Aug 2: The stay-seated strategy for class refusal
Good morning. Projecting quiet confidence works better than anxious micromanagement in public spaces.
When your socially hesitant child refuses to join an extracurricular activity, the worst thing you can do is hold their hand and coax them. Janet Lansbury argues that this signals parental anxiety. Instead, staying firmly seated creates a secure base, ending the public power struggle and letting them join when ready.
Little kids pick
Coaxing a hesitant child inadvertently signals your own anxiety. Staying seated projects calm confidence in their ability to join the activity when they are ready.
Emotional Regulation
Secure Base Strategy For Extracurricular Classes
When your child refuses to participate in a class, stay seated and decline requests to hold their hand through the activity.
Why it matters: Parents often feel public pressure to force their child's participation in paid activities, which inadvertently creates a power struggle.
For: Parents of socially hesitant or observant children
“Sit down. Stay put. Don't be drawn in, even if your child wants to have you hold their hand and help them do it. Just calmly say, oh, you know what? I'm going to stay right here.”
ApproachCoaxing a hesitant child signals your anxiety and makes them dig their heels in; staying seated projects confidence in their ability to join when ready.
Painfully Shy in Public, Spirited at Home (What's Up with That?) · Jul 28, 2026
Big kids pick
Certified 'geek therapists' use this proxy method to bypass teen defensiveness, turning their fandom obsessions into a safe framework for discussing real-life social dynamics.
Communication
Geek therapy for teenage communication
Use the characters and dynamics of your child's favorite fandoms to discuss their real-life friendships and challenges.
Why it matters: Certified "geek therapists" successfully use this method to get otherwise closed-off kids to open up about their social lives.
For: Parents of tweens and teens who are highly invested in specific fandoms or video games.
“talk to them like, hey, do you like Harry Potter? ... if you're frodo you know who's your sam who's your the guy who who's the friend that always sticks with you... all of a sudden the kids are talking”
ApproachDismissing a child's obsession with a fandom is a missed opportunity to use those fictional worlds as a safe proxy for discussing real-life issues.
How to Raise an Imaginative Child — and Why Imagination Matters More Than You Think · Jul 31, 2026
Today's Parenting Tips
Actionable advice distilled from this week's parenting podcasts.
Emotional Regulation
Secure Base Strategy For Extracurricular Classes
When your child refuses to participate in a class, stay seated and decline requests to hold their hand through the activity.
Why it matters: Parents often feel public pressure to force their child's participation in paid activities, which inadvertently creates a power struggle.
Communication
Geek therapy for teenage communication
Use the characters and dynamics of your child's favorite fandoms to discuss their real-life friendships and challenges.
Why it matters: Certified "geek therapists" successfully use this method to get otherwise closed-off kids to open up about their social lives.
Relationships
Resentment Conversation Order of Operations
When asking a partner for more household support, first acknowledge their desire for connection and own your resentment before making your request.
Why it matters: The modern expectation of equal partnership often leads to scorekeeping; this script breaks the adversarial cycle.
Emotional Regulation
Neutral Validation During Custody Exchanges
When a toddler resists a custody exchange, calmly state their wish without emotion ('you wish you didn't have to go') followed by the factual expectation.
Why it matters: Toddlers are concrete thinkers who struggle with transitions; neutral validation prevents escalating their anxiety into a power struggle.
Communication
Micro-Choices for Custody Handoffs
If a custody schedule is fixed, offer your toddler micro-choices—like which stuffed animal or shoes to pack—to restore their sense of control.
Why it matters: Children do not choose their custody arrangements and often feel powerless; offering bounded choices reduces transition friction.
Health & Wellness
Redefining OCD recovery goals
When treating OCD, measure success by your child's ability to tolerate intrusive thoughts without distress, rather than the absence of the thoughts themselves.
Why it matters: Misunderstanding the goal of ERP therapy leads parents and children to abandon effective treatments prematurely.
Health & Wellness
Four-Day Meal Planning Method
Plan dinners for only four nights a week rather than seven, leaving intentional space for takeout, leftovers, or frozen meals without guilt.
Why it matters: Rigid meal planning often leads to food waste and guilt when schedules inevitably change.
