Building Resilience and Tackling Anxiety in Young Children

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Dr. Kaylene Henderson—a medically trained child and adolescent psychiatrist, parenting specialist, and one of Australia’s most trusted early childhood experts. Known for her warm, relatable style and ability to translate complex research into "doable" approaches, Dr. Henderson unpacks the emotional and practical hurdles parents and educators face when navigating the "Goldilocks dilemma" of support. Together, they explore why it is so difficult to step back, how our own upbringing and modern time pressures impact our teaching, and how to successfully find that sweet spot of helping just enough to allow children to experience crucial, confidence-building moments.Listeners will walk away with a new perspective on tackling anxiety and developing long-term independence in the early years. Dr. Henderson dives deep into the magic effect of simply teaching children how anxiety works, explaining how to "avoid avoidance" by scaffolding tasks so they become hard but completely doable rather than letting children opt out. This insightful conversation serves as a powerful reminder that resilience is not a fixed trait, but an asset built through everyday interactions. Tune in to hear why Dr. Henderson believes that early childhood educators, parents, and carers—not specialists—are the ones perfectly positioned to shift current trajectories and bring out the absolute best in this pandemic-born generation.Find out more:Website (Educator resources): https://drkaylenehenderson.com/ Courage Coaching Online (Programs for families & primary schools): https://couragecoachingonline.com/ A Dose of Awesomeness (Resources for families): https://adoseofawesomeness.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkaylenehenderson/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kaylene_henderson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kaylene-henderson-43987462  If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at [email protected] with Us:- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia- Email: [email protected]