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Latest Episodes & Transcripts

061: Can Growth Mindset live up to the hype?

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 9, 2018

In this episode, we delve into the concept of the growth mindset, exploring its scientific underpinnings and its potential impact on children. Discover the nuances of this theory and its relevance to fostering a positive mindset in your child.

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060: What do children learn from reading books?

By Jen Lumanlan | Mar 25, 2018

Delve into the world of children’s learning through storytelling with Dr. Deena Weisberg from The University of Pennsylvania. Explore the valuable insights into what children glean from stories, their ability to understand morals, and the role of various book types in their development.

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059: How to Raise a Wild Child

By Jen Lumanlan | Mar 11, 2018

Explore the ideal resource for enhancing outdoor play with your child, Dr. Scott Sampson’s book ‘How to Raise a Wild Child.’ This episode provides valuable insights and practical tips for embarking on nature adventures together, even if you’re not an environmental expert.

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058: What are the benefits of outdoor play?

By Jen Lumanlan | Feb 25, 2018

Discover the remarkable advantages of outdoor play for children in this episode, laying the foundation for an upcoming interview with Dr. Scott Sampson and his book ‘How to Raise a Wild Child.’ Get ready for practical insights and tips to encourage outdoor adventures with your little ones.

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057: What is the value of play?

By Jen Lumanlan | Feb 11, 2018

Uncover the significance of play through an enlightening conversation with Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play. This episode marks the beginning of a series delving into various aspects of play, including outdoor play, risky play, and imaginative play.

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056: Beyond “You’re OK!”: Modeling Emotion Regulation

By Jen Lumanlan | Jan 28, 2018

Discover how emotional regulation in parent-child interactions can shape a child’s understanding of emotions and their own emotional regulation skills in this enlightening episode.

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055: Raising Your Spirited Child

By Jen Lumanlan | Jan 12, 2018

A deep dive into understanding and parenting spirited children with Dr. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, the author of ‘Raising Your Spirited Child.’ Through an insightful interview and real-life problem-solving, you’ll gain valuable insights into navigating the challenges and strengths of spirited kids.

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054: Three reasons not to say “You’re OK!”

By Jen Lumanlan | Dec 31, 2017

Discover the significance of emotional regulation in children and the potential impact of saying “You’re OK” after a fall in this brief yet informative episode. Explore the importance of validating your child’s emotions for their healthy emotional development.

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053: Sleep! (And how to get more of it)

By Jen Lumanlan | Dec 17, 2017

Dive into the intricate world of children’s sleep patterns, examining the scientific research and cultural influences that shape our understanding of how to help children sleep through the night. Gain insights into various methods and cultural viewpoints regarding child sleep, providing a well-rounded perspective.

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052: Grit: The unique factor in your child’s success?

By Jen Lumanlan | Dec 3, 2017

Delve into the concept of “grit” and its impact on achieving success, as advocated by Professor Angela Duckworth. Uncover the importance of grit in personal and academic accomplishments, gain insights into nurturing grit in children, and explore its role and limitations in securing success.

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051: How to handle social exclusion

By Jen Lumanlan | Nov 19, 2017

Delve into the effects of exclusion and the “You Can’t Say You Can’t Play” rule in children’s social interactions, and gain insights into effective strategies for parents and teachers to assist children in handling these complex situations. Join Professor Jamie Ostrov and co-host Caren for a valuable discussion.

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050: How to raise emotionally healthy boys

By Jen Lumanlan | Nov 5, 2017

Explore the effects of societal expectations on boys’ emotional well-being and gain insights into promoting healthy emotional development in your son through an engaging conversation with Dr. Judy Chu and guest Alan Turkus.

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049: How to raise a girl with a healthy body image

By Jen Lumanlan | Oct 22, 2017

Discover valuable insights into promoting a healthy body image and self-esteem in your daughter as Dr. Renee Engeln, author of “Beauty Sick,” shares expert advice in this thought-provoking episode.

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048: How to read with your child

By Jen Lumanlan | Oct 9, 2017

In this episode, we delve into the research on promoting a love of reading in children and discuss practical strategies for parents to help nurture this essential skill.

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047: How to raise a bilingual child

By Jen Lumanlan | Sep 10, 2017

In this episode, we explore the challenges and benefits of raising a bilingual child, offering practical guidance and expert advice for parents seeking to navigate the complexities of language development.

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046: How to potty train a child

By Jen Lumanlan | Aug 27, 2017

This episode delves into the world of potty training, offering a comprehensive understanding of various methods, expert guidance, and practical tools to make the toilet learning process smoother for both parents and children.

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045: How parenting affects child development

By Jen Lumanlan | Aug 13, 2017

Discover how parenting and the marital relationship significantly impact child development and academic performance with insights from Dr. Laura Froyen, a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies.

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044: How to introduce your child to music (even if you can’t play or sing)

By Jen Lumanlan | Jul 30, 2017

I can’t play any instruments (unless the recorder counts?).  I certainly can’t sing.  But my daughter really enjoys music, and there are a whole host of studies showing how playing music benefits children’s brain development.  So what’s a non-music playing, non-singing parent to do? Dr. Wendell Hanna’s new book, the Children’s Music Studio: A Reggio-Inspired…

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043: How to talk with children about death

By Jen Lumanlan | Jul 16, 2017

Dr. Atle Dyregrov joins us to explore how to help children cope with illness, death, and grief. Dr. Dyregrov, an expert in the field, provides valuable insights and advice on addressing these challenging topics with children. Drawing from his extensive experience in working with families and children dealing with loss and trauma, he offers practical guidance and strategies for parents and caregivers. Listen in to gain a better understanding of how to support children during difficult times.

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042: How to teach a child to use manners

By Jen Lumanlan | Jul 2, 2017

Explore the intriguing world of manners and politeness as we navigate the research on teaching children good manners, and discover effective strategies for instilling politeness while fostering a respectful parent-child relationship.

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041: Siblings: Why do they fight, and what can we do about it?

By Jen Lumanlan | Jun 18, 2017

Explore the dynamics of sibling relationships, their developmental impacts, and why they fight, as Professor Susan McHale from Penn State University provides insights.

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040: Only children: Are they as bad as advertised?

By Jen Lumanlan | Jun 4, 2017

Are only children really more selfish and lacking in social skills? Delve into the stereotypes, research findings, and insights on raising an only child.

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039: What to do when your toddler says “No, I don’t wanna…!”

By Jen Lumanlan | May 21, 2017

Dealing with a defiant toddler? Dive into the world of oppositional defiance in children, understand the reasons behind it, and gain practical strategies for smoother parenting.

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038: The Opposite of Spoiled

By Jen Lumanlan | May 15, 2017

Explore the insightful conversation with Ron Lieber, author of “The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids who are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money.” Discover practical guidance on discussing money with children, including appropriate information for different ages, managing requests for purchases, and addressing questions about socioeconomic disparities. Join us as we gain valuable strategies for nurturing financially responsible and compassionate children.

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037: Generation Me

By Jen Lumanlan | May 7, 2017

Delve into the cultural forces shaping modern parenting, as we discuss individualism and its implications for raising the next generation. Learn how to navigate these dynamics for more balanced child-rearing.

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036: The impact of divorce on a child’s development (Part 1)

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 30, 2017

This is the second of a short series of episodes on issues related to divorce.  The first was our “All Joy and No Fun” episode, where we talked about how parenting today can be the most joyful thing in our lives – even if it isn’t always a whole lot of fun from moment to…

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035: Parenting: All joy and no fun?

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 23, 2017

Discover the complex interplay between parenting, joy, and fun as we discuss the impact of divorce on children’s development. Gain insights into navigating single parenting and stepfamilies, and learn to create a balanced, joyful family life.

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034: How do I get my child to do chores?

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 16, 2017

Explore the world of children and household chores across different cultures. Learn how to engage your child in helping with chores as we delve into the dynamics of family responsibility with Andrew Coppens, an expert in education and learning sciences.

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033: Does your child ever throw tantrums? (Part 2)

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 8, 2017

Delve into the world of tantrums in children as we uncover the latest research findings on what causes tantrums and how to manage them. Discover practical strategies for understanding and preventing tantrums to make your parenting journey smoother and more enjoyable.

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032: Free to learn

By Jen Lumanlan | Apr 1, 2017

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Professor Peter Gray as we delve into the world of self-directed learning, the significance of play in education, and the incredible success of Sudbury Valley School. Uncover the secrets of nurturing self-reliant, independent learners through autonomy and exploration.

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