Family Confidential: Secrets of Successful Parenting with Annie Fox, M.Ed.

Kids, tweens and teen face a daily barrage of sexualized content. Which is why it's virtually impossible to raise children without their absorbing messages that are underpinned by, what sexologist Liz Walker calls, a "pornified" culture. Annie talks with Liz about her Australia-based Youth Wellbeing Project, and how teens need parents and mentors willing to talk with them about the subjects that can no longer be swept under the carpet, S-E-X and P-O-R-N.

About Liz Walker

Liz Walker is a sexologist, mother, teen life coach, presenter and sexuality educator. She brings much needed insight into raising teens with a positive attitude towards their bodies and peers, and offers strategic tips for healthy sexual development. Founder and National Director of Youth Wellbeing Project, Liz has been described as a woman "ready to talk about any aspect of sexuality," with no area too difficult to discuss. Learn more at http://YouthWellBeingProject.com.au and at http://LizWalkerPresents.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When kids act up it's hard for parents not to get their buttons pushed and, well... yell at their children. This is especially true when the behavior on display has been the topic of "conversation" on at least ten prior occasions. We should save our breath (and our blood pressure) advises Sharon Silver, parenting coach and author of "Stop Reacting and Start Responding." "Yelling creates the illusion that you're actually stopping misbehavior," she says. "It isn't doing what you think it's doing." In this episode, Annie and Sharon discuss healthy and more effective alternatives to yelling.

About Sharon Silver

Sharon Silver is the creator of the Proactive Parenting Approach and the author of "Stop Reacting and Start Responding: 108 Ways to Discipline Consciously and Become the Parent You Want to Be." She is a mom, parent educator, coach, author, speaker and blogger who has appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Sharon has also been a radio and TV host and shared her humanistic approach to parenting on national radio, as well as in newspaper, and online interviews including Parenting Magazine, CNN and CNN Health. Learn more at http://ProactiveParenting.net

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When kids act up it's hard for parents not to get their buttons pushed and, well... yell at their children. This is especially true when the behavior on display has been the topic of "conversation" on at least ten prior occasions. We should save our breath (and our blood pressure) advises Sharon Silver, parenting coach and author of "Stop Reacting and Start Responding." "Yelling creates the illusion that you're actually stopping misbehavior," she says. "It isn't doing what you think it's doing." In this episode, Annie and Sharon discuss healthy and more effective alternatives to yelling.

About Sharon Silver

Sharon Silver is the creator of the Proactive Parenting Approach and the author of "Stop Reacting and Start Responding: 108 Ways to Discipline Consciously and Become the Parent You Want to Be." She is a mom, parent educator, coach, author, speaker and blogger who has appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Sharon has also been a radio and TV host and shared her humanistic approach to parenting on national radio, as well as in newspaper, and online interviews including Parenting Magazine, CNN and CNN Health. Learn more at http://ProactiveParenting.net

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

You longed for a child of your own and you absolutely love being a parent. But you are also a multifaceted human being with other interests and goals apart from parenting. With all the time parenting requires, how do you stay connected with your other passions? Annie talks with Sarah Spear, host of the weekly podcast The Parentalist. They discuss the importance of making time for your non-parenting passions. Because, as Sarah says, "Doing what you love will make you a happier person and a better parent!"

About Sarah Spear

Sarah Spear is a stay-at-home Mom of two young daughters. She is also a self-publisher of techie children's books, the My Little Geek series. Her passion is encouraging parents and meeting new people. So it made perfect sense, when her younger daughter was three years old, she and her "tech genius" husband, Andrew Spear, started a weekly podcast called The Parentalist, for parents who love business and love their families. Learn more at http://SarahSpear.com.

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

You longed for a child of your own and you absolutely love being a parent. But you are also a multifaceted human being with other interests and goals apart from parenting. With all the time parenting requires, how do you stay connected with your other passions? Annie talks with Sarah Spear, host of the weekly podcast The Parentalist. They discuss the importance of making time for your non-parenting passions. Because, as Sarah says, "Doing what you love will make you a happier person and a better parent!"

About Sarah Spear

Sarah Spear is a stay-at-home Mom of two young daughters. She is also a self-publisher of techie children's books, the My Little Geek series. Her passion is encouraging parents and meeting new people. So it made perfect sense, when her younger daughter was three years old, she and her "tech genius" husband, Andrew Spear, started a weekly podcast called The Parentalist, for parents who love business and love their families. Learn more at http://SarahSpear.com.

