Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

In this episode of the Educated Parent Podcast, I sit down with Kristin Mervich, a fellow clinician and parenting expert, to talk about how toxic masculinity shows up in subtle ways in families and how evidence-based parenting can help us raise emotionally healthy boys. We explore emotional literacy as a core skill for kids and parents, and why trusting yourself is essential when outside voices get loud. This conversation is ground...

A pep talk for parents who feel intense pressure to create perfect holiday magic, even when things are falling apart behind the scenes. If the expectations around the holidays are making you doubt yourself, a pep talk is here to support confident parenting and remind you that real connection matters more than perfection.

In this solo episode, I share a very honest parenting story from early motherhood where my attempt at creating ho...

Holiday gatherings can feel joyful and overwhelming at the same time, and this episode will help you walk in with clarity, calm, and a strong foundation of confident parenting. When kids are navigating new environments, loud relatives, unpredictable routines, and big emotions, they need support with child emotion regulation. With the right positive parenting tips, your entire experience at holiday gatherings can feel smoother and m...

If you have ever wondered why big feelings seem to explode out of nowhere, this episode on emotional literacy is going to feel like a deep breath. I share a very real moment where I lost my cool with my kids and how understanding emotional literacy and identifying feelings could have prevented that blow-up. When we are teaching kids emotions early and model this ourselves, we reduce the overwhelm that leads to those out-of-control ...

If you are trying to prepare for parenthood and already feel like an overwhelmed parent, this episode will help you breathe again. I sit down with Dr. Kailey Buller to talk honestly about what it feels like to bring a newborn home, why even the most educated parents feel unsure, and how simple first-time parenting tips can help you feel more grounded. We cut through the noise of conflicting advice and share the kind of evidence-bas...

If the thought of traveling with kids over the holidays fills you with dread, you are not alone. In this episode, I share the best strategies I have learned after years of holiday trips with my own children, including how to keep them regulated, how to plan ahead, and why starting with no screens can make the entire trip easier. I walk through the simple positive parenting tips that let you stay calm and connected even when travel ...

How do you actually raise confident kids in a world that constantly tells them they are not enough? 

In this episode, I share the real strategies I use at home and in my clinical practice to help children build healthy self-confidence from the inside out. These are the same evidence-based parenting approaches I use to guide parents who want to create calm, capable, and emotionally resilient kids. 

You will learn how to mode...

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If your child has ever came down with a fever out of nowhere, and you’ve questioned when to take your child to the doctor (or if you can wait it out at home), this episode will give you the calm, clarity, and confidence you need.

I’m joined by Dr. Ross Newman (Dr. Rossome), a board-certified pediatrician and father of six, who shares trusted pediatrician advice that helps every parent make informed, evi...

Do you ever wonder how to improve executive function in your child so they can stay organized and actually turn in their work? You are not alone. 

In this episode, I talk with Evan Weinberger, founder of Staying Ahead of the Game, about how to improve executive function at home using simple, practical strategies that really work. Together, we explore how the right homework planner, daily checklists for kids, and consistent time...

Feeling torn about letting your child join in on spooky events this October? You are not alone. In this episode, I unpack how Halloween pressure affects kids and teens, and how you can support confident, age-appropriate decision-making examples that build resilience instead of anxiety.

We talk about what really happens when Halloween pressure meets social expectations and how to spot early symptoms of teenage stress before they beco...

What if the very parenting trends you’re following to help your child are quietly making your parental relationship harder? In this episode, I unpack the viral tension between “f around and find out parenting” and gentle parenting, and share what truly works when we focus on evidence-based parenting that builds trust, connection, and calm in our homes.

As both a psychologist and a parent, I’ve seen how easily we can lose ourselves i...

Have you ever wondered if you’re doing it right when it comes to how to praise your child? 

So many parents second-guess the benefits of praising a child, but the truth is that the right kind of praise can completely change the tone of your home. In this episode, I talk with licensed clinical social worker and PCIT therapist Julia Lair about why praising children is one of the most powerful parenting tools we have and how to us...

Every October, families find themselves in the same struggle: what happens when your child just can’t pick a Halloween costume? 

If you’ve ever had a kid switch from Elsa to Batman to Paw Patrol in the same week, you know how exhausting kids' Halloween costumes can be for the whole household.

In this episode, I share how parents on Halloween can handle the indecision without losing patience, overspending, or giving in to every l...

Getting kids to brush their teeth can feel like one of those nightly battles that drains everyone. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your kids to brush their teeth without endless fights, you’re not alone. 

I sat down with Dr. Robert Geiman-orthodontist, dad, and author of The Tooth Bible - to talk through the real struggles parents face and toothbrushing tips that actually work.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why toothbrushing ...

Have you ever wondered if there are simple child reward system ideas that actually work when your kids are melting down? 

As a psychologist - and a mom who’s been right there in the chaos - I’ll walk you through how to use positive reinforcement parenting in real life to turn things around quickly.

When kids are screaming, refusing to listen, and pushing every boundary, you don’t need more yelling - you need child reward system ...

Does the question, “what age should a child get a cell phone?” keep you up at night? You’re not alone - and you’re not overthinking it. 

In this episode, I sit down with child psychologist Dr. Rupa Robbins, founder of Tech Positive Parenting, to cut through the chaos around phones for kids. Together we unpack the research, the realities, and the practical phone rules that help busy families decide not just when to say yes, but ...

Do you feel a wave of mom guilt any time you even think about taking a trip without your kids? You’re not alone. 

If you’re like many of the parents I work with, planning time away can bring a heavy dose of mom guilt - even when you know it’s something you need.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly why moms need me time, and what I do - as a clinical psychologist and mom - when I’m planning a trip without my kids. Togethe...

Ever found yourself arguing in front of kids - and then spiraling about whether you’ve just done irreversible damage? You're not alone. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Spiller, clinical psychologist and expert in emotionally focused therapy, to unpack what to do after arguing in front of kids, how to repair with your child, and why your response after the conflict matters just as much - if not more - than the argument...

Ever wonder how to reconnect after a fight with your child - without the guilt, second-guessing, or endless explaining?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite go-to strategies as a psychologist and a mom for how to reconnect with your child after conflict. It’s evidence-based. And it’s so simple you’ll wish someone taught it to you sooner.

This approach isn’t just about repairing the moment - it’s a powerful tool for teac...