How do you actually raise confident kids in a world that constantly tells them they are not enough? 

In this episode, I share the real strategies I use at home and in my clinical practice to help children build healthy self-confidence from the inside out. These are the same evidence-based parenting approaches I use to guide parents who want to create calm, capable, and emotionally resilient kids. 

You will learn how to model positive self-talk for kids and how to help your daughter see herself as capable, kind, and deeply worthy.

Here is what we’ll cover in this episode:

• The exact language I use to model positive self-talk for kids and how it shapes a child’s lifelong confidence

• Why true healthy self-confidence starts with how you talk to yourself as a parent and what your kids overhear

• How to use evidence-based parenting strategies like modeling, praise, and reflection to raise confident kids without inflating their ego

• The surprising ways our culture chips away at healthy self-confidence in girls and how you can protect your daughter from it

• What it means to balance kindness with self-respect so you can raise confident kids who treat others well and stand up for themselves

If you want to understand how to build healthy self-confidence, use positive self-talk for kids, and lean on evidence-based parenting tools that actually work, this episode is for you. Listen now to learn how you can raise confident kids who believe in themselves no matter what life brings.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Read the full show notes HERE!

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Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

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Watch this episode on YouTube!

If your child has ever came down with a fever out of nowhere, and you’ve questioned when to take your child to the doctor (or if you can wait it out at home), this episode will give you the calm, clarity, and confidence you need.

I’m joined by Dr. Ross Newman (Dr. Rossome), a board-certified pediatrician and father of six, who shares trusted pediatrician advice that helps every parent make informed, evidence-based choices. 

Together, we talk about how to manage parental anxiety, understand fevers in kids, and use positive parenting tips to stay grounded when your child is sick.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to know when to take your child to the doctor and what signs matter most.
• What every parent should understand about fevers in kids and when they become a concern.
• Why understanding normal illness patterns helps reduce parental anxiety when your child has a fever.
• The most practical pediatrician advice for hydration, fever, and common viral infections.
• How simple positive parenting tips can help you stay calm and confident even when things feel uncertain.

Parents often struggle with parental anxiety about when to take your child to the doctor, especially when symptoms are confusing. This episode helps you trust yourself again with the right pediatrician advice, clear insight into fevers in kids, and the kind of positive parenting tips that keep your home calmer and your confidence stronger.

Listen now for expert pediatrician advice and discover how to handle parental anxiety with clarity about when to take your child to the doctor and practical, positive parenting tips for real-life situations.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Read the full show notes HERE!

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Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

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CONNECT WITH DR. ROSS NEWMAN:

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Facebook

Do you ever wonder how to improve executive function in your child so they can stay organized and actually turn in their work? You are not alone. 

In this episode, I talk with Evan Weinberger, founder of Staying Ahead of the Game, about how to improve executive function at home using simple, practical strategies that really work. Together, we explore how the right homework planner, daily checklists for kids, and consistent time management for teens can reduce frustration and help children feel capable and confident.

As a psychologist and parent, I know how exhausting it can be to remind, repeat, and rescue your child from the same executive functioning challenges every week. Evan and I share real solutions that make it easier to improve executive function through structure, support, and the right tools that fit your family’s routine.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why teaching your child to improve executive function early builds lifelong skills for independence and success

• How to set up a homework planner that actually gets used and helps your child manage big projects with ease

• The science behind checklists for kids and how they make daily transitions smoother and calmer

• The secret to using a homework planner and checklists for kids together to build strong time management for teens

• How to spot the signs that your child might benefit from extra support to improve executive function at home or school

If you are ready to help your child feel more capable and calm, this episode gives you the tools to improve executive function, create a reliable homework planner, build lasting time management for teens, and use checklists for kids to bring more peace and confidence into your home.

Listen now to learn how to improve executive function, design a homework planner that works, strengthen time management for teens, and make checklists for kids a natural part of your family’s daily rhythm.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Episode 29: Why Praising Your Child Matters More Than You Think: How to Praise Your Child with Julia Lair

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CONNECT WITH EVAN WEINBERGER:

SAOTG Client Challenge

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Binder system for students

Reach out (713-665-4263 or [email protected]) to discuss any additional support needs for academic tutoring and/or executive function coaching

Feeling torn about letting your child join in on spooky events this October? You are not alone. In this episode, I unpack how Halloween pressure affects kids and teens, and how you can support confident, age-appropriate decision-making examples that build resilience instead of anxiety.

