The Star Parent

Summer is just around the corner, and that means we've got camp on the brain. Join Anne Celeste, Lorraine and Megan for a discussion about the ins and outs of chosing a summer camp for your child. We discuss the importance of swimming lessons, about keeping it simple for the children, the questions to consider and what to look for in camp quality. No matter your plans we wish you a fun summer!

On this episode our resident Star Parent podcaster and early childhood educator Loraine Campbell interviews child meditation coach and artist William Wilfred. He shares some amazing insights about the importance of teaching children at a young age the techniques of meditation so that as they grow older they can access the benefits of the practice. The conversation acknowledges that meditation is not about relaxation but rather a craft that is developed for important mental health and self care. William has his creative spin on meditation that’s worth checking out @worldlingstv

Finding Balance with Technology and Screen-time

Tune in to this weeks episode with Lorraine Campbell and Anne Céleste. We talk about finding balance with technology as parents. We review the paediatric recommendations and also explore how parents have to create their own system that works for them. We chat about the rise in screen addiction and the relationship adults have to technology. There is an overarching focus on self compassion and creative solutions while managing technology and screens in the family home environment.

On this episode of The Star Parent Podcast our resident member Lorraine Campbell (Qualified Early Childhood Educator) interviews Tanisha Henderson, who home schools her 5 children and facilitates the Black Conscious Mom's group on Facebook. Tanisha offers a definition of what “conscious parenting” is and how it’s different from traditional parenting. There is a discussion on how becoming a conscious parent is not something that happens overnight and some of the steps along that journey. Trying to learn more about the style of parenting and how it can be used to set up environments for things like talking to our children about sex and technology.

Lorraine and Megan sit down to discuss setting up good play environments for the children in our lives. How much is too much? How to navigate when other children come to the space, are there things or spaces that are off limits? Where does clean up enter the equation? What happens when our children go to a different space to play with friends? What are the best toys to push the imagination and creativity that can last for more than just a few months? What to do when a child says "I'm bored"?

All of this and more on this week's podcast.

Registered Nurse Aella Morad shared her story with us about being asked to leave a commercial store because she was breast feeding. We may have come a long way as women but there is still more awareness on this issue to learn and grow from. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/incredibly-embarrassing-breastfeeding-mom-told-to-leave-lush-store-in-montreal-area-mall-1.5804402

Tune in to a powerful episode with Lorraine Campbell and Barbara Isioma Onyechi from Nigeria who works on the front line of mental health services in the prevention of childhood sexual abuse and founder of Ending Child Sexual Abuse, ECSA.

This episode will address the importance of parents understanding their own experiences and discomforts around the subject and the ways this can impact their child’s safety and willingness to open and disclose abuse. 

There are some really practical skills Barbara talks about regarding body safety and teaching your children how they can strategically remove themselves from unsafe situations. She helps us learn about tuning in to the signs of grooming and coercion. 

The episode looks at wanting to end childhood abuse including exploring the understanding of what cultivates predators. As you listen this week don’t forget take care of your personal well being around this loaded and significant topic. 

You can find ECSA on Facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/ECSAbuse/

How to talk about challenging subjects like consent, bodies, masturbation, sex and gender. In this week’s episode resident podcasters Lorraine and Anne Celeste will begin to explore the ways in which parents can set up the environment to explore topics that can be taboo or hard. There is a focus on how parents can self reflect on their own experiences and history. These reflections help informs one’s parenting on these subject. Finally, the episode explores how we can intentionally create our own narratives about relationships, love and sex instead of relying on external or media narratives.

Breastfeeding