The rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm have been steadily increasing for the last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic did nothing to slow it down. If anything, it made it worse. How are dads to deal with their kids’ mental health? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by Dr. Chinwé Williams to talk about how to raise emotionally resilient kids.
Why This Matters
Empathy is powerful, but a lot of us are bad at it. Learning to be a more empathetic father makes us a better father.
Key Takeaways
· Our kids need help.
· Anxiety is the No. 1 mental health issue.
· Cyberbullying and harassment are common.
Practical Tools for Dads
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or wondering how to help your kids build emotional resilience, start with these steps:
1. Know the red flags.
Sleep disturbances, changes in food intake, mood shifts, and avoidance of friends are all signs dads can look for that indicate kids may be struggling with their mental health.
2. Stay calm-ish.
“You actually don’t have to feel calm to be calm.” – Dr. Williams
3. Initiate a pause or break.
Pausing for 10–90 seconds gives you a long enough break to make a wise decision, have calm-ish reactions, and keep you from saying things you may regret with your kids.
4. Emotional connection matters.
If we want emotionally resilient kids, we must be emotionally present with them. “It sounds squishy or soft… but it really is powerful.” – Dr. Williams.
Important Episode Timestamps
00:00 – 01:13 | Introducing Dr. Chinwé Williams
01:13 – 02:17 | A Personal Story of Panic Attacks
02:17 – 03:55 | The Power of Empathy
03:55 – 05:04 | Why Resilience Matters
05:04 – 09:04 | What’s Behind Rising Anxiety
09:04 – 12:31 | The Role of Social Media and Global Stressors
12:31 – 15:30 | Spotting Behavioral Red Flags
15:30 – 19:41 | Calm-ish Parenting and the Power of Pause
19:41 – 26:47 | Emotional Connection Over Perfection
26:47 – End | Pro Move: Ask your child, “What would be your best day ever?” Then start thinking of ways to make that happen and put it on the calendar.
All Pro Dad Resources:
Episode 86 – Kathleen Edelman: Learn and Leverage Your Kids’ Natural Wiring
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