We talk about what really happens when Halloween pressure meets social expectations and how to spot early symptoms of teenage stress before they become overwhelming. You will leave this episode with clear strategies for how to deal with peer pressure and guide your child through scary situations without conflict or guilt.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to recognize when Halloween pressure is crossing the line into genuine anxiety and what to do about scary situations your child might face

• Practical age-appropriate decision-making examples that help your tween or teen build confidence in their own judgment

• Subtle symptoms of teenage stress that parents often overlook around social events

• How to model how to deal with peer pressure so your child learns self-trust through your example

• A realistic framework for saying “no” to activities that do not fit your family values without isolating your child socially

If Halloween pressure has your household feeling stretched, this episode will help you breathe easier and parent with calm confidence. Listen now to learn how to deal with peer pressure, support age-appropriate decision-making examples, navigate scary situations, and recognize symptoms of teenage stress before they take hold.

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Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

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What if the very parenting trends you’re following to help your child are quietly making your parental relationship harder? In this episode, I unpack the viral tension between “f around and find out parenting” and gentle parenting, and share what truly works when we focus on evidence-based parenting that builds trust, connection, and calm in our homes.

As both a psychologist and a parent, I’ve seen how easily we can lose ourselves in labels and online advice. That’s why I’m breaking down the real framework behind effective evidence-based parenting, how it changes the way we think about teaching kids boundaries, and why your parental relationship deserves more than another trendy parenting label.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why so many modern parenting trends confuse warmth with permissiveness, and what to do instead
• The biggest mistake parents make when applying f around and find out parenting (and how it can quietly damage your parental relationship)
• How evidence-based parenting helps you feel confident in teaching kids boundaries, even when emotions run high
• A practical way to balance warmth, limits, and self-regulation so your parental relationship actually strengthens over time
• What to focus on when you’re overwhelmed by conflicting parenting trends, and how to return to what really matters

If you’re ready to stop chasing the latest parenting trends and start using evidence-based parenting that helps you feel grounded, connected, and capable in teaching kids boundaries, this episode will help you reset and reconnect with your core values as a parent.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE!

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Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

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Have you ever wondered if you’re doing it right when it comes to how to praise your child? 

So many parents second-guess the benefits of praising a child, but the truth is that the right kind of praise can completely change the tone of your home. In this episode, I talk with licensed clinical social worker and PCIT therapist Julia Lair about why praising children is one of the most powerful parenting tools we have and how to use it well.

We talk about the science-backed benefits of praising a child, practical examples of how to praise a child with words, and simple ways of promoting positive behaviour that you can start using today. Julia and I also discuss the fears many parents have about “too much praise” and how those worries often get in the way of connection and growth.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why the real benefits of praising a child go far beyond good manners, and how it shapes your child’s self-worth
• What makes praising children so effective, and how to avoid the common mistakes parents make when giving praise
• Simple strategies for how to praise a child with words that feel natural and genuine
• The most effective ways of promoting positive behaviour through everyday interactions
• How to praise your child in a way that builds confidence and connection

If you’ve ever hesitated about how to praise your child or wondered whether it really makes a difference, this episode will help you see why praising children is one of the best investments you can make in your relationship with your child.

Listen now to learn authentic, research-based ways of promoting positive behaviour and discover the lasting benefits of praising a child.

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CONNECT WITH JULIA LAIR:

Request an appointment with her HERE!

Every October, families find themselves in the same struggle: what happens when your child just can’t pick a Halloween costume? 

If you’ve ever had a kid switch from Elsa to Batman to Paw Patrol in the same week, you know how exhausting kids' Halloween costumes can be for the whole household.

In this episode, I share how parents on Halloween can handle the indecision without losing patience, overspending, or giving in to every last-minute whim. Together, we’ll look at why costumes feel so important to kids and how you can meet their needs while still setting boundaries with kids that protect your sanity.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• Why it’s so hard for kids to finally pick a Halloween costume
• How much pressure kids Halloween costumes carry socially and emotionally
• What happens when parents on Halloween feel judged by other parents
• A framework for setting boundaries with kids while still allowing creativity
• How to keep your child’s joy alive without buying ten costumes

If you’ve been wondering how to help your child finally pick a Halloween costume (and stick with it), this episode will give you strategies you can actually use. You’ll feel less stressed about kids Halloween costumes and more confident about what matters most for parents on Halloween.

