More and more kids seem to be suffering from anxiety these days. But anxiety itself actually isn’t the culprit, it’s the avoidance behaviors that anxiety brings out that can be problematic.

In this episode of “The Parent Pep Talk”, a new podcast from Safe Kids Worldwide, Dr. Jonathan Dalton, anxiety expert and founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, explains why anxiety in our kids isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and how to tell if your child’s anxiety is at a point that requires additional support. Dr. Dalton also offers a few tips, for kids and for parents, on how to handle anxiety.

Also in the podcast, a panel of teens who all experience anxiety explain what parents can say, or not say, to help, and one mom shares a story about a time when she thought she was helping her son deal with his anxiety, but it didn’t quite turn out that way.

“The Parent Pep Talk” is a heartfelt and humorous podcast filled with advice and understanding from empathetic experts, honest parents and teens who are willing to talk. It’s for all parents looking for a little perspective, a few well-tested tips and the feeling that you’re probably doing a lot better than you think, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.