The Scary Things Kids Need to Tell Us
Summary
Janet Lansbury addresses a parent’s concern about her five-year-old expressing suicidal thoughts during a major life transition. She explains that these intense feelings are often symbolic expressions of grief and overwhelm, not literal facts. Lansbury advises parents to remain calm, accept the emotions without trying to fix them, and ask open-ended questions to help the child process their experience. This approach fosters trust and allows children to move through difficult feelings healthily.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Wayfair, LinkedIn Hiring Pro, and Intro
Listener Letter: Child's Fear of Death and Moving
Allowing Feelings: The Same Path as Tantrums
Understanding Grief and Change in Children
Opening the Door: Asking Questions Instead of Fixing
Sponsors: Zenni Optical and Skylight Digital Frame
Analysis: Validating Pain and Trusting the Process
Outro and Sponsor: Monday.com AI Agents
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