Ash Brandin, EdS, is a middle school teacher living in Colorado. Since 2016, Ash has spoken across the country about how classrooms and academic spaces can mimic game structures to make learning compelling, motivating, and engaging. Ash believes video games, specifically entertainment games, can help us create better teaching, more engaging learning, and motivated life-long learners. In 2021, Ash pivoted their gaming and educational content onto Instagram. Their account- TheGamerEducator- they help guide families to have a relationship with screens and video games that benefits everyone in a family. In addition to teaching and gaming, Ash loves baking, hiking, and going to car shows with their child. Website: TheGamerEducator.com Instagram: @TheGamerEducator________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!
______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!

Are video games safe for my kid? W/ Ash Brandin

I'll go first: Motherhood is a dang rollercoaster and sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging on. My name is Nina and I am the host of Mama Knows. I truly believe that every mama *knows.* Have you ever held your crying child and just said or thought "I know honey." YOU, mama, know what is best for your family and sometimes it's different than what the other mama knows. This podcast is an ongoing, honest conversation around motherhood, mental health, parenting and relationships...the good, bad and funny. Join in weekly for tips, strategies, tools and conversation that will leave you feeling less alone!

Kids & Family

Parenting

Did you know you may not remember some of your childhood trauma? It can be really difficult to heal from something we don't remember and how do we know if we are truly healed? We dive into these questions and more on this weeks episode! 
1. Our last episode together was the most listened to episode on Mamaknows podcast. We talked about the importance of parenting our inner child and how our inner child wounds affect how we show up in our relationships. But what if we don't remember our childhood traumas? How are we supposed to heal our wounds if we don't know what they are?
2. Once we do identify a childhood trauma we are working on parenting our inner child, but how do I avoid being dismissive versus actually healing the wound. For example, if we identify a moment where we felt unworthy, how do we affirm ourselves that we are worthy without being dismissive of that inner child's feelings?
3. How do we know when a childhood trauma is healed or that we have made peace with it?
4. How can we make sure we nurture our children as they are living their inner child?
Check out Lavina's new signature holistic healing programme: Making Peace With Your Past.
This is a self-led, self-paced, 3-step journey from reactivity, anxiety and rage to becoming the calm, conscious mama and connected partner you want to be. It contains over 6 hours of videos spread over 10 different modules and once purchased, it's available for life (so you can come back to it at any point in the future, either to remind yourself of how to manage a trigger, heal a painful memory or unpack a new layer of the mother imprint that may have surfaced, for example). 
The programme comes with two, live, group coaching support calls with me every month - also for life (so that I am always here for you whatever queries or fears come up and whatever support or insights you might need on your healing journey) as well as a private, members'-only FB group. 
Find Lavinia at https://www.laviniabrown.com/making-peace-with-your-past

Accessing your inner child & navigating parenting while healing yourself w/ Lavinia Brown

I want to raise my kids to be confident, kind kids. But growing up in today's world, it can be so difficult to help our kids maintain their sense of self esteem. Carol Kim dives into what we can to do raise our kids self esteem and avoid inadvertently negatively impacting their self esteem. 
1. What are things I can do daily to help raise my kids self esteem?
2. How can I encourage my child to not get their self esteem from others but from within instead?
3. Can I still give my child compliments without encouraging them to seek for others' approval?
4. What ways can I help reduce any shame they might feel, say after a meltdown, and build them back up?
5. What are common ways we as parents inadvertently negatively impact our kids self esteem or confidence?

Carol Kim is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in child and play therapy. She has over a decade of clinical experience, and has practiced in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, and Utah.
Carol is also a popular content creator, whose videos on parenting and mental health have benefited millions across the globe. You can find her content on major social networks under the handle @parenting.resilience. 
Prior to becoming a therapist and content creator, Carol was a broadcast journalist in Missouri and Oakland California, where her favorite part of the job was sharing the stories of underserved communities.

