Kids Under Construction

In this episode of Kids Under Construction, Donna Tetreault interviews Jessica Lahey. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Gift of Failure and has a new book out, The Addiction Inoculation. Lahey gives parents the foundation to better understand the roots of addiction and helps offer steps toward prevention. This work starts early in life. David Epstein, bestselling author of The Sports Gene and Range says this about Lahey's new book. “Hard and tremendously important conversations are at the core of The Addiction Inoculation. But thanks to Jessica Lahey’s wit, compassion, and beautiful writing, reading it feels like having those conversations with your most entertaining friend who also happens to be an expert in substance abuse research, education, and child development.”Listen in to this honest and important conversation.

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It's been a difficult news week and kids are probably asking a lot of questions. There's no one way to explain frightening news, but on this episode of Kids Under Construction, Donna talks to XYZA News for Kids' founders Joann Suen and Sapna Satagopan to help in the conversations that might come up during family gatherings, with friends and others.

Kids need help understanding how to source news and put it into context. XYZA founders offer up much needed information and help for parents and kids alike.

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In this episode of Kids Under Construction, Donna Tetreault interviews Dr. Stephanie Lee with the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Lee offers timely and practical advice for families during this pandemic holiday season. Parents are given strategies to help their children, young kids and teens, adapt to and enjoy this very different holiday.

How can you, your child manage worry? How can you think about starting new traditions? How can you manage your feelings and emotions?

This episode is a quick guide to truly loving this holiday season and accepting this moment in time.

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The Parent Compass was written to help parents understand their appropriate role in navigating the tween and teen years amidst a competitive academic environment that has resulted in overparenting and, indeed, even fraud and bribery as we've seen play out in the media over the past year. It provides the tools for parents to adopt better parenting behavior and learn to appropriately approach the type of parenting that leads to their children’s academic success and emotional well-being. It addresses how to help kids develop resilience, grit, and intention, and it discusses failure, technology/screen time, the importance of family dinner, study skills, and much more. We strive to help parents keep their relationships with their children intact while they help their kids develop self-reliance and find purpose in their life’s journey to high school, college, and beyond. We called on the expertise of education thought leaders, school counselors, heads of school, teachers, adolescent psychologists, authors, and our own wisdom as mothers and seasoned educational consultants to bring together the most current, up-to-date resource guide for parents. Cindy Clumeck Muchnick, MA and Jenn Curtis MSW, Co-Authors of The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen's Wellness and Academic Journey in Today's Competitive World [Familius/Workman Publishing, 9/2020 release]

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In this episode Donna and nationally recognized miscarriage expert Dr. Barbara Toppin, MD, board-certified and beloved OB/GYN physician, surgeon and a  founding  partner  of  Adefris & Toppin Women’s Specialists, M.D.P.C., discuss this heartbreaking phenomenon and how it impacts women, their relationships and their families.  Many women don’t openly discuss this issue with their doctors after a miscarriage. They simply move forward and try again, even after multiple miscarriages, leaving them vulnerable to further problems that may be avoidable. 

Now that women are having babies well into their forties and beyond this issue has never been more relevant.  Using the recent miscarriage suffered by celebrity Chrissy Teigen as a touchstone, Donna and Doctor Toppin take a deep dive into the issues and realities surrounding this not uncommon phenomenon.  What causes them?  Are there warning signs?  Is there a perfect lifestyle that will eliminate the possibility of a miscarriage? At what point should a woman seek treatment and if they keep happening should she find another doctor? Are there tests and therapies that can help prevent miscarriages?  Do genetic factors and family history play a role? Do pre-existing conditions? Is past a predictor of future events?  Is there an age that’s too old to be pregnant safely?   Is there a connection to certain viruses?  Is there a Thyroid connection?  How does PTSD affect a pregnancy? How does one process grief, shame or self-blame?  How does it impact other health issues?

We want everyone to know that miscarriage is natural and can effect any woman at any point in her reproductive life and that there is help available to deal with the aftermath and perhaps even avoid further problems.  Most of all we want everyone to know that no one has to go through a miscarriage alone. 

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Contact:

Adefris & Toppin Women's Specialists, M.D.P.C.

215 Radio Drive Suite 200

Woodbury, Mn 55125

Office Phone Number: 651-686-6400

website is www.adefrisandtoppin.com

Facebook: @adefrisandtoppin

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In this episode of KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, voiceover artist, Rachael MacFarlane and host Donna Tetreault compare notes on their “mom worries.” Donna is in LA with her family, but Rachael has left LA behind along with her kids, husband, her father and his wife. They’re staying on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, zooming, working, going to school and feeling grateful everyday. Not many people can escape to such an idealic place, but Rachael says all the concerns they had in LA came with them. Are the kids happy? Are they doing okay with zooming school? Are they too lonely? Donna says that she has those second thoughts, too. “Are we doing the right thing?” is on her mind as much as on Rachael’s. The women agree that the constant worry goes with you wherever you are. 

