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

Bringing a new baby home can be joyful, exhausting, isolating, and completely overwhelming.

Suddenly you're responsible for this tiny person while trying to figure out when you're supposed to sleep, shower, eat, or have a moment to yourself. And all that pressure to do everything "right" can create some serious mom guilt. In this episode, pediatric nurse practitioner and lactation counselor Elyse Traverse joins me to share practical...

One of the biggest transitions of the year is here: back to school. New teachers, new classrooms, new routines, and plenty of unknowns can create back-to-school anxiety for kids and parents alike. In this episode, I’m sharing what to say when your child starts worrying about the new school year, including how to validate feelings without accidentally reinforcing their fears. We’ll also talk about how confident parenting...

One of the most frightening moments as a parent is when your young child tells you that something upsetting happened. Your mind immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario, but reacting too quickly can make it harder to understand what actually happened.

In this episode, I'm joined by child psychologist and trauma specialist Jenny Hughes to discuss how to respond in a way that helps your child feel safe, heard, and supported. You'...

Back-to-school mornings can quickly become the most stressful part of the day. If you're constantly reminding your child to get dressed, brush their teeth, pack their backpack, or put on their shoes, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm joined by child psychologist Dr. Whitney Fosco to share a simple system that helps kids become more independent while making mornings calmer for the whole family. If you're looking for parenting h...

One of the hardest moments in parenting is hearing your child say, "I hate you." Those words can feel deeply personal, but they're usually not saying what you think they are. In this episode, I explain what's really happening beneath those painful words and how to respond in a way that protects your relationship while teaching respectful communication. If you've ever wondered how to deal with an emotional child, this conversation w...

If you've noticed your child having more meltdowns, becoming unusually clingy, fighting more with siblings, or reacting in ways that seem out of character, they may be trying to tell you something.

Recognizing the signs of emotional distress in a child isn't always easy, but knowing what to do next can make all the difference. In this episode, I share the three simple steps I use when my own children are struggling, and how they've...

If your child melts down over the smallest inconveniences, you're not alone. Whether they're devastated that their sibling's cookie is slightly bigger, upset because the toothpaste ran out, or furious about something that seems insignificant, it can be hard to know how to respond. In this episode, we explore how to build emotional resilience without dismissing your child's feelings, why different children have different ways of exp...

If your child hides mistakes, blames others, or insists they did nothing wrong, you're not alone. Many parents worry when their child seems to avoid responsibility, wondering if it reflects their character or values. In this episode, I explore why children often struggle with taking responsibility, what is really happening beneath the surface, and how effective parenting can create an environment where honesty feels safe instead of...

If your toddler's meltdowns leave you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, you're not alone. During toddler tantrums, many parents have heard they should practice co-regulation, but few know what that actually looks like in the moment. In this episode, Dr. Emma Girard joins me to explain why toddlers are not melting down to manipulate you, how their brains process big emotions differently, and how positive pa...

If you've ever found yourself staring at your child wondering whether you should rush to the emergency room or wait it out, you are not alone.

Many parents struggle with child health concerns, especially when their child is sick, injured, or acting differently than usual. In this episode, emergency physician Dr. Kailey Buller joins me to break down exactly when to take your child to the ER and when you can safely monitor things at h...

If you know your child is struggling but every attempt to talk about it seems to make them shut down, you are not alone. Many parents can see when something is wrong, but getting kids to open up about difficult emotions is often much harder than it seems. In this episode, I share practical parenting skills that therapists use to help children feel safe enough to talk, along with positive ways to talk to your child that reduce press...

If your child suddenly starts repeating a curse word over and over again, you are not alone. Whether they heard it from you, a sibling, a friend, or somewhere else, toddler swearing is surprisingly common. The challenge is that many parents accidentally make the behavior worse without realizing it. In this episode, I share a funny story about my own child, explain the psychology behind attention-seeking behavior, and walk through w...

If your teen feels overwhelmed about the future, you are not alone. Between college applications, social pressure, and constant conversations about success, many families are struggling with intense academic stress. In this episode, Dr. Jocelyn Abrams joins me to talk about how parents can offer real career guidance for teens without accidentally increasing anxiety. We also discuss how thoughtful, supportive conversations and stron...

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If you’ve ever felt guilty for giving your child a consequence that was not perfectly “natural” or “logical,” you are not alone. Parents are constantly told that natural consequences are the best way for kids to learn, but as a parenting expert, I want to challenge that idea. Sometimes the real-world outcome is far too harsh, and sometimes kids are simply not de...

Kids fighting in the car can turn even a short drive into a stressful experience fast. In this episode, I’m sharing practical, evidence-based strategies to help you handle sibling conflict in the back seat without yelling, losing your patience, or feeling completely overwhelmed. From simple snacks to smart distractions and behavior systems that actually work, these effective parenting strategies can make car rides calmer for ...

If your child constantly says “I’m bored” and expects you to fix it immediately, you are not alone. Knowing what to do when kids are bored can feel overwhelming, especially when it turns into a daily struggle. The good news is that boredom is not actually a problem. It is an opportunity to build independent play and creativity using the right positive parenting techniques.

In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Cu...

If you’ve ever snapped at your kids and immediately felt that wave of guilt, you are not alone. That moment where you wish you could take it back is something every parent experiences, and it’s exactly where effective parenting skills really matter. The good news is that what you do after matters more than the mistake itself.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to apologize to your child in a way that actuall...

If your child does something wrong and you are not sure what to say next, you are not alone. These moments are where effective parenting really matters, but they are also the hardest to navigate. You want to teach, not shame. You want to correct behavior while still building strong parenting skills that support your child’s confidence.

In this episode, I am breaking down how to respond after your child messes up using positive...

If your child seems to know exactly how to get a reaction out of you, you’re not imagining it. When kids engage in attention-seeking behavior in children, it can feel intentional, frustrating, and hard to ignore, especially when it looks like child testing boundaries in real time.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s really going on underneath attention-seeking behavior in children and why kids rely on it to g...