Current Events & Your Family

Helping Your Child Through Fear

When kids come to us with their fears—whether it’s monsters under the bed, ghosts in the closet, or just a general fear of the dark—our first instinct is often to respond with logic. We might try to explain why there’s nothing to be afraid of or reassure them that “ghosts aren’t real.” But here’s the problem: fear is an emotional response, not a logical one. So, trying to use logic to “solve” their fear can actually backfire.

“Our family has been heavily impacted by the news and the protests. Are there any small daily things we can do for our family’s mental health?”

In this difficult social and political climate, many families are feeling weighed down and stressed out. It can be hard to find ways to cope with our reactions to the news, especially for kids who are not sure how to process what’s happening. For this week’s #TipsOnTeens question, we’ll discuss ideas for how families can stay connected and take care of each other right now.

“My kids won’t stop arguing and it’s driving everyone in the house up a wall!”

View Video Transcript Oh my gosh, your teenagers won’t stop arguing. What are you gonna do about it? That is today’s question on Tips on Teens. My name is Kent Toussaint. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I specialize in helping kids, teens, and families live happier lives. I run two organizations, the …

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“Wearing a mask triggers my anxiety. Am I alone in this? What should I do?”

View Video Transcript   Hi. Wearing a mask during quarantine is triggering your anxiety or your past history of trauma, and it’s freaking you out. You don’t know what to do. What do you do? Well, that’s today’s question on Tips on Teens. My name is Kent Toussaint. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist. …

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“We had to cancel our son’s Sweet Sixteen party. What can we do to make sure he still has a fun birthday at home?”

Teens and their families are having to miss out on major milestones because of COVID-19: prom, graduation, and birthday parties, to name a few. And while our kids are handling the situation with understanding, as parents we still want to celebrate these important moments, even if it’s on a smaller scale than planned.

“My husband is immunocompromised—how do I talk to my kids and ex about this without starting a fight?”

View Video Transcript So, what do you do when your spouse is immunocompromised during the whole coronavirus thing, but your ex keeps taking your kids out on social events during quarantine? That is today’s question on Tips on Teens. Every Wednesday at noon, I come to you live on Facebook Live to answer your parenting …

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