In this episode, I’m talking with pediatrician and author Ken Ginsburg about his new book Lighthouse Parenting. Ken shares his powerful framework for showing up as a steady, loving guide for our kids—offering both support and boundaries as they grow. We get into what it means to really know and prepare our kids, how to be their safe harbor in tough times, and why our own self-care matters just as much as theirs, especially in today’s world of social media and constant pressure.
About Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Dr. Ken Ginsburg practices Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Ginsburg practices social adolescent medicine – service with special attention to prevention and the recognition that social context and stressors affect both physical and emotional health. His research over the last 35 years has focused on facilitating youth to develop their own solutions to social problems and to teach adults how to better serve them.
He is the Founding Director of The Center for Parent and Teen Communications which works to empower parents with the skill-sets to strengthen their family connections and position them to guide their teens to become their best selves. It works to shift the cultural narrative about adolescence from being a time to survive to one in which development is to be optimized. His books include, Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings; Congrats- You’re Having a Teen!: Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person; and Lighthouse Parenting:Raising your Child with Loving Guidance for an Enduring Bond. All of these works are published by The American Academy of Pediatrics.
He currently works with Covenant House International’s 35 sites to solidify and magnify their practice model rooted in the healing power of loving and respectful adult connections with youth.
Things you'll learn from this episode
What “lighthouse parenting” is and how it offers a research-backed framework for guiding kids to grow up as resilient, thriving adults
What it means to be a “secure base” for our kids and the power of stability in fostering resilience in all children
Why preparing kids for life’s challenges starts with feeling unconditionally loved and truly known
Why self-care, authentic modeling, and genuine repair are essential for strong parent-child relationships
What it means to “actively see the best in our child” and why it matters
Resources mentioned
About Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Center for Parent and Teen Communication
Fostering Resilience
Lighthouse Parenting: Raising your Child with Loving Guidance for an Enduring Bond by Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Congrats—You’re Having a Teen! Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person by Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings by Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Dr. Devorah Heitner on Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
Dr. Devorah Heitner on Parenting Kids Growing Up in Public (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
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