Relationships
Translating Partner Intimacy Bids
Recognize that a male partner's request for physical intimacy when you feel overwhelmed is often his culturally licensed way of asking for emotional connection.
Why it matters: Cultural conditioning gives men and women different vocabularies for the exact same underlying need to not feel alone in the partnership.
Relationships
Positive framing for after-school check-ins
Instead of asking your child who was mean to them today, ask who was a good friend to them and who they supported.
Why it matters: Shifting the focus outward builds resilience and helps kids recognize their own agency in fostering healthy friendships.
Emotional Regulation
Dopamine versus oxytocin for stress management
Recognize that screen time only masks stress by releasing dopamine; to actually turn off a child's stress neurons, prioritize co-regulation that releases oxytocin.
Why it matters: Understanding the neurochemical difference between masking stress (dopamine) and resolving it (oxytocin) helps parents guide healthier coping mechanisms.
Relationships
Reframing family parenting criticism
When relatives criticize your parenting, recognize it as self-evaluation maintenance—your different choices unconsciously threaten their identity and past parenting decisions.
Why it matters: A national poll found that 61% of mothers with children under six face parenting criticism, predominantly from close family members rather than strangers.
Health & Wellness
The Silent Vegetable Strategy
Stop lecturing kids about eating vegetables; instead, silently place a shared plate of cut veggies and dip on the table when they come home hungry.
Why it matters: Over 90% of adolescents fail to meet the minimum daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Relationships
Direct scripts for peer boundary setting
Equip your child with specific scripts to set boundaries with peers, such as saying, "That may be funny to you, it's not funny to me."
Why it matters: Children are increasingly accepting poor treatment from peers as normal; they need explicit permission and language to demand respect.
Emotional Regulation
Identifying hidden physiological stressors
Identify hidden stressors by watching for pupil dilation, pale skin, or a higher-pitched voice, then remove the suspected trigger to see if color returns.
Why it matters: Neurodivergent children often experience severe stress from stimuli that adults overlook, making physiological observation crucial.
Health & Wellness
The Picky Eating Threshold
Distinguish normal picky eating from a disorder like ARFID by checking if the food restriction impacts the child's physical, social, or emotional well-being.
Why it matters: Social media has normalized hyper-focusing on picky eating, causing parents unnecessary anxiety over developmentally normal behaviors.
Communication
Affirming Autistic Joy
When a neurodivergent child scripts or stims to show excitement, join them in the activity rather than trying to redirect or stop the behavior.
Why it matters: There is a growing movement away from traditional compliance models toward neurodiversity-affirming care.
Emotional Regulation
Co-regulating touch-aversive children
To trigger stress-reducing oxytocin in touch-aversive children, sit with them under a weighted blanket and speak in a low, soft voice.
Why it matters: Oxytocin turns off stress neurons, but traditional physical affection can overwhelm sensory-sensitive children.
Relationships
Friendship bullseye for relationship expectations
Have your child draw a friendship bullseye with rings for best friends, acquaintances, and followers to help them set appropriate expectations for different relationships.
Why it matters: Kids are increasingly mislabeling relationships, leading to disappointment when acquaintances do not act like close confidants.
Communication
Using Sleeps to Explain Custody Time
Because toddlers lack abstract reasoning, explain custody durations using concrete markers like 'sleeps' instead of days or nights to reduce transition anxiety.
Why it matters: Toddlers have no concept of time; using abstract measurements like hours or days increases their insecurity about when they will see you again.
Relationships
Overnight sick-kid call schedules
Create an overnight call schedule for sick kids based on whose next-day work schedule allows for less sleep, rather than defaulting to one parent.
Why it matters: Children average five to six colds a year, and the resulting sleep deprivation often disproportionately impacts mothers and causes marital resentment.
Relationships
Third Topic Communication Strategy
When you need to discuss a difficult relationship issue, introduce a "third topic" like a podcast episode to bridge the gap without triggering defensiveness.
Why it matters: Parents are often too exhausted for direct confrontation, making indirect entry points highly effective.
By Stage
What each age group needs this week — patterns across multiple shows.
