Ep 113: The Secret to Helping Your Child Recognize Their Emotions with Lynn McLaughlin & Amber Raymond

With conversations about mental health on the rise, it’s incredibly important that we start helping our children learn how to recognize their emotions early in life.

In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1 in 3 of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. That number is just staggering, and the trend has been on the rise for a while.

From 2007 to 2012, anxiety disorders in children and teens went up 20%, so it’s up to us parents to give our children - and ourselves the tools to help us cope.

That’s why I am thrilled to have my two guests on the podcast this week - that’s right…not just one expert, but TWO!

Lynn McLaughlin is a proud mother of three adult children. Professionally, she served on three different school boards as a Superintendent of Education, Principal, Vice-Principal, Teacher, and Educational Consultant. Now retired from formal education, Lynn is pursuing her mission to lead and empower people to make conscious and positive choices when faced with a crisis.

In addition to hosting her weekly podcast, Taking the Helm, she is a best-selling author. So, when she felt called to write a children’s book about overcoming anxiety and other big emotions she reached out to her niece, Amber for her subject matter expertise.

Amber Raymond is a Master's level Social Worker specializing in self-awareness and self-development. She is an advocate for non-conventional, evidence-based coping strategies and identifies as a loving and committed mother and friend.

Amber is passionate about child mental health, lifelong self-care practices, self-exploration, self-love, and wellbeing and she is always on the lookout for new ways to learn and grow.

Although it’s a heavy topic, Lynn and Amber have created a fun way to teach your littlest ones (and even your not so little ones) about our biggest emotions.

It feels especially relevant right now with back to school around the corner and I know in our home that can be a time of mixed emotions so this has definitely helped.

This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover:

What emotional literacy means when it comes to children
How we can help our children recognize their emotions
Advice for when we lose our tempers
Simple ways we can help manage emotions
A playful way to talk to your children about how they feel

Helpful Links:

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Lynn McLaughlin’s Website

Lynn’s Instagram

Book: I Have Choices (The Power of Thought Series)