Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

• 5-Minute Pep Talk: A Simple Morning Change That Got Us to School on Time

  The start of a new school year can feel like chaos - earlier mornings, traffic, new routines, and the pressure to get everyone out the door on time. In this quick five-minute pep talk, I share my own first-week-of-school struggle (spoiler: we were late every single day until Friday!) and the simple tweak that completely changed our mornings.If you’ve got little ones who take their sweet time, especially at breakfast, this small shift might make a huge difference in your home too. I walk you through what wasn’t working, the change I made, and why it’s created calmer, happier mornings for both of us.Even as a child psychologist and a mom, I still have to figure things out by trial and error—just like you. If your mornings have been rough lately, this is your reminder that you can make small changes and see a big impact. You’ve got this. I’m on your side.

  --------  

  5:06

  --------

  5:06
• How to Help a Child With Big Emotions by Modeling Emotional Regulation

  What if the missing piece in your child’s ability to manage their big emotions... is you?In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most misunderstood (and overlooked) ways to help kids build emotional regulation for kids - and it’s not a new breathing app, another feelings chart, or a gentle parenting script.It’s you. It’s your own ability to model emotional regulation in real time - teaching emotional regulation by letting your child in on what’s actually going on under your calm surface.I’ll walk you through why teaching emotional regulation starts with your own internal world - and how to pull back the curtain to help your child actually learn from you.We’ll talk about what’s missing in most conversations about emotional regulation for kids, how to model managing big emotions without over-sharing or emotionally leaning on your child, and what real-world regulation looks like during everyday parenting chaos.In this episode, I’ll cover:The surprising reason your go-to scripts and strategies aren’t working - and what your child really needs to learn how to manage their big emotionsWhy modeling is the single most powerful tool in your parenting toolbox when it comes to teaching emotional regulationA step-by-step breakdown of how to narrate your own frustration (without losing your cool) to build your child’s emotional regulation for kidsHow to recognize the line between vulnerability and oversharing - and still show up as a strong, emotionally attuned parentWhy your child may be ignoring the breathing exercises you suggest - and how showing, not telling, is the real path to how to help a child with big emotionsIf you’ve ever wondered how to help a child with big emotions - this episode is for you.Listen now to learn practical, evidence-based ways to support your child’s emotional development and feel more confident in your parenting choices - even when big emotions take over.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:EP 5: How to Talk to Kids About Death and the Loss of a GrandparentLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways - delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

  --------  

  19:14

  --------

  19:14
• How to Get Your Child to Sleep in Their Own Bed: Expert Tips on Child Sleep Anxiety from Dr. Jessica Meers

  Is your child suddenly afraid to go to sleep - and now your whole household is exhausted and on edge? If bedtime has turned into a battle, this episode is your lifeline. I’m joined by sleep expert Dr. Jessica Meers to break down what really works when your child is struggling with child sleep anxiety and nighttime fears - especially after a nightmare.Whether your child refuses to settle alone or ends up in your bed every night, we’ll guide you through proven, compassionate solutions rooted in psychology and real-life parenting. We cover exactly how to get your child to sleep in their own bed without guilt, chaos, or confusion - even if they’ve become deeply afraid to go to sleep on their own.Dr. Meers, a nationally recognized sleep psychologist and mom of twins, shares practical advice for preventing nighttime fears, responding in the moment, and rebuilding healthy sleep habits with consistency and care.In this episode, we cover:Why your child might suddenly be afraid to go to sleep - even if bedtime used to be smooth sailingThe surprising science behind nighttime fears, and how our brains (and our kids' brains) process dreamsThe truth about child sleep anxiety, and why it shows up even in high-functioning, emotionally supported kidsExpert-backed advice on how to get your child to sleep in their own bed - without making them feel abandoned or dismissedThe #1 mistake parents make after a nightmare, and how it accidentally reinforces child sleep anxietyIf you’re feeling stuck, second-guessing your parenting, or just too tired to think straight - this episode is your reset button. You’ll learn exactly what to say and do when your child is afraid to go to sleep, how to soothe nighttime fears without caving to them, and real-life strategies for tackling child sleep anxiety with confidence.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:EP 14: How to Help an Angry Child Calm Down Without Losing Your Cool: The Key to Connection Before CorrectionLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways - delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH DR. JESSICA MEERS:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTikTok

