Ep. 111 - 6 Things I Do Every Day to Protect My Kids' Mental Health (What the Research Actually Says)

Childhood depression is rising. Teen anxiety is up. And online searches for kids' mental health have nearly tripled since last fall. Most parents don't need a statistic to feel it. So what can parents actually do at home, today? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith shares the six things she actively does every day to protect her kids' mental health — and the research behind every one of them. 📌 Resource for You: 12-Day Connection Reset Challenge Build real connection back into your family with this instant-download challenge. 🎁 Free Download: Quote of the Week Notecard "I am the most important part of my homeschool. Everything else is just a tool." — Ready-to-print notecard, totally free. In this episode, you'll learn: Why social media and kids' mental health are more connected than most parents realize — and the one data point that changes everything What a major NIH study found about children's sleep and brain structure — and why sleep deprivation doesn't always look like tired The Harvard research on real friendship and child mental health — and why more contact doesn't equal more connection Why overscheduled kids are at higher risk for anxiety, lower resilience, and difficulty self-regulating How parental stress affects kids — even when you're trying to hide it What Christy-Faith considers the most countercultural thing she does as a parent to protect her children's mental health The 25-year study that connects chores and contribution directly to mental health for kids A Fred Rogers quote about emotional health that will stay with you Sponsors: BJU Press Homeschool ✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs ✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in ✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level 👉 View Samples CTC Math ✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program ✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace ✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you! 👉 Free Trial Azure Standard ✔ Homeschool-family-owned company with real, organic food ✔ Vetted to be free of harmful preservatives, food colorings, chemicals, and pesticides ✔ Use code CHRISTYFAITH15 for 15% off your first order 👉 Browse Azure's Grocery, Health & Home Products Summit Healthshare ✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance ✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips ✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans 👉 View Health Plans & Savings Resources mentioned: Episode 107: How to Reduce Screen Time for Kids — Christy-Faith's deep dive on screens and the four-question framework Episode 99: The $40 Billion Youth Sports Machine — What overscheduling actually costs our kids Episode 54: Social-Emotional Learning: Why Homeschooling Does It Better Free Quote of the Week Notecard — Ready-to-print, totally free The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive Connect with Christy-Faith: Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschool TikTok: @christy_faith Website: christy-faith.com Book: Homeschool Rising 🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (05:30) - Welcome to The Christy-Faith Show (06:15) - #1: Social Media and Kids’ Mental Health (07:35) - #2: Protecting Their Sleep (09:35) - #3: Curating Real Friendship (15:19) - #4: Defending Unstructured Free Time (18:51) - #5: Taking Care of Your Own Mental Health (23:32) - #6: Building Purpose and Contribution (27:21) - Closing and Quote of the Week