Dr. Chinwé Williams: How to Build Resilience in Children

Listen to this episode from All Pro Dad Podcast on Spotify. 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 MattersEmpathy 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 DadsIf 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. Williams3. 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 Timestamps00:00 – 01:13 | Introducing Dr. Chinwé Williams01:13 – 02:17 | A Personal Story of Panic Attacks02:17 – 03:55 | The Power of Empathy03:55 – 05:04 | Why Resilience Matters05:04 – 09:04 | What’s Behind Rising Anxiety09:04 – 12:31 | The Role of Social Media and Global Stressors12:31 – 15:30 | Spotting Behavioral Red Flags15:30 – 19:41 | Calm-ish Parenting and the Power of Pause19:41 – 26:47 | Emotional Connection Over Perfection26:47 – 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 WiringWe love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!Connect with Us: Ted Lowe on LinkedIn Bobby Lewis on LinkedIn BJ Foster on LinkedIn Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get All Pro Dad merch! EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join 200,000+ other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration straight to your inbox.This episode's blog can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com