5: When Reassurance Backfires, How to Help Your Child Face Uncertainty

Do Less Parenting

When Reassurance Backfires, How to Help Your Child Face Uncertainty

Robyn explains why constant reassurance can actually fuel anxiety and offers practical ways to respond with support instead.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about a common trap many parents fall into—reassuring their children again and again when worries show up. She explains why reassurance feels good in the moment but often strengthens anxiety over time. Instead of helping kids feel secure, it can keep them stuck and searching for certainty that no parent can truly provide.

Robyn shares how to recognize when reassurance has turned into a pattern, and she gives simple examples of what to say and do instead. She walks through small language shifts that validate feelings, encourage coping, and gently point toward independence. By listening, you will learn how to respond in ways that both comfort your child and build their ability to manage uncertainty

By the end of this episode, you will feel more confident stepping back from endless reassurance and more equipped to support your child’s growth. You will see how choosing support over certainty creates space for resilience and independence to develop.

Shared Resources:

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources