The Brainy Moms

Have you tried parenting through playfulness? "Play" isn't usually what we think of as our kid melts down when it’s time to leave the park, ignores us at clean-up time, or suddenly “can’t remember” the three things we just asked them to do. But maybe we should try it! On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Dr. Kim Van Dusen, a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist known as The Parentologist. We talk about a calmer path that actually works in real homes with real schedules.

We dig into what “parenting through play” really means and why it’s less about long pretend-play sessions and more about tiny, strategic moments of playfulness that change the whole emotional tone. Dr. Kim explains how she blends play therapy, solution-focused therapy, and positive behavior interventions and supports to help families build better behavior, deeper connection, and clearer communication. You’ll hear practical ideas you can use today, including micro “play pockets” that reduce power struggles without adding more work.

We also unpack what’s underneath misbehavior with her ABC framework: avoidance, boredom, connection, and the need for power. From tantrums and transitions to lying and screen time limits, we focus on lowering the temperature, validating big feelings, and setting firm boundaries without getting stuck in tug-of-war. Dr. Kim shares simple tools like playful prompts, storytelling strategies that uncover the “why,” and parent self-regulation techniques that help you stay steady when your child can’t.

If you want more cooperation with less conflict, press play, then subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find these playful parenting tools. What’s the hardest moment in your day right now: transitions, mealtime, homework, or screens?
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

A child's diagnosis can feel like a lifeline and a weight at the same time. When your child struggles with attention, learning, anxiety, behavior, or social connection, the question isn’t only “What is it?” It’s also “What will a diagnosis change for my child, for school, for insurance, and for how they see themselves?” On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy is joined by pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Rebecca “Dr. F” Fontanetta to talk through why diagnoses like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, anxiety disorders, Tourette syndrome, ARFID, and developmental coordination disorder often overlap. Dr. F explains why the DSM shifted to allow more co-occurring diagnoses, how that can improve access to the right services, and why the real value is usually the full neuropsychological evaluation report that links test data to everyday life. 
We also dig into the “overpathologizing” trap, what a meaningful change from baseline looks like, and when a wait-and-see approach is reasonable versus risky. You’ll hear practical guidance for public school and homeschool families, including how IEP and 504 accommodations work, why insurance reimbursement often drives the need for formal documentation, and how to choose the right clinician for your child’s age and needs. We close with a reminder that no word on paper changes who your child is, and that understanding barriers and building support matters more than chasing the perfect label.

Subscribe for more parenting and learning science, share this conversation with a friend who’s wrestling with testing, and leave a review telling us: what’s the hardest part of deciding whether to seek a diagnosis?
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Burnout rarely announces itself with a flashing warning sign. It sneaks in through good intentions, old “shoulds,” and the quiet belief that being needed equals being faithful. We sit down with licensed professional counselor and best-selling author Debra Fileta to talk about soul care, rest, boundaries, and what actually changes when we stop treating health like a luxury and start treating it like stewardship.

We dig into the real roots of burnout and why personality, family of origin, trauma history, and theology can all shape how we say yes and no. Debra shares one of the most freeing reframes for high achievers: Jesus honors his capacity. He withdraws for alone time, protects his time with the Father, and refuses to be driven by other people’s opinions. That example gives us permission to set boundaries, protect our calling, and choose rhythms that keep us filled rather than depleted.

You’ll also hear practical guidance for discerning God’s will through relationship and familiarity, plus a grounded take on “spiritual warfare” when the real issue might be low sleep, low blood sugar, or dehydration. From there, we zoom out to family life: keeping God at the center, strengthening marriage, navigating different parenting styles, and making decisions as a true team. Debra also introduces her new book People Skills and why ownership, empathy, and communication matter in a screen-shaped world.

Subscribe for more conversations on Christian parenting, mental health, and practical faith, then share this with a friend who’s running on empty and leave a review. What is one boundary you know you need to set this week?
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

For our 200th episode, we had to celebrate in a BIG way. In this sort of funny and highly engaging conversation, The Brainy Moms interview The Dumb Dads! Dr. Amy and Sandy bring on comedians Evan Berger and Kevin Laferriere to talk about what modern fatherhood actually looks like when the cameras are off and the kids are melting down. 

We laugh about the daily stuff that tests your patience and your parenting skills: motion-activated toys that will not stop talking, slime that somehow becomes part of your carpet forever, and the special frustration of kids’ gadgets that need a mystery battery plus a tiny screwdriver. The stories are funny because they’re painfully real and they lead to something useful: how to notice when you’re overloaded, own the mistake, and do the repair with your child.

We also talk about social media algorithms, parenting comparison, and how to protect your mindset while still finding community. We share the “detective” framework we use with families, including tired, hungry, sick, or stressed checks, plus how unmet needs and weak cognitive skills like attention, auditory processing, and memory can drive behavior. 

Subscribe for more practical parenting advice with a brain-based lens, share this with a mom or dad who needs a laugh today, and leave a review to help other families find us. What’s the one parenting moment you can finally laugh about now?
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Chaos isn’t a character flaw, and “just get organized” isn’t a plan for ADHD kids and adults. On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy chat with Dr. Kelly Cagle to talk about what actually makes home life simpler when ADHD and other neurodivergent needs are in the mix. Dr. Kelly is a parenting educator, ADHD researcher, host of the Parenting IQ podcast, and homeschool mom of three so she knows a little about this topic! If you’ve ever stared at a pile of papers, a closet full of clothes you don’t even like, or a kitchen missing every spoon, you’ll hear yourself in this conversation. 

We dig into why simplicity matters for the ADHD brain: fewer options means fewer distractions, less decision fatigue, and fewer spirals that steal your attention before the day even starts. Dr. Kelly shares concrete, realistic systems that reduce daily friction, including a “technology basket” approach for chargers and devices, plus ways to set non-negotiables in shared spaces without turning your home into a drill camp. We also talk sensory processing and why clothing comfort can make or break focus, sleep, and emotional regulation, along with how curiosity can replace power struggles when a child insists on the same outfit again and again. 

If you’re parenting in a mixed neurotype home, we cover how to support without shaming, including better language than “pay attention” and how to offer practical strategies in the moment. You’ll also hear how to chunk tasks for overwhelmed teens, how to balance messy creative zones with calmer community spaces, and why movement and sleep can be the quiet backbone of better executive function. 

Subscribe to The Brainy Moms, share this with a parent who needs a calmer reset, tell someone looking for a podcast for Christian moms, and leave a comment on the one system you’re going to try this week.
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com