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

School bullying gets an awful lot of media coverage. Character education, not so much. And yet if we are truly serious about reducing peer conflict in school, we've got to be educating kids to be empathetic, compassionate humans with the social courage to do the right thing, online and off. Annie talks with school counselor Barabara Gruener about her new book "What's Under your Cape? Superheroes of the Character Kind". They also discuss why character counts and why teaching kids people skills needs to be a top priority for 21st century parents and educators.

About Barbara Gruener

School counselor and character coach Barbara Gruener grew up on her family's dairy farm in Wisconsin. She says her parents "always welcomed people into our home including foreign exchange students and foster children—so I learned to appreciate culture and diversity!" She currently works her friendship skill building and character magic with the K-5th grade students at Westwood-Bales Elementary School in Friendswood, TX (I didn't make that up!) Learn more at http://CornerOnCharacter.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

School bullying gets an awful lot of media coverage. Character education, not so much. And yet if we are truly serious about reducing peer conflict in school, we've got to be educating kids to be empathetic, compassionate humans with the social courage to do the right thing, online and off. Annie talks with school counselor Barabara Gruener about her new book "What's Under your Cape? Superheroes of the Character Kind". They also discuss why character counts and why teaching kids people skills needs to be a top priority for 21st century parents and educators.

About Barbara Gruener

School counselor and character coach Barbara Gruener grew up on her family's dairy farm in Wisconsin. She says her parents "always welcomed people into our home including foreign exchange students and foster children—so I learned to appreciate culture and diversity!" She currently works her friendship skill building and character magic with the K-5th grade students at Westwood-Bales Elementary School in Friendswood, TX (I didn't make that up!) Learn more at http://CornerOnCharacter.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Which style of parenting best describes you? Reactive or reflective? When we do the knee-jerk reactive thing all the time, we are not as likely to respond appropriately to our children. But when we take the time to develop a reflective approach, we are better able to learn from our parenting mis-steps as well as our parenting successes. Annie talks to Dr. Amy Alamar about her new book, "Parenting for the Genius: Developing Confidence in Your Parenting Through Reflective Practice".

About Amy Alamar

Amy Alamar, EdD, has been working and researching in the field of education as a teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and reformer for over fifteen years, with a focus on underresourced students, literacy, curriculum design, and constructivist education. She has also done additional research in the areas of utilization of multimedia in education and student stress. In her role as an educator, Amy has been in classrooms ranging from elementary all the way through higher education. Her latest book, Parenting for the Genius, offers sound and productive advice based on research, professional experience, and personal practice. Learn more at http://AmyAlamar.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Which style of parenting best describes you? Reactive or reflective? When we do the knee-jerk reactive thing all the time, we are not as likely to respond appropriately to our children. But when we take the time to develop a reflective approach, we are better able to learn from our parenting mis-steps as well as our parenting successes. Annie talks to Dr. Amy Alamar about her new book, "Parenting for the Genius: Developing Confidence in Your Parenting Through Reflective Practice".

About Amy Alamar

Amy Alamar, EdD, has been working and researching in the field of education as a teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and reformer for over fifteen years, with a focus on underresourced students, literacy, curriculum design, and constructivist education. She has also done additional research in the areas of utilization of multimedia in education and student stress. In her role as an educator, Amy has been in classrooms ranging from elementary all the way through higher education. Her latest book, Parenting for the Genius, offers sound and productive advice based on research, professional experience, and personal practice. Learn more at http://AmyAlamar.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Twenty-first century family life can be stressful, with parents and kids juggling obligations and schedules that would have made our parents' 20th century minds come unglued. And yet we manage... most of the time... with patience and good-humor. But at those moments when we are stressed to the max, what do we typically do? And when we do what we typically do, what are we teaching our kids about managing stress? Annie talks to Lori Lite, founder of Stress Free Kids, about simple and effective ways parents can teach calmness... something every family could use more of.

About Lori Lite

Lori Lite is the founder of Stress Free Kids®. She has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, lower anxiety and control anger. As a parent, Lori spent two hours every single night trying to settle her young son down to sleep. Her daughter developed stress related night terrors and Lori herself became sick from anxiety. In an effort to help her family she created a story for her children that would entertain them while introducing them to research-based relaxation techniques. That moment began a journey that now includes 8 books, 10 CDs, a curriculum and lesson plans. Lori's titles are used by parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. A successful entrepreneur, Lori cut a deal on Shark Tank with Barbara Corcoran which helped her greatly increase her sales and grow her business. Learn more at http://StressFreeKids.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.