Parenting Anxiety: Breaking the Cycle of Worry and Raising Resilient Kids

A timely, practical, and innovative look at the relationship between parent and child anxiety, with actionable strategies to help parents break the cycle—from a clinical psychologist with expertise in treating anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and in parents.

How do you raise resilient kids in this age of uncertainty? And how do you parent your kids if you yourself are anxious?

Parenting is hard, even more so if you struggle with anxiety or have children who do. Seeking guidance means confronting an explosion of content shaped by cultural ideals of how “good” parents should manage anxiety. How do you make sense of this avalanche of advice and support your child’s mental health—or, at the very least, not make things worse?

Much of this content, unfortunately, encourages parents to act in ways that actually increase the risk of child anxiety in the long term. In trying to protect kids from anxiety, loving parents may block the very paths kids must take to build courage and confidence.

Dr. Meredith Elkins, a clinical child psychologist and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, demystifies anxiety and empowers parents to rethink “negative” emotions like fear, sadness, and guilt. A parent herself, Dr. Elkins argues that modern parenting pressures are major contributors to the current state of parent and child anxiety. She urges parents to clarify their values and embrace a “love and limits” approach to anxiety—balancing compassionate support with healthy boundaries while resisting the urge to shield children from every discomfort.

With warmth and understanding, Dr. Elkins provides concrete, evidence-based guidance to help families experiencing normal levels of anxiety, as well as those coping with anxiety disorders. This indispensable resource offers readers a road map for addressing anxiety in children and parents, and promotes adaptability and resilience across all stages of development.

Dr. Meredith Elkins is a clinical psychologist specializing in the research and treatment of anxiety and related disorders in children and families. She is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the co-program director at the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) at McLean Hospital, an intensive outpatient program for youth with anxiety disorders. She has been featured in such media outlets as The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Parents, and Harvard Gazette.