joined us for an episode that tackled the broad topic of anxiety, and you, our listeners, let us know you were thirsty for more, especially as it relates to school.
In this discussion, Jody tackles questions such as:
- How can parents set kids up for success to cope with anxiety stemming from social and academic pressures in school?
- How can a parent overcome the desire to fix a challenge for a child who is struggling?
- How can you spot anxiety in kids, even in those who might be working hard to conceal it?
This 30-minute listen is as cathartic as it is packed with actionable tips to use throughout the school year.
Jody Baumstein, Licensed Mental Health Therapist
This marks Jody’s fifth time as an expert guest on our podcast. She has previously contributed to episodes about anxiety, suicide, talking to kids about the news and current events, and perfectionism. A member of our Strong4Life team, Jody is a licensed mental health therapist who’s worked with kids, teens and adults in schools, residential and outpatient settings.
Lynn Smith
Lynn Smith is a veteran journalist, podcast host and mom of two boys. Her experience as the parent of a patient at Children’s inspired her to advocate for spreading awareness of childhood illnesses and injuries.