Press play now and learn how to balance connection and fun while setting boundaries with kids this Halloween season.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Episode 16: How to Stop Meltdowns Before They Start by Managing Expectations and Parenting Without Power Struggles

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Getting kids to brush their teeth can feel like one of those nightly battles that drains everyone. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your kids to brush their teeth without endless fights, you’re not alone. 

I sat down with Dr. Robert Geiman-orthodontist, dad, and author of The Tooth Bible - to talk through the real struggles parents face and toothbrushing tips that actually work.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why toothbrushing for toddlers is so tough and how to make it less of a battle
• The surprising truth about at what age should a child brush their own teeth
• Real-life toothbrushing tips that parents can try tonight (without fancy tools or gimmicks)
• How to make brushing fun with silly toothpaste flavors, colorful toothbrushes, and family games
• What happens when even dentists have to figure out how to get your kids to brush their teeth in real life

If you’ve been stressing about at what age should a child brush their own teeth, or just looking for simple toothbrushing tips that actually work, you’ll find both clarity and encouragement here.

This episode will help you rethink the nightly struggle, bring some ease back into toothbrushing for toddlers, and give you confidence in how to get your kids to brush their teeth in a way that sticks.

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

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CONNECT WITH DR ROBERT GEIMAN:

The Tooth Bible Website

Child and Adult Orthodontics Website

Have you ever wondered if there are simple child reward system ideas that actually work when your kids are melting down? 

As a psychologist - and a mom who’s been right there in the chaos - I’ll walk you through how to use positive reinforcement parenting in real life to turn things around quickly.

When kids are screaming, refusing to listen, and pushing every boundary, you don’t need more yelling - you need child reward system ideas and a system that helps you reinforce positive behaviors in a way that’s simple, fast, and actually effective. 

This episode will give you the exact steps I use in my own home to get kids back on track.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why positive reinforcement parenting isn’t “dog training” - and why kids thrive when you clearly show them what they’re doing right.
• The one shift that makes all the difference in how to get your child to listen better (hint: it’s not about being stricter).
• My favorite child reward system ideas that require nothing more than a piece of paper and a pen.
• How to use this system to reinforce positive behaviors so your kids naturally want to repeat them.
• The secret to how to get kids to do chores without constant nagging or power struggles.

Whether you’re in a tough parenting season, juggling work stress with tantrums at home, or just wondering how to get your child to listen better, this episode will give you a clear way forward. 

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

Instagram

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Does the question, “what age should a child get a cell phone?” keep you up at night? You’re not alone - and you’re not overthinking it. 

In this episode, I sit down with child psychologist Dr. Rupa Robbins, founder of Tech Positive Parenting, to cut through the chaos around phones for kids. Together we unpack the research, the realities, and the practical phone rules that help busy families decide not just when to say yes, but how to do it well. 

If you’ve wondered “should kids have smartphones?”, wrestled with all of the reason’s why not to give your child a phone yet, or need a script for setting phone rules, this conversation is your roadmap.

We’ll help you decide: what age should a child get a cell phone, when to delay, and how to scaffold access. We talk about alternatives to full internet devices (yes, there’s a middle path for phones for kids), and the exact phone rules that keep your child safer while protecting family culture. 

In this episode, we cover:

• The age question, answered: what the research says about what age should a child get a cell phone - and why each year of delay matters more than you think!
• Smart alternatives before smartphones: how to meet safety needs with kid-safe devices and watches, so you can say “yes” to phones for kids without saying “yes” to the internet
• Your family’s “driver’s ed” plan: the core phone rules that make first phones feel manageable
• Capacity and timing: a quick gut-check for parents - because sometimes the right answer to should kids have smartphones is “not until we have bandwidth,” and that’s a valid reason for why not to give your child a phone yet.

If you’ve been Googling what age should a child get a cell phone, debating should kids have smartphones, and trying to write phone rules that actually work, this episode is for you. 

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Sapien Labs study: Age of First Smartphone/Tablet and Mental Wellbeing Outcomes

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

Instagram

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CONNECT WITH DR. RUPA ROBBINS:

Tech Positive Parenting Website

Instagram @techpositiveparenting

Tech Positive Parenting Substack

Join the interested list for the upcoming course: So, You're Ready for a Phone?