Toddler Transitions
De-escalating Custody Handoffs
Experts are standardizing around concrete, emotionless routines for toddlers moving between households. Because children under four lack abstract reasoning and autonomy, practitioners recommend replacing calendar days with physical markers like sleeps and offering micro-choices during packing to restore a baseline sense of control.
School-Age Social Dynamics
Scripting Peer Boundaries
Therapists are moving away from vague advice about being nice and instead equipping elementary students with explicit conversational templates. Providing rote scripts for rejecting poor treatment and visually mapping relationship tiers helps children navigate flattening social hierarchies without internalizing peer rejection.
Neurodivergent Support
Physiological Observation Over Behavioral Correction
The clinical consensus is rapidly shifting toward neurodiversity-affirming care that prioritizes nervous system regulation over compliance. Occupational therapists and researchers advocate for joining a child's natural stimming behaviors and monitoring autonomic responses like pupil dilation to identify hidden environmental barriers.
Expert Corner
When the psychologists and pediatricians weigh in with specifics.
Redefining OCD Recovery Metrics
Child therapists emphasize that the goal of exposure therapy is never to eliminate intrusive thoughts entirely. Measuring success by the absence of anxiety sets children up for failure, whereas true recovery is defined by their ability to tolerate the distress.
Dopamine Masks Stress While Oxytocin Resolves It
Screen time provides psychic energy via dopamine, creating the illusion of a regulated child. Researchers warn that only oxytocin-producing activities like co-regulation actually turn off firing stress neurons.
The True Clinical Threshold For Picky Eating
Pediatricians caution that social media pathologizes developmentally normal food restriction. The medical dividing line between garden-variety picky eating and a disorder is simply whether the behavior prevents normal social functioning like attending birthday parties.
Real Talk
Honest moments from the mic — the stuff that made us nod along.
Abandoning The Seven-Day Dinner Plan
Food directors admit that planning a full week of home-cooked meals is a recipe for food waste and parental guilt. Planning for only four nights intentionally accommodates the reality of busy family life, leaving room for takeout and leftovers.
Decoding Unsolicited In-Law Advice
When older relatives criticize your modern parenting choices, it rarely stems from genuine concern for the child. It is usually a defensive reaction to feeling their own past decisions are being quietly invalidated by your new approach.
From the Conversations
Resentment Conversation Order of Operations
Sex? After Kids? Tell Me More, Esther Perel - Revisit
Jul 28, 2026 · 38m · 3 quotes pulled
▶ Listen“So you first acknowledge him. Then you take ownership for what you're not doing. And only then do you ask for more for what you want. That order of operations really matters.”
“The modern expectation of equal partnership often leads to scorekeeping; this script breaks the adversarial cycle.”
Play Therapy Parenting Podcast
Using Sleeps to Explain Custody Time
S4E9 - How Do I Make Custody Exchanges Easier for My Toddler?
Jul 31, 2026 · 12m · 3 quotes pulled
▶ Listen“A lot of parents talk in terms of sleeps, like it's going to be four sleeps before we do whatever. Because you can't say four nights because night means nothing for a child. So you're going to sleep four times.”
“Toddlers have no concept of time; using abstract measurements like hours or days increases their insecurity about when they will see you again.”
Direct scripts for peer boundary setting
Episode 396: Capable Connections: Friendships with David and Sissy
Jul 28, 2026 · 27m · 3 quotes pulled
▶ Listen“Kids need permission and practice to say, I don't like that. That's not okay with me. That may be funny to you. It's not funny to me. I need some space”
“Children are increasingly accepting poor treatment from peers as normal; they need explicit permission and language to demand respect.”
