In this episode, Jenny and Dayna shed some light on childhood anxiety with the guidance of Dr Melanie Woodfield, a mum to two teenage boys and a highly regarded clinical psychologist of over 20 years.  

As key contributors to Parenting Place’s latest self-guided online course, Untangling Anxiety, Dr Melanie and Jenny chat about the increase in anxiety in primary and intermediate-aged New Zealand kids, and what we can do as parents to help build resilience and boost independence in our young people. 

Dr Melanie also openly shares about some of her own parenting stories, the importance of ‘the village’ (and how the needs of the village change from season to season) and reassures us that while having knowledge of parenting is one thing, using that knowledge in a pressured moment is another thing altogether – and something that takes practice and patience. 

Note to parents and caregivers: Anxiety is more normal than we realise, and we don’t need to be afraid of it. We can work with it. Untangling Anxiety is a self-guided online course designed to give you tools and strategies to help manage your child’s anxiety or worries. 

Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE. 

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