The Parent Empowerance Podcast

By Amara Bradetich

Welcome to the Parent Empowerance Podcast, where we make early childhood research relatable and actionable for parents. Your host, Amara Bradetich of Parent Empowerance,

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FAQs about The Parent Empowerance Podcast:

How many episodes does The Parent Empowerance Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.

The Parent Empowerance Podcast episodes:

April 01, 2026Episode 5: Becoming parents: How the transition to parenthood affects your relationships with your partner and yourself
The transition to parenthood is seen as one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences that people go through. This episode focuses on how becoming a parent affects your relationships with your partner and yourself. This included:
Reviewing research on:
The changes that often occur to your relationship with your partner while becoming parents
The way parenthood affects your identity, sleep, self-regulation, hormones, and physical self
Providing examples on:
My own personal experience becoming a parent and navigating postpartum
Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:
Discuss non-negotiables with your partner and how you’ll make time for each other to do them
Communication! - Make sure to find ways to communicate positively and with empathy
Find other forms of intimacy/connection (cuddles, talking, etc.)
Verbalize appreciation and acknowledge what your partner is doing
Find ways to put back into yourself and your partner in new ways or WITH your kids (gratitude journaling, getting outside, no-phone time, going out to eat, etc.)
Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
38min
March 25, 2026Episode 4: "Take a deeeeep breath:" How to support your child's self-regulation
This episode focuses on why supporting your child’s self-regulation is important, signs you may need more help with your child’s behavior or emotional regulation, and how to practice these skills in early childhood. This included:
Reviewing research on:
What self-regulation in early childhood helps with now and in the future
Why kids needs to practice it in early childhood
Providing examples on:
What self-regulation can look like and how to practice it at different ages
Regular regulatory issues in early childhood vs. when to seek help
Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:
Labeling any and all emotions!
Modeling what to do/talking about it when your child is not upset (deep breathing, stomping, shaking, deep pressure hugs, going to calm down corner, squeezing a pillow or lovey)
Look for reason for behavior or emotion - hungry, tired, overstimulated, lonely
Modeling regulation as an adult - “I’m feeling really frustrated right now so I’m going to take 5 deep breaths” or “I’m excited so I’m going to jump up and down!”
Practicing it with your child with games! - red light/green light, freeze dance
Suggesting books:
“The feelings book” by Todd Parr
“My many colored days” by Dr. Seuss
“It’s ok: Being kind to yourself when things feel hard” by Wendy O’Leary
“Breathing makes it better” by Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary
“Today I feel silly” by Jamie Lee Curtis
“Roaring Mad Riley” by Allison Szczecinski
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
26min
March 18, 2026Episode 3: Boundary setting do's and don'ts for kids birth to five
This episode focuses on why boundaries are important for young children, what developmentally appropriate boundaries look like at different ages, and how to set and maintain boundaries in early childhood. This included:
Reviewing research on:
What boundaries help in early childhood and in the future
The different needs for boundaries at different ages
Providing examples on:
How to set and maintain boundaries at home
The need for boundaries at home to support your child in school
Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:
Be consistent!
Follow through!
Focus on what TO do, not what NOT to do
Help them follow it even if you’re doing the work
Use redirection or play to reduce power struggles
Be clear and developmentally appropriate when setting boundaries
Use physical boundaries when necessary to reduce power struggles
Don’t be too repetitive with toddlers - use clear, short, neutral-toned instructions
Use visual schedule to help with routine-based boundaries
Suggesting books:
"Why should I help?" by Claire Llewellyn
"Yes! No! A First Conversation about Consent" by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison
"My Body Belongs to Me" by Jill Starishevsky
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
28min
March 11, 2026Episode 2: The power of play for child development
This episode focuses on why play is important, what kids learn from play, and how to support your child's play in early childhood. This included:
Reviewing research on:
What play supports developmentally
Why daily play is important
Providing examples on:
What play looks like at different ages
How to use play to support language development and practicing skills
Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:
Join in and play with your kids!
Can just be 5-10 minutes at a time
Focus on it during routines (bath, meals, dressing)
Play before you want to get something done - pay it forward
Keep it simple and silly
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
18min
March 04, 2026Episode 1: Let your calm be their calm: Co-regulating with your young child
This episode focuses on what co-regulation is, why it's important, and how to support your child's co-regulation in early childhood. This included:
Reviewing research on:
Defining self- and co-regulation
How self- and co-regulation develop in early childhood
Why co-regulation is important across the lifespan
Providing examples on:
What this looks like at different ages
Why it's hard to do all the time and what to do when it IS hard
Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:
Use a quiet, calm, neutral voice when your child is upset
Validate their emotions and then sit in it/say nothing
Use gentle physical touch for connection
Calm down corners
Suggesting books:
"Calm Down Time" by Elizabeth Verdick
"The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld
"The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Harvey Karp
"The Whole Brain Child" by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
23min
February 25, 2026Welcome to the Parent Empowerance Podcast!
Welcome to the Parent Empowerance Podcast, where we make early childhood research relatable and actionable for parents. I'm your host, Amara - founder of Parent Empowerance, PhD graduate in human development and family science (specializing in child development and behavior), a former preschool teacher and early childhood intervention specialist, and, most importantly, mom to two littles (a 2 and a half year old daughter, Natalie, and an 8 month old son, Liam).
Our mission at Parent Empowerance is to help parents of young children, specifically birth to five, feel informed, empowered, and deeply supported. We do this by translating early childhood research into real-life tools for parents of little ones, while grounding our suggestions, action steps, and advice in both relatable lived experience and proven science.
Each episode of this podcast will focus on a different topic within child development and most will have 3 main aspects:
Summarizing what research says about that topic,
Providing real-life examples, experiences, or applications, and
Suggesting action steps you can take to apply the research with your own kids.
I center my strategies around the idea that parents are the experts of their own children, and I keep the episodes short (15-20 minutes) so you can actually fit listening to them into your week! I know what it’s like to only have a few precious moments to yourself, and I’m glad to be a part of that.
Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in!
Connect with us on Instagram:
@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting
@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!
...more
18min

FAQs about The Parent Empowerance Podcast:

How many episodes does The Parent Empowerance Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.