Sources
▶ ListenRespectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled
Painfully Shy in Public, Spirited at Home (What's Up with That?)A parent describes her 3.5-year-old as fun, loud, and opinionated at home, but "painfully shy in every other social setting," even with relatives and peers she knows well. She's greeted with enthusiasm but won't join in. Instead, she asks her parent to play with her. This issue is especially noticeable at gymnastics, where she'll happily do an activity, then suddenly refuse to continue. No amount of encouragement will get her to budge. "It's like once she clams up, she can't get out of it." With preschool just around the corner, this parent wonders how she can help her daughter feel more comfortable around other children. Janet offers an alternative perspective on this child's behavior and explains how it will further this mom's goal to help her daughter "feel confident and happy and proud of who she is." Janet's "No Bad Kids Master Course" is available at NoBadKidsCourse.com and JanetLansbury.com. Please support our sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
▶ ListenRaising Good Humans
How to Raise an Imaginative Child — and Why Imagination Matters More Than You ThinkDo you use your imagination enough? Most parents think of imagination as something for playtime — a "nice to have" that fades once kids get older and life gets "serious." But Dr. Cassandra Vieten, director of science programs at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UC San Diego, joins Dr. Aliza Pressman to make the case that imagination is a trainable skill with real developmental and psychological weight. They unpack the connection between imagination and anxiety, why kids naturally live closer to the "field of possibility" than adults do, and how something as simple as a car-ride question can open up conversations that "how was your day?" never will. What You’ll Learn: The real, physiological link between imagination and anxiety How to use your child's favorite fandom as a doorway into connection Strategies to turn discipline moments into imagination-building thought experiments How to use screens and social media for connection instead of "slot machine" scrolling 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS: 📖 Pre-order "Imagine That: How You Can Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live Through the Science of Imagination" by Dr. Cassandra Vieten: https://cassandravieten.com/books/ 📱 Follow Raising Good Humans Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisinggoodhumanspodcast/ 📧 Follow Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman on Substack: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ 🎙️ Follow Raising Good Humans Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-good-humans/id1473072044 This episode is brought to you by: Kodiak: Feel good about snack choices with Kodiak Bars. Find them at kodiakcakes.com or your local grocery store. They’re the ones with the bear on the box. Great Wolf Lodge: Don’t miss The 84-Degree Sale. Book August 2nd through 5th at Greatwolf.com for an easy family getaway—only at Great Wolf Lodge, always just a short drive away. Goodr: Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to goodr.com/HUMANS to claim $10 off your first order. Boar’s Head: For lunchtime inspiration visit: boarshead.com/backtoschool. For Boar’s Head, head to your local deli counter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
▶ ListenGood Inside with Dr. Becky
Sex? After Kids? Tell Me More, Esther Perel - RevisitThis week Dr. Becky consults with the renowned couples therapist, Esther Perel, to talk about what parents can do to rekindle their desires.
▶ ListenPlay Therapy Parenting Podcast
S4E9 - How Do I Make Custody Exchanges Easier for My Toddler?<p>In this episode, I answer a question from a mom whose toddler struggles every time it's time to transition to the other parent's home for a custody exchange. We talk about why these transitions are so difficult for young children, how toddlers experience time differently than adults, and why resisting the handoff doesn't necessarily mean they don't love or enjoy being with the other parent. I explain how validating your child's feelings, giving them as much age-appropriate control as possible, and providing clear, predictable expectations can make these transitions feel safer and less overwhelming.</p> <p>I also share practical ways to use child-centered parenting during custody exchanges without trying to distract, persuade, or "fix" your child's emotions. Whether you're navigating a court-ordered custody schedule or simply trying to make transitions between homes less stressful, this episode will help you better understand what your child is experiencing and how to support them with confidence and compassion.</p> <p><strong>Ask Me Questions:</strong> Call <a href= "tel:18138125525">(813) 812-5525</a>, or email: <a href= "mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p><strong>My New Book! Parent Companion for Play Therapy:</strong> Want to go deeper into the concepts discussed in this series? Check out Parent Companion for Play Therapy, created to help parents better understand their child, the play therapy process, and how lasting emotional growth takes place.<br /> <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/</a></p> <p><strong>My First Book:</strong> Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids<br /> <a href="https://a.co/d/bThnKH9" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">https://a.co/d/bThnKH9</a></p> <p><strong>Podcast HQ:</strong><br /> <a href="https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/</a></p> <p><strong>My Newsletter Signup:</strong><br /> <a href="https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/" target= "_blank" rel= "noopener">https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/</a></p> <p><strong>My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless:</strong><br /> <a href="https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/" target= "_blank" rel= "noopener">https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/</a></p> <p><strong>Common References:</strong><br /> Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.<br /> Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.</p>
▶ ListenAT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety
What Parents Get Wrong About OCD Intrusive Thoughts<p>If your child has OCD, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to make their intrusive thoughts go away. It’s an understandable instinct, but it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions about OCD.</p><br><p>In this episode, I’ll unpack the common misunderstandings parents have about OCD intrusive thoughts and explain why many well-intentioned responses can accidentally keep OCD going. We’ll talk about why recovery isn’t about eliminating intrusive thoughts, why logic and reassurance rarely work, how OCD follows predictable themes and core fears, and what ERP is actually designed to do.</p><br><p>When you understand how intrusive thoughts really work, you’ll stop chasing the content of OCD and start helping your child build the skills that lead to lasting recovery.</p><p>Whether your child struggles with harm OCD, contamination OCD, moral OCD, relationship OCD, or another theme entirely, this episode will help you respond with more confidence and less fear.</p><p>🧡 To get today’s PDF handout go to <a href="http://www.natashadaniels.com/handouts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.natashadaniels.com/handouts</a></p><br><p>***</p><br><p>This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to</p><p><a href="https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting</a></p><br><p>This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.</p><br><p>Parents, do you need more support? </p><br><p>🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️</p><br><p>Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:</p><p><a href="https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com</a></p><br><p>Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):</p><p><a href="https://atparentingcommunity.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://atparentingcommunity.com</a></p><br><p>Take one of my FREE webinars:</p><p><a href="https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars</a></p><br><p>Check out my books: </p><p><a href="https://www.natashadaniels.com/books" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.Natashadaniels.com/books</a></p><br><p><strong>🌸 Other social places I hang out:</strong></p><br><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival </a></p><p><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival</a></p><p><a href="http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival</a></p><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
▶ ListenThe PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom
The Follow-Up: Baby Led WeaningIn this "Follow-Up" mini-episode, Dr. Mona revisits the topic of starting solids and baby-led weaning with guest Jenna Helwig—Food Director at Real Simple magazine and author of Baby-Led Feeding (paid link). Together, they bust common feeding myths, share simple meal prep hacks, and discuss how to take the guilt and pressure out of feeding your baby. Whether you're team puree, team baby-led weaning, or doing a bit of both, this episode is a reminder that responsive feeding and a stress-free environment matter far more than rigid rules. Purees and finger foods can coexist: Combining purees with baby-led weaning is safe and does not make a baby more likely to choke. Responsive feeding matters most: Regardless of the feeding method, the priority is respecting your baby's pace and cues when they show they are full or need a break. Baby-led weaning isn't a guarantee against picky eating: Picky eaters can develop using any feeding style, so focus on creating a pressure-free environment instead. You don't need to cook new meals daily: Simplify mealtime by serving simple, single-ingredient foods like eggs and avocado, or by offering leftovers. Cook one meal for the whole family: Save time and stress by adjusting the texture or salt content of your own meal for the baby rather than short-order cooking. Prep vegetables early in the week: Washing and chopping vegetables ahead of time makes it effortless to add healthy options to busy weeknight dinners. Prioritize meal planning over heavy meal prepping: Planning just four dinners a week removes the mental fatigue of deciding what to cook every evening. Drop the mealtime guilt: Releasing rigid expectations and lowering stress allows both you and your baby to actually enjoy mealtimes together. Want more? Listen to the full, original episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. Join the newsletter! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) And don’t forget to follow @pedsdoctalkpodcast on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
▶ ListenRaising Boys & Girls
Episode 396: Capable Connections: Friendships with David and SissyFriendships are where kids practice being human, but social anxiety, screens, group dynamics, and “rollercoaster” relationships are making connection harder than ever. Sissy and David offer practical ways parents can help kids recognize healthy friendships, develop realistic expectations, practice conversation and initiation, understand reciprocity, set kind boundaries, and navigate awkward moments. Rather than managing every relationship, parents can coach kids to find good friends, have a “good picker,” and become the kind of friend they hope to have. Resources mentioned Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff I Am Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life by David Thomas Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety by Sissy Goff Ephesians 5 in The Message . . . . . . Sign up to receive the bi-monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Order our new book, Capable, here!! See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise With Us form. QUINCE: Go to Quince.com/rbg for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg. Exclusions apply. ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible. CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution. LIBERTY HEALTH SHARE: Visit LibertyHealthShare.org to learn more about healthcare sharing options for your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
▶ ListenFull-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 421a: A Bonus Conversation with Dr. Stuart Shanker about Self-Regulation and Helping Our Children Successfully Engage with LifeDr. Stuart Shanker, author of Self-Reg, shares his expertise on self-regulation, offering practical strategies and compassionate insights to help neurodivergent kids and their families manage stress and build self-awareness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
▶ ListenNo Guilt Mom | Overcoming Mom Guilt, Parenting Tips, & Self Care for Moms
Why You Spiral When Someone Calls You Disrespectful (And What Their Words Really Mean)New here? Start with our Start Here playlist — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood. Has someone ever told you that you made them feel disrespected or small, and your stomach just dropped? Maybe you replayed every conversation trying to find the moment you did it. Today JoAnn walks you through three actionable steps to work through that moment, rooted in the psychology of why accusations like this happen, especially between the people closest to you. In this episode, you'll learn: How to check your own intentions after being accused of something, without spiraling into shame Why an accusation from someone close to you is often a report on their own identity, not a fact about your behavior The research on why confidence and success from women gets read differently than the same behavior from men Three steps to decide how you want to respond, including when it's okay to take space Resources mentioned in this episode: The Tallest Poppy Survey (2023) The "Acting Wife" study on women and self-silencing in MBA programs Amanda's story about setting boundaries with in-laws The Best Mom is a Happy Mom by JoAnn Crohn The Happy Mom Reset, free class Ready to stop carrying guilt that was never yours to hold? Join The Happy Mom Reset free class and get your plan to feel lighter this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
▶ ListenAsk Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens
282: ENCORE: How to Help Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with FoodIf mealtimes in your home feel like a power struggle, or you're exhausted from worrying whether your kid is eating well, this episode will come as a relief. Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Dr. Reshma Shah, a Stanford-affiliated pediatrician, public health expert, and co-author of the award-winning book “Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families.” With over 20 years of experience in academic and clinical pediatrics and a deep commitment to family-centered approaches to food and wellbeing, Dr. Shah offers a low-pressure, evidence-based roadmap for helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - Why what you model at the table matters far more than what you say, and how your own relationship with food shapes your child's more than you realize - Why "clean your plate" rules and other tension-raising practices can backfire (and what a low-stress mealtime actually looks like in practice) - How the language you use around food shapes your child's relationship with eating, and why ditching "good" and "bad" food labels makes a real difference - How to expand your kid's palate and involve them in food choices and preparation in ways that actually work - Why family meals (even brief, imperfect ones) have lasting benefits for your child's nutrition, wellbeing, and your relationship with them It’s not about eating perfectly—it’s about creating a healthy food environment. ________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS - Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook - Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook - The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/ ________________ Today's sponsors: Goodr: Get $10 off your first order at https://www.goodr.com/ASKLISA Unwaffle: Use the promo code ASK LISA to get 15% off your first order at https://www.eatunwaffle.com. Warby Parker: Buy one prescription pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://www.WarbyParker.com/ASKLISA Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.livemomentous.com ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: help kids healthy relationship with food, teen nutrition tips, tween nutrition tips, how to get kids to eat vegetables, picky eater teenager help, reduce food battles with kids, stop food power struggles, kids sugar addiction help, teen junk food obsession, how much protein do kids need, healthy snacks for teens, fueling teen athletes, family dinner benefits for teens, positive food language for kids, stop labeling foods good or bad for kids, plant-based family meals, raising kids with healthy body image Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 514: An