We live in a culture obsessed with safety. And in many ways, that’s a gift. Kids deserve protection. But if we’re not careful, that protection can become a prison.

Anxiety takes on a different form when kids don’t know how to process those worries, when fear has nowhere safe to land, when thoughts stay trapped inside, or when pressure never lets up. That’s when anxiety grows heavier and harder to manage.

They’ve seen the headlines. They’ve watched the viral clips. Whether it’s a problematic pop star or a polarizing politician, our kids are encountering these people. The question isn’t whether they’ll see them, but whether we’ll help them process what they’re seeing.