As parents, it’s natural to think our kids can do anything. But that mindset can also make it easy to unintentionally burden them with heavy expectations, which can ultimately hinder their growth and wellbeing. 

For this episode in our Emotional Health series, we talk with Dr. William Stixrud, a clinical neuropsychologist, author, and faculty member at the Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University School of Medicine. He sheds light on how we can help our kids develop healthy motivation and stress management skills, and avoid the heavy weight of expectations. 

Listen now to hear our conversation about:

• The two most important things to protect your kids from struggling with emotions [02:26];

• How to recognize if your expectations could be toxic [04:29] … and if your children feel burdened by them [10:13]; 

• Day-to-day tactics to help your kids build a healthy mindset [12:07]; and
• How to model and talk about healthy expectations and healthy thinking [15:41].  

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways! 

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips for reducing the weight of expectations on your kids. 

Links and Resources 

• Learn more about Dr. Stixrud’s books, co-authored with previous Gifted Minds’ guest, Ned Johnson, What Do You Say? Talking with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home and The Self-Driven Child.
• Listen to our episode with Ned Johnson, Consult, Don’t Manage: Achieving Academic Success.
• Check out the video version of this episode on the Gifted Minds YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe! 
• Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

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About William Stixrud

William R. Stixrud, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist and founder of The Stixrud Group, as well as a faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine.  He is also the co-author, with Ned Johnson, of the national best-selling book, The Self-Driven Child, which is published in 14 countries and 12 languages and has sold more than two million copies in China.  He and Mr. Johnson have also co-authored a critically-acclaimed second book, What Do You Say? Talking with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home.

Dr. Stixrud’s work has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, Scientific American, Business Week, Barron's, and, New York Magazine. He is a long-time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, and he plays in the rock band Close Enough.  

Podcast Credits

• Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
• Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media 
• Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
• Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
• Marketing: Patrick Harrell, The Krewe
• Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
• Music Producer: Dyami Wilson