  --------  

  24:10

  --------

  24:10
• Transition Anxiety Is Real: Helping a Child Adjust to Change with Storytelling

  Does your child melt down when something new is on the horizon? Whether it's starting a new school year, a big birthday, or a shift in routine, transition anxiety is real. In this episode, I share why understanding the reality of transition anxiety  - and using the power of story - is one of the most effective tools for helping a child adjust to change.We dive into the science and heart behind the importance of storytelling to child development, and I walk you through my favorite storytelling formula that’s easy, even if you’re not “a creative parent.” When you learn to use stories to make sense of what’s happening in your child’s world, you also create a space for how to encourage a child to express their feelings - even if they usually shut down.In this episode, we’ll explore:Why transition anxiety often shows up when we least expect it - and how to spot it before it becomes a meltdownHow the importance of storytelling to child development shows up in everyday moments - and how to use that to your parenting advantageMy go-to 3-step strategy for helping a child adjust to change with simple, emotionally attuned storytellingHow to encourage a child to express their feelings - without forcing uncomfortable conversationsA real-world example of how I used this exact strategy with a child facing three major life transitions - and how you can adapt it for your own familyThis episode is designed to help you feel grounded and confident when your child is spiraling through transition anxiety. If you’re craving expert-backed, emotionally aware solutions for helping a child adjust to change, this is where you start. Plus, you’ll understand the real importance of storytelling to child development and how it can dramatically shift your child’s ability to cope, connect, and communicate.You’ll also learn practical ways for how to encourage a child to express their feelings, especially during emotional storms - so that you can stop second-guessing and start leading with calm, clarity, and compassion.LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways - delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

  --------  

  24:28

  --------

  24:28
• The Parent’s Guide to Back to School Shots: How to Ease the Fear of Vaccinations (Even If Your Kid Is Scared of Needles) with Dr. Jody Thomas

  Does your child melt down before shots? Do you feel that pang of dread when the school nurse mentions back to school shots? You are so not alone - and the good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way.In today’s episode, I’m joined by world-renowned pediatric pain expert, and the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Meg Foundation, Dr. Jody Thomas to tackle a surprisingly common parenting challenge: managing your child’s fear of vaccinations and anxiety around back to school shots. If your child is scared of needles - or you are - this conversation will change the way you approach doctor’s visits forever.Dr. Thomas brings decades of experience and actionable solutions that actually work. We talk about how to reduce fear of vaccinations, empower your child, and avoid trauma - while still getting those important vaccines. You’ll walk away with research-backed strategies that will help you confidently navigate how to make shots not hurt at all (yes, really!).In this episode, we cover:Why the fear of vaccinations affects more kids (and adults!) than you think - and how it can shape lifelong healthcare decisionsThe real science behind how to make shots not hurt at all, and the tools you can use at your next visitWhat to do instead of holding your child down - because there’s a better way to handle back to school shotsHow your child’s emotions mirror yours - and how to model calm even if you’re scared of needles yourselfThe 3-step comfort plan to reduce anxiety, lower pain, and leave your child feeling proud and empowered during back to school shotsListen now to learn exactly how to stop the struggle and fear of vaccinations for back to school shots - and what every parent needs to know about the long-term impact of ignoring pain and anxiety.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Buzzy®ShotBlocker®LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways - delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH DR. JODY THOMAS & MEG FOUNDATION FOR PAIN:Dr. Jody Thomas WebsiteMeg Foundation WebsiteFB: @megfoundationforpainIG: @megfoundationforpainTikTok: @megfoundation

  --------  

  27:31

  --------

  27:31

Weitere Bildung Podcasts

Trending Bildung Podcasts

Über Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems