logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
22m 17s

Why Is Play So Hard Sometimes with Guest...

MICHELLE KENNEY, M. ED
About this episode
Many of us have had experiences with bottling up emotions, and kids are no exceptions to this. Kids aren’t as capable of properly communicating their emotions so when there’s a backlog of feelings like frustration and sadness, this can make them act out so they can vent. This can be equally frustrating for parents too but it is possible to connect with your ... Show More
Up next
Sep 22
Your Teen Isn’t Pulling Away From You
Somewhere around eleven, twelve, thirteen, something shifts. The kid who used to tell you everything starts giving you one-word answers. They stop looking for you and wanting to spend time with you. The door that used to stay open is closed. And the thing that makes sense for us ... Show More
28m 4s
Sep 15
Stop Saying "We Can't Afford It"
You're at the checkout, almost done, and your child grabs something and asks, "Can we get this?" And four words come out before you've even thought about them: "We can't afford it." It feels honest. Responsible, even. Like you're teaching them the value of money. Most of us say i ... Show More
16m 10s
Sep 8
Your Toddler Is Doing Better Than You Think
We've been handed a story about toddlers. They're testing you. They're manipulating you. They're trying to win. And if you comfort them too much, you'll raise a spoiled kid who runs the house. So the advice comes fast and hard in these years: don't pick them up so much, don't neg ... Show More
26m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2020
Anger, Sadness, Fear: Showing Our Emotions to Our Kids
Is it okay to show emotion to our kids? Is it helpful? Too unsettling? A parent has questions for Janet about modeling self-regulation and healthy emotional expression to children. She writes: “These feel like life skills that are harder to explain to your child but can be shown ... Show More
16m 26s
Sep 2025
How to connect with a child that shuts you down (without losing your cool)
Send us Fan MailThis episode will change how you see your child’s moods and how you respond to them.If you’ve ever tiptoed around your child in the morning, worried the “wrong” cereal bowl or shirt will set off a meltdown, this conversation is for you.Joining me is Dr. Alex Reed, ... Show More
1h 8m
Jun 2024
Let Your Kids Get Hurt
Bring out the feelings wheel! In this episode, Gwenna and Tori emphasize the importance of allowing children to experience and express their emotions. They share practical tools like the ‘feelings wheel’ and ‘catastrophe scale’ to help children regulate their emotions, and discus ... Show More
45m 16s
Jan 2022
When Children Seem Troubled by Our Emotions and Moods
A parent writes that she and her husband are concerned their toddler feels responsible for their emotions. This is a trait they both recognize from their own backgrounds. “He asks again and again, ‘Happy, mommy?’ as if he’s trying to help me be happy.” This mom says that if she a ... Show More
22m 15s
Oct 2023
When Your Kid is Stuck
How do you respond when your son or daughter has a hard time figuring something out? Danny shares with John about a time one of his kids was struggling with getting stuck. Plus, Dr. Kathy Koch speaks with about Jim Daly about responding well when you're tempted to be frustrated w ... Show More
13m 22s