Connected Parenting

As the busy school year winds down, summer opens the door to something we often miss, space to slow down, breathe, and truly reconnect with our kids.

In this heartfelt replay, we say goodbye to the hectic pace and explore simple, intentional ways to make this summer feel calm, connected, and full of joy for the whole family.

Remember; summer doesn’t need to be packed to be powerful, it just needs presence.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Summer as a Time for Connection and Refreshment (00:00)
• The Calm Technique and Its Benefits (02:07)
• Practical Application of the Calm Technique (03:40)
• Structuring Summer Days for Children (07:27)
• Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Summer (09:38)
• Divide and Conquer Strategy for Family Outings (11:38)
• Maintaining Structure During Vacations (13:21)
• Bringing Back the Magic of Family Time (14:11)

Meet Jennifer Kolari

Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

In this special guest interview episode, Jennifer sits down with Barrie Farivar, founder of Leaf, a private voice app created to help families capture and preserve the everyday moments that often become our most treasured memories. After spending 15 years at Google and YouTube, Barrie set out to build something centered on connection rather than performance, creating a simple way for families to record conversations, bedtime stories, car rides, family history, and the voices of loved ones without interrupting the moment itself.

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This episode is a beautiful reminder that the memories we cherish most are often the ordinary, unscripted moments that happen every day, and that preserving them can become a meaningful gift for generations to come.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Barrie Farivar's Background and Motivation (00:48)
• Transition from Google to Leaf (02:40)
• The Role of Audio in Capturing Family Moments (04:50)
• Children's Perspective on Audio Recordings (06:44)
• Handling Imperfect Moments in Recordings (07:56)
• Therapeutic Use of Recordings (08:50)
• Details About Leaf App (10:48)
• Integrating Leaf into Daily Routine (13:23)
• Conclusion and Contact Information (17:19)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Disagreements are a natural part of life, but for many children and adults, conflict can feel threatening, overwhelming, or deeply personal.

In this episode, Jennifer explores the powerful concept of conflict tolerance; the ability to stay calm, connected, and emotionally regulated when opinions differ. Rather than teaching children how to win arguments, she explains why one of the greatest life skills is learning that disagreement is not an emergency and doesn't have to damage a relationship.

Jennifer shares how healthy conflict helps children build emotional resilience, stronger relationships, confidence, and leadership skills. She explains why becoming defensive, shutting down, or feeling rejected during disagreements often comes from the nervous system rather than the thinking brain, and how parents can help children develop the ability to listen, stay grounded, and remain connected even when they don't agree.

This episode offers practical insights for raising children who can navigate conflict with curiosity, respect, and confidence, all skills that will benefit them in their friendships, families, school, and ongoing throughout their lives.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Conflict Tolerance in Parenting (00:00)
• Understanding Conflict and Emotional Resilience (01:26)
• Common Reactions to Conflict (02:31)
• The Role of the Amygdala in Conflict (05:14)
• Teaching Conflict Tolerance Through Modeling (08:49)
• The Importance of Inner Reflection (11:07)
• Conclusion and Future Plans (12:15)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Many parents find themselves asking the same painful questions: Why can't my child get started? Why won't they get out of bed, apply for the job, make the phone call, or begin the assignment?

It can look like laziness, entitlement, or a lack of motivation, leaving parents feeling frustrated, worried, and unsure how to help. In this episode, Jennifer challenges the idea of "failure to launch" and explains why that label often misses what's really happening beneath the surface.

Jennifer shares what she sees every day in her practice: intelligent, kind, and capable young people who aren't refusing to move forward, they're overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally frozen. She explores how fear, shame, perfectionism, and relentless self-criticism can leave teens and young adults feeling completely stuck, even when they desperately want to succeed. What appears to be avoidance is often a nervous system caught in survival mode.

This episode helps parents shift from seeing laziness or defiance to recognizing emotional overwhelm and anxiety because sometimes the first step isn't pushing harder, it's understanding what's keeping them stuck in the first place.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Understanding Failure to Launch (00:00)
• Introduction to Jennifer Kolary and Connected Parenting (01:21)
• Brain Science and Emotional Movement (02:35)
• Parental Struggles and Overfunctioning (05:59)
• Building Confidence Through Small Actions (11:29)
• The Role of Comparisons and External Support (15:22)
• Connecting and Regulating Emotions (20:32)
• Normalizing Anxiety and Procrastination (20:47)
• Parental Strategies for Support (21:51)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Many parents are carrying a quiet but persistent sense of uncertainty. The headlines, world events, and constant flow of information can leave families feeling like life is less predictable than it once was.

In this episode, Jennifer continues the conversation about fear and uncertainty, exploring what it means to parent when this isn't just a temporary moment but an ongoing emotional climate. She explains how children often absorb the emotional atmosphere around them and why they look to the adults in their lives for a sense of safety and stability.

Jennifer shares practical ways to support children through uncertain times without pretending everything is okay or overwhelming them with fear.