Building your child's self esteem w/Carol Kim

You have just experienced a loss of a loved on or a family pet. How do you tell your kids about it? What do you tell your kids? Navigating these conversations is difficult, especially when you, yourself, are grieving too. Here from an expert in the area so you feel prepared when you need to have these conversations.What we cover in this episode:1. Talking about death is a difficult and hard subject especially with kids. What approach should we take when we talk to our kids about death? 
2. Developmentally, when do children understand the concept of death? How does this affect how I talk to them about death and grief?
3. A loved one or pet just died. Talk me through how you would tell your child and what you avoid in the conversation?
4. How often should I check in with my child about the loss? Do I bring it up or do I let them bring it up?
5. I am mourning the loss of our loved one toAbout Sidu:Sidu Arroyo-Boulter is a family psychotherapist in Texas, specializing in difficult family dynamics and parenting. Sidu is passionate about helping parents deepen their emotional understanding of themselves so that they can welcome their child into rest, acceptance, and belonging.Find Sidu on Instragramhttps://www.instagram.com/conscious.parents/?hl=en
______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!

How to talk to kids about death (all ages) w/Sidu Arroyo-Boulter

Guilt and shame are often feelings that come up when parenting. You aren't alone! These aren't feelings you need to be ashamed of or suffer alone in. Michelle helps us learn to shift of our perspective and minimize the shame and guilt that comes up during parenting. Questions:
1. What is the difference between guilt and shame when it comes to parenting?
2. What do you often see that parents feel most guilty about?
3. How do we shift our perspective and make the mom guilt productive rather than a negative thing? 
4. How can we minimize the shame we feel as a parent?
Michelle Tangeman Bio:
Before opening Michelle Tangeman Behavioral Health as a child and family therapist, I served as a Clinical Manager for STAR of CA where I oversaw a clinical team providing children’s behavioral treatment programs. I have extensive experience in individualized behavior intervention, Functional Behavior Assessments, school-based services, family-focused intervention, early start services, and social skills training and have provided these services to families across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. I have also completed the training as part of the Postpartum Support International’s Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Training Program.When I’m not helping parents and families as a therapist, I’m a mother of two beautiful children. As a parent, I know how challenging it can be. Combining my personal experience as a parent along with my behavioral health background, I launched my online education company, Thriving Toddler. Through Thriving Toddler courses and free resources, I aim to help as many people as possible become the parents they want to be.
I’m also a podcast host and the co-founder of the Parenting Understood podcast. My co-host and I are passionate about teaching parents about evidence-based interventions grounded in science to make a positive impact on the parent-child relationship.
Website: https://michelletangeman.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thriving.toddler/


______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!

Mom Guilt vs. Mom Shame w/Michelle Tangeman

I struggle with being productive with my ADHD. Am I alone?Normal tips to be productive and organized just don't work for me and I am beginning to realize that I need to work with my ADHD instead of against it!In comes, Brooke Schnittman, who answers all my questions:1. As someone with adhd I want to better organize my day, but I struggle with traditional to do lists. Why aren’t these traditional ways working for me? What can I do instead to organize my to do list and life?
2. Why are some tasks harder than others for people with adhd? For example: answering emails or texts can be so daunting even though it only takes minutes to answer. How can I make these tasks seem like less of a big deal?
3. What is the ADHD disruption cycle and how can I overcome it?
4. How things can I do routinely to better improve my attention, focus, and momentum?Brooke's book:  Activate Your ADHD Potential : for adults with ADHD who are looking to build momentum and stop overwhelm and underwhelm.InstagramWebsiteabout Brooke:Brooke Schnittman MA, PCC, BCC is an esteemed expert in the field of ADHD management and support, renowned for her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals with ADHD to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
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Brooke's personal journey, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and marrying into a family of ADHDers, has provided her with profound insight and empathy for her clients. In 2002, she embarked on her mission to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities. She earned her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Penn State University and her Master's Degree from New York University, specializing in Students With Disabilities.
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With over two decades of experience, Brooke has worked closely with thousands of individuals with ADHD, utilizing her comprehensive knowledge and expertise to guide them toward success.

______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!

Are video games safe for my kid? W/ Ash Brandin

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