Mom of two girls, Rachael says if her kids were given the choice they’d rather be in school with friends and teachers. While the beach is lovely and they have more freedom to run around, their masks are always on and they are aware the future is uncertain. Even though they were originally scared about work drying up, both Rachael and her animation director husband, Spencer Laudiero, discovered they could work anywhere. Animation is portable – no sets, no big casts. Now the couple is making the most of a challenging situation and developing their own animated show based on the main character in Eleanor Wyatt, Princess and Pirate, the second children’s book they wrote and illustrated. 

Both Rachael and Donna have tips for getting your kids through the pandemic. Find something new: Donna’s son can no longer play team sports, but he’s learned to play golf. Rachael and her husband have taken on a new project. 

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In this exciting episode of KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, Donna looks back at Season One and culls the best advice for raising kids from her favorite celebrity friends. Award winning actress Dallas Bryce Howard is adamant that fathers should be just as involved in raising kids as mothers, despite the stigma that says otherwise. In her documentary “Dad” her message is that men are more than providers. They are caretakers. Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar has clear expectations for his children around behavior: good manners and neat bedrooms. “No” means “no” in his household. Actor Chris Noth believes in discipline. His son isn’t allowed to have a cell phone and his screen time is carefully monitored. Dr. Gail Dines applauds Noth’s decisions. The psychologist says that as soon as a kids have access to a cell phone, the dangerous world of the internet is right in front of them. 

This episode contains guidance on a variety of situations that come up in families, but all four segments are based on the universal concern for our young. 

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In the first episode of the second season of “Kids Under Construction” Dr. Michele Borba offers the audience a wealth of practical advice. Just what families are looking for! Despite the pandemic, parents shouldn’t raise the white flag and give up on their kids’ lives, says the internationally renowned psychologist and author of 24 books. In her latest bestseller, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World, she writes that our children have lost their compassion and empathy for others. She blames too much time on screens for lessoning human interaction. Without empathy children cannot succeed in life, despite stellar grades and test scores.

 Dr. Borba tells host Donna Tetreault that parents should pay more attention to their children now, watching for signs of stress and helping them cope. Tibetan monks taught the renowned psychologist the secret of deep breathing to relieve anxiety, which she passes on to parents during the conversation. She suggests helping children discover hobbies – finding a passion. Not only to keep them occupied now, but hobbies may become a life-long interest. She warns all of us not be “alone together.” If you or your child is on Zoom, or at home, make sure they’re engaged and not just sitting there alone without awareness for those around them.

 This not-to-be-missed episode is chock full of carefully crafted optimism and new found wisdom for the precarious job of raising children during a pandemic. If you’re a parent, grandparent or relative this episode has some answers.

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Many families with growing children have long used summer camp as growth tool for development, a way for kids to learn social skills, independence, resilience, confidence and teamwork.  But this year summer camp is probably going to look a whole lot different due to COVID-19. A lot of parents have questions about whether or not camp is even an option this year and how can they can provide the structured learning and seemingly limitless activities to keep anxious kids occupied and happy. Karen Meister, a lifelong camp participant, counselor and now Advisor for Camp Experts And Teen Summers, joins Donna to discuss the wonderful benefits of summer camp and what summer camp will look like in 2020 under the restrictions and guidelines of COVID-19. Will kids be “zooming” this summer in a virtual summer camp? Will there be bubble wrap sleep-away camp communities with stringent protocols like Coronavirus testing? Would kids be unenthusiastic about virtual camp since they’ve mostly been homeschooling at computers every day? Karen reveals innovative ideas camps have come up with to create a fun, safe, and inspirational environment for kids from all over the world.  Taking inspiration from television shows that have performances in guests’ homes, camps are creating theater productions and classes on fashion design much like the TV format we see today. Summer camp may look a lot different this year, but the benefits are still very much available to kids and families. 

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Team sports strongly impact children’s development by teaching leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Gaining these skills at a young age can help pave a successful path for kids’ futures. Yet despite these well-documented benefits, youth team sports are on the decline and some are trying to turn the tide on this trend. In this podcast, Donna is joined by the Chief Executive Officer of The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Nichol Whiteman who heads the team’s charitable division. Under her leadership the foundation helped launch RBI, (Reviving Baseball in Inner cities), serving over 11,000 kids. Last year RBI built the 51st dream field for kids to play ball on regardless of their socioeconomic background. She is also on the board of the Positive Coaching, a national non-profit organization that creates a character-building youth sports environment. Nicole has two boys who are avid athletes in everything from baseball to golf. She’s witnessed how team sports shaped her boys into fine young men but these days the average child spends less than three years playing a sport before quitting, most often because the sport “just isn’t fun anymore.” Donna and Nichol discuss how to instill a “growth mindset “ in child athletes. Those who have a growth mindset believe their ability is due to practice, effort, and improving performance, unlike athletes who think their ability is fixed. In this episode, parents will gain insight on encouraging their kids to play sports for enjoyment, self-esteem, character building, and leadership skills.

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