This episode is a reminder that although we can't remove uncertainty from the world, we can create homes where our children feel safe, connected, and confident enough to navigate whatever comes next.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Staying Grounded for Our Kids: Introduction and Context (00:00)
• Understanding the Emotional Loop in Families (02:06)
• Practical Strategies for Parents (03:42)
• Creating a Safe Space at Home (05:02)
• Implementing Rituals and Self-Care (07:35)
• Structuring the Day for Predictability (10:17)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Many parents notice something surprising after family life begins to improve. Their child is calmer, relationships are stronger, and the home feels more peaceful, yet they still feel anxious, unsettled, or like they’re waiting for something to go wrong.

In this episode, Jennifer explores why this happens and explains how the nervous system can remain stuck in a state of high alert long after the stress that created it has passed.

She offers reassurance for parents who feel confused by lingering anxiety, reminding them that there’s nothing wrong with them. Their nervous system is simply learning how to trust safety again, and with patience, awareness, and self-compassion, it can learn to settle into the calm they've worked so hard to create.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Understanding Parental Emotional Dynamics (00:00)
• Nervous System Adaptation to Stress (01:14)
• The Elastic Band Response (03:25)
• Signs of Improvement in Child Behavior (04:42)
• Family System Rebalancing (05:59)
• Parental Self-Care and Patience (08:58)
• Normalizing the Healing Process (10:03)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Sibling conflict can be one of the hardest parts of parenting, especially when the fighting feels intense, personal, or mean. These moments can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, protective, and wondering if they’re doing something wrong.

In this episode, Jennifer explores why sibling conflict feels so activating for parents and explains that what looks like bad behavior is often developing brains, big emotions, unmet needs, and dysregulated nervous systems colliding. Siblings naturally compete for attention, fairness, autonomy, and connection, and when stress levels rise, so can conflict.

Listen in to hear Jennifer break down what children are actually learning through sibling conflict and why these difficult moments can become opportunities for building emotional regulation, communication, and resilience.

She shares practical strategies for staying regulated yourself, avoiding referee mode, creating safety during big moments, and helping children repair afterward. Because sibling conflict isn’t usually a sign something is wrong in your family, it’s often where some of the most important learning happens.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Why Sibling Conflict Feels So Hard (0:00)
• What Sibling Conflict Is Really Teaching Kids (02:30)
• The Brain Science Behind Sibling Fights (05:00)
• Understanding Sibling Roles and Family Dynamics (07:00)
• How Parents Can Respond During Big Moments (10:00)
• Teaching Repair, Connection, and Lifelong Skills (12:30)
• Final Thoughts: Conflict Is Practice, Not Failure (14:00)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Some children seem like they have it all together. They’re organized, responsible, self-motivated, and successful, often earning good grades and appearing easier to parent.

But underneath that success can be intense anxiety, perfectionism, and an exhausting inner voice that never quiets down.

In this episode, Jennifer explores the often-overlooked group of high-achieving children who appear confident and capable on the outside but may be carrying enormous emotional pressure internally. These children often have a combination of strong thinking skills and highly sensitive emotional systems, which can create a constant cycle of overthinking, fear of failure, self-criticism, and tying their worth to achievement.

Jennifer explores how temperament, sensitivity, and personality contribute to these patterns, why parents may miss the signs when struggles are internalized, and how our own experiences with achievement and self-worth can shape how we respond.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Understanding High-Achieving, Anxious Children (00:00)
• Brain Dynamics and Emotional Pressure (02:43)
• Temperament and Sensitivity (04:36)
• Parental Reactions and Personal Patterns (06:40)
• Supporting High-Achieving Children (08:37)
• Modeling and Teaching Self-Compassion (11:21)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

These intense moments of a panic attack can come on suddenly and feel terrifying, whether you’re experiencing one or witnessing your child go through it.

In this week's replay I’ll help you understand the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack, what’s happening in the brain during these episodes, and most importantly, how to respond in a calm, supportive, and effective way.

You’ll learn practical strategies to help your child feel safe, grounded, and empowered when panic takes over, and how to support their overall emotional well-being going forward.

Whether you're navigating this now or preparing for the future, this episode is full of essential tools and compassionate insight to help your family through.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Understanding Panic Attacks (00:00)
• Differences Between Panic and Anxiety Attacks (02:11)
• The Impact of Panic Attacks on Parents and Children (03:22)
• Strategies for Managing Panic Attacks (07:33)
• Practical Techniques for Calming Down (13:39)
• Long-Term Management and Therapy (21:59)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

While summer may seem exciting from an adult perspective, for children it represents a major emotional transition. They are saying goodbye to routines, teachers, classmates, and familiar structure while stepping into the uncertainty of what comes next.

Even positive changes can feel overwhelming, especially for highly sensitive children, kids with ADHD, gifted children, or kids who struggle with transitions. And because children often communicate stress through behavior rather than words, these feelings can show up as silliness, irritability, emotional outbursts, or lower frustration tolerance.

In this episode, Jennifer explains why children experience this time of year so intensely and how parents can support them through the transition into summer with more understanding and connection.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Understanding the Emotional Shift in Kids Before Summer (00:00)
• Children's Perception of Time and Seasonal Changes (02:28)
• Impact of Teachers' Exhaustion and Seasonal Changes (05:02)
• Summer's Effect on Children's Routine and Structure (06:30)
• Practical Tips for Supporting Children During Summer (07:36)
• Balancing Activities and Social Events (10:28)
• Encouraging Connection and Understanding (11:00)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).