Introduction to Neurodiversity-Affirming OT, with Dr. Bryden Carlson-GivingToday, I’m joined by Bryden Carlson-Giving, an occupational therapy practitioner and the creator of the EMPOWER model, the first neurodiversity-affirming OT framework. Bryden is both neurodivergent and disabled himself, and his work focuses on helping practitioners challenge ableism and create more supportive, affirming environments for neurodivergent individuals. In our conversation, Bryden walks us through the EMPOWER model and what it looks like in practice, especially when it comes to evaluations, goal-setting, and therapy approaches. We talk about how ableism can show up in subtle and systemic ways, and what it means to truly shift toward inclusive, affirming care. This is a thoughtful, important conversation about reimagining support — not just in therapy, but across education and systems more broadly. About Bryden Carlson-Giving Bryden Carlson-Giving, OTD, OTR/L is a neurodivergent and disabled occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) with experience in pediatric outpatient, inpatient, and school-based settings. Bryden earned his post-professional doctorate from Boston University, where his research focused on creating a toolkit to support OTPs in challenging ableism within the OT profession. This work led to the development of the first neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy model, the EMPOWER model. He received the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from Boston University, and is the editor of the first neurodiversity-focused occupational therapy book, titled Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation. Things you'll learn from this episode How Bryden’s journey into occupational therapy led to creating a neurodiversity-affirming toolkit Why the Empower model centers strengths-based practice, anti-racism, disability justice, and trauma-informed care How inclusive evaluations can look in practice, especially within school-based systems Why implementing neurodiversity-affirming approaches in bureaucratic settings comes with both challenges and opportunities How ongoing self-reflection and unpacking internalized ableism are essential for practitioners How parents, educators, and therapists can take practical steps to amplify neurodiversity-affirming work Resources mentioned Neuridivergent Nexus (Bryden’s website) Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation edited by Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving Bryon Carlson-Giving on Instagram Activist Emily Ladau on Demystifying Disability (Tilt Parenting podcast) Kassiane Asasumasu (coined the term neurodivergence) Dr. Destiny Huff on Neurodiversity-Affirming Advocacy in School (Tilt Parenting podcast) Dr. Jade Rivera and Strength-Based Assessments (Tilt Parenting podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom
Childcare Costs More Than Mortgage or Rent. This Is the Crisis.Have you ever felt the crushing weight of looking at your monthly bank statement and realizing your childcare bill costs more than your housing? It is a staggering reality facing modern families, but why is a system so crucial to our society treated like a personal luxury instead of essential infrastructure? In this episode, I sit down with working mom and leading childcare advocate Paige Connell to pull back the curtain on the skyrocketing costs and systemic failures of American childcare. Paige shares her viral journey of transparency, explains how the math of the current system forces women out of the workforce, and dismantles the oversimplified myths about simply relying on family or grandparents for help. The Viral Truth: Why breaking the taboo of discussing exact childcare costs resonated with millions of families online. The Sneaky Reality of Public School: Why childcare stress doesn’t end at kindergarten and the hidden shock of summer camps and school breaks. The Real Economic Hit to Women: How temporary gaps in a career to handle childcare shortages cause permanent, long-term damage to women's salaries and retirement. Dismantling the Grandparent Narrative: Why relying on aging or working family members is a short-sighted and often dismissive answer to a policy problem. Childcare as Infrastructure: Why an economy built on capitalism is failing itself by pulling productive parents out of the workforce. How to Be "Squeaky": Tangible ways parents can advocate for changes within their corporate workplaces and local town levels. A Magic Wand Reform: Paige’s three essential national shifts regarding paid leave, subsidized care, and workplace flexibility to completely transform family life. Connect with Paige Connell on Instagram @sheisapaigeturner and visit her site www.sheisapaigeturner.com/ 00:00 – Introduction & The Reality of Childcare Costs 02:18 – Page's Journey: Going Viral & Advocating for Change 03:48 – The Hidden Expenses: Beyond Preschool to Public School Years 05:07 – The Broad Financial & Emotional Impact on Families 07:54 – The Mental Load & Work Flexibility Challenges 09:23 – Dr. Mona Shares Her Personal Childcare Expense Story 11:15 – Disproportionate Effects on Women & Career Trajectories 13:58 – Why Alternative Care (Like Grandparents) Isn't Always the Answer 17:15 – Systemic Issues: Why America Lacks Childcare Infrastructure 19:24 – Logistical Nightmares: School Calendars vs. Work Hours 21:56 – Actionable Advice & Reassurance for Struggling Parents 24:34 – 3 Key Changes Needed to Fix the Childcare Crisis 27:14 – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. Join the newsletter! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) And don’t forget to follow @pedsdoctalkpodcast on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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