Socialization

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241: Validating children’s feelings: Why it’s important, and how to do it with Dr. Caroline Fleck

By Jen Lumanlan | Mar 23, 2025

  What exactly is validation? Dr. Fleck defines it as communication that demonstrates you are mindful, understand, and empathize with another person’s experience, thereby accepting it as valid.   In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Caroline Fleck, author the book Validation, we explore the powerful concept of validation and how it can transform your relationship…

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Two smiling young children with their arms around each other taking a selfie outdoors.

240: How to prepare your kids for the real world

By Jen Lumanlan | Mar 16, 2025

  In this episode, we explore how to prepare children for the real world without sacrificing their authentic selves. Drawing on research about food habits, screen time, social expectations, and discipline approaches, this discussion offers balanced strategies that prioritize connection over control. You’ll learn how to guide children through external pressures while helping them develop…

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Child playing alone

215: Why will no-one play with me?

By Jen Lumanlan | Jun 30, 2024

Discover insights on why no one will play with your child and explore effective strategies for building social skills in children. Learn from the book ‘Why Will No One Play With Me’ and find practical advice for helping little children make friends and enhance their social interactions.

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176: How to begin healing shame with A.J. Bond

By Jen Lumanlan | Jan 29, 2023

In this episode, we explore the complex emotion of shame and its origins in our childhood experiences. Our guest, A.J. Bond, shares insights into the different types of shame and how some forms of shame can be helpful. We also delve into the crucial topic of healing from toxic shame to prevent passing it on to our own children.

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175: I’ll be me; can you be you?

By Jen Lumanlan | Jan 8, 2023

In this highly personal episode, I share my journey of self-diagnosis with autism and how it’s provided clarity and insight into my life experiences. You’ll hear voicemails from my therapist explaining my screening results and conversations with friends about friendship challenges. I address listener feedback, discussing how my podcast episodes are perceived as both helpful and judgmental. The goal is to help you understand yourself better and recognize that your child’s struggles reflect their needs, not a need for fixing. It’s about better understanding and meeting those needs for both you and your child.

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