Parenting With Playdate Planet – Meryl Neiman

On this week’s show, two very funny moms and I take a look at parenting behind the scenes: what most of us are really thinking and feeling as we spend our days wiping noses and checking for ear wax. Karen Bergreen is a stand-up comic who you may have seen on Comedy Central or at one of the comedy clubs … Read more about this episode...

If you are going to listen to just one of my shows, this may be the one. On this week’s episode, I talk with author and educator, Tony Wagner, and entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker, Robert Compton, about the disconnect between what our kids are learning in schools and what they should be learning to be competitive in our new … Read more about this episode...

Vacation time is almost upon us. If you have children in school, pre-school, or day care, that can mean a lot of days off for them and a lot of time to fill you for you! Scheduling a few playdates may be your answer. On this week’s show, Multiple Mayhem Mamma Samantha Kemp-Jackson and I exchange our best strategies for … Read more about this episode...

This week’s show explores what it’s like to be the odd man out. Literally. I talk with TV producer and writer, now also stay at home dad, David Wallach, about his experience as a minority in a world of mostly moms. You won’t want to miss this funny and eye opening look at what may be the newest playground … Read more about this episode...

Want your child to learn to think like an engineer? Want your couch potato kid to get moving? How about helping your reluctant reader get engaged with words? Want to accomplish this while having fun with your children? On this week’s show, we discuss how to use toys and goals to accomplish these goals and more. My guest, Jenn Choi, … Read more about this episode...

Get ready for the holiday season and a whole new year of play by hearing from several powerhouses in the business of play about what is hot in toys and games for kids. My guests on this week’s very fun episode are: Mary Couzin, CEO and founder of the Chicago Toy and Game Group, which includes the Chicago Toy & … Read more about this episode...

Hundreds of millions of people follow blogs written by parents just like you. Have you thought about blogging yourself, but don’t know how to begin? Do you read blogs and want the inside scoop about what is going on in the blogging industry? Or perhaps you’re just a fan of Scary Mommy, one of the most popular mom bloggers on … Read more about this episode...

The New York Times said of my guest this week, that “she is bigger than Justin Bieber, if you happen to be four or five,” and People Magazine calls her “the queen of kids’ music.” If you are a parent of young children, and you haven’t heard of Laurie Berkner, you’ll want to listen to this week’s show to … Read more about this episode...

Our country’s drop-out rate is appalling and our students are performing well below those in many other countries. Many kids are distracted from schooling by the constant allure of their cell phones, video games, television, and the Internet so how can schools compete? Maybe instead of trying to distract kids from all this technology, we would be best served by … Read more about this episode...

As parents, we all look for and take joy in our child’s important “firsts” – first word, first time rolling over, first time sitting up unattended, first steps . . . But although these noted benchmarks are significant and memorable, there are lots of other small developmental milestones that may be even more important indicators of whether our baby is … Read more about this episode...

This week’s very special show gives parents and their children an inside look into how their favorite children’s books, TV shows, characters, toys and games are created. You might want to have your child with you as you listen to award-winning illustrator, author, and TV producer, Dan Yaccarino describe how he has developed some of our kids’ favorite books and … Read more about this episode...

When we have children, we never imagine that the relationship with our partner may not last. But it’s a sad reality that many of us face. if you are a parent unhappy in your marriage or partnership, what should you ask yourself before making a decision to split? And if you do decide to go forward with a separation or … Read more about this episode...

If men are from Mars, and women from Venus, then where in the world are teenagers from? If you are parenting a teen, you know that they are far from the person they might have been just a year or two ago. How do we communicate with this new breed? And what can we do when our children are younger … Read more about this episode...

Books truly are a child’s bridge to the future and the past, and to imagination and reality. However, with competition from television, video games, the Internet, and apps, are children still reading books? How are things changing in the publishing industry and will modern technological developments help or hurt the field of children’s literature? On this week’s show, I have … Read more about this episode...

My guest Kristine Barnett, author of The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism, pulled her 3 year old severely autistic son out of his special education pre-school in an attempt to return his childhood and try to re-connect him to the world by nurturing his passion for the stars. HIs special ed teacher thought that he … Read more about this episode...

For lots of children, the most important, and most anxiety provoking, aspect of starting the new school year is the social component. Making and keeping friends and developing strong social skills is harder today than it was when we were growing up. And some kids find making friends especially challenging. On this week’s show, you will get some incredible expert … Read more about this episode...

Is your child anxious about starting a new school year? Are you? The back to school time is a challenging transition period for everyone involved, and the important subject of this week’s show. My return guest, author and educator, Rick Ackerly, and I talk about how we can partner with our child and the school to make this transition a … Read more about this episode...

Becoming a biological parent is the miraculous result of the successful completion of a complex process that includes ovulation, conception, and carrying a baby to term. For a significant minority of folks, however, this journey to parenthood is fraught with challenges. Whether you are struggling with getting pregnant or staying pregnant, the disease of infertility is an incredibly difficult challenge … Read more about this episode...

Those last days of summer break before school or pre-school resumes can be tough! On this week’s show, my guests and I talk about great summer activities that can help you and your children survive, have fun, and even learn, during this transition time. Jennie Ito is a development psychologist and play consultant for Leap Frog. She shares her favorite … Read more about this episode...

Last week, the New York Post reported that some rich Manhattan parents have begun paying $400 an hour for consultants to arrange and oversee play dates for their pre-school children so they can learn how to properly socialize with others and fare better in their applications to New York’s elite private schools. This is such a sad commentary on the … Read more about this episode...

If you’re tired of hearing about the problems in our education system and in our homes, and would rather learn what teachers and parents can do now to return the love of learning to their students and children, than this is the show for you. My guest, Dara Feldman, M. Ed. was Disney’s 2005 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the year. … Read more about this episode...

In our difficult economy, more and more teenagers seeking employment are unable to find a job. If we want our children to become financially self-sufficient, perhaps starting and growing their own business is our best bet. On this week’s show, I speak with author and teen counselor, Julia Neiman. After years of working with foster youth, Julia realized the … Read more about this episode...

Each of our children is unique and wonderful, but how should we maximize our child’s potential? Who better to answer that question than someone who has helped raise thousands of children and coached teachers, school leaders and parents for many years. Rick Ackerly has been a headmaster of four independent schools and is a nationally recognized leader in the field … Read more about this episode...

  Moms who work outside of the home, or from their home, talk about the challenge of work-life integration all the time. But this is not just an issue for moms. As the economy has changed, more dads are becoming the primary caretakers for their children and more and more families have two working parents. Dads may not talk about … Read more about this episode...

Summer is just around the corner and that means summer break for your children. The sun, the fun . . . but also the complaints of boredom. And don’t forget the whining! On this week’s show, my guest Robert Nickell (AKA “Daddy Nickell”), founder of Daddy Scrubs, and I share lots of great ideas for what you can do with … Read more about this episode...

On this week’s show, we explore one of parenting’s greatest challenges: how to get your child to enjoy a healthy, varied diet. My guest is Dr. Jennifer Gardner, a pediatrician and mom with a special interest in pediatric nutrition, fitness, weight management, and pediatric obesity. She founded an online child wellness and pediatric weight management company called Healthy Kids … Read more about this episode...

Parenting is life changing for all of us. But for my two guests on this week’s show, parenting actually brought them a new career as well as a new baby. Dr. Rosina McAlpine is an award winning education professor at the University of Sydney. After the birth of her son, she applied her research prowess to reading and distilling the … Read more about this episode...

On this week’s show, I interview Brain Insights founder and early brain development specialist, Deborah McNellis about how parents can best foster the developing brains of their babies and young children. During a child’s first years of life, 90% of brain development takes place. What can parents do to maximize this window of opportunity? Make sure to listen in to … Read more about this episode...

Play is essential to every aspect of a child’s healthy development and an amazing teaching vehicle. So why are schools cutting back or eliminating recess and why has unstructured play for kids declined drastically in the last decade? It’s time to reverse this disturbing trend. On this week’s show, I talk with Darell Hammond, the Founder and CEO of Kaboom.org… Read more about this episode...

In honor of the holiday, this week’s show offers a very special look at Mother’s Day that you will not want to miss! Listen in to hear from psychologist and in-law relationship expert, and author of the book: RELUCTANTLY RELATED: Secrets to Getting Along With Your Mother-In-Law or Daughter-Law, Dr. Deanna Brann, about how to handle the relationship challenges … Read more about this episode...

March and April herald the arrival of standardized testing for most of the nation’s school children. On this week’s show, I talk with historian, professor, and education activist, Dr. Jessie Ramey about whether standardized testing helps or hurts our kids and why a growing number of parents are opting out of testing for their children. If you have a school … Read more about this episode...

What if your darling little girl wants nothing more than to be a boy or your son insists on wearing dresses to kindergarten? What does it mean to be a transgender person, how do you respond if your child wants to transition to the opposite gender, and where do you turn for advice if your family is struggling with this … Read more about this episode...

On this week’s show, I talk with dad bloggers, Adam Dolgin, Kevin McKeever, and Lance Somerfeld about the changing role of fathers. Modern dads are not only more involved than our fathers were, but many (like my guests) are passionately invested in thinking about, talking about, and writing about, the importance of being a father. Don’t miss this … Read more about this episode...

This week’s fascinating show may fundamentally change how you look at parenting. I talk with economist, writer, and father of four, Bryan Caplan, about the impact of parenting on the long term outcome of our kids. Bryan says the science is clear: kids are basically genetically pre-programmed to turn out a certain way; the influence we have as parents … Read more about this episode...

From the magic of Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee to the miracle interventions of Super Nanny and Nanny 911, we are enamored with the wisdom of the professional nanny. Someone with knowledge and experience who can step in and have the kids ship-shape in no time. But entrusting the care of your child to someone else is an extremely difficult … Read more about this episode...

We talk a lot about date rape and teenage pregnancy in this country, but I don’t think there’s enough discussion about how parents can help raise their children to make good sexual decisions. So, on this week’s show, I speak with Mike Dormitz, founder of the Date Safe Project and the creator of HELP! My Teen is Dating. He … Read more about this episode...

Would you like a higher salary, a longer maternity leave, or a more flexible work schedule? Most of us would scream yes to that! Our society has moved away from the traditional notion that dad’s job is to bring home the bacon and mom’s job is to fry it up in the pan (and feed it to junior in bite … Read more about this episode...

Bullying has become a national epidemic. It seems as though we hear about a new story on a weekly basis and, of course, those are only the situations that happen to catch the media’s attention. On this week’s show, I seek out concrete advice on what we can do to prevent bullying in our schools and how parents can protect … Read more about this episode...

Parenting is tough. And the early years can be especially difficult dealing with sleep deprivation, picky eaters, temper tantrums, and potty training! How are you to know if you are doing the job the best way possible? On this week’s show, I speak with child psychologist and child development expert, Dr. Heather Wittenberg, known on the Web as the … Read more about this episode...

Marlaine Cover is on a mission to form a network of professionals who can provide expert advice to parents on how to teach children important non-academic life skills. On this week’s show, she and I talk about these essential life skills and how we can impart these skills to our children. In schools, children learn academics from trained teachers with … Read more about this episode...

There’s lots of important life skills that aren’t taught in school, and one of the big ones is handling money. As parents, that job is left to us. And if we don’t teach them well, our children might never be able to afford to live on their own! On this week’s show, I get guidance on what we need to … Read more about this episode...

In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school, moms around the country were forced to once again confront our greatest fear – the loss of a child – and grapple with how to make our society safer for all of our children. Many moms have decided that they are unwilling to sit by any longer … Read more about this episode...

Facebook, Cell Phones, and Video Games . . . what is a parent to do? When should you let your children have access to all of this new, and constantly changing, technology? How do you monitor it? When is it too much? These particular questions are not ones that our parents faced, but we have to tackle them nevertheless. On … Read more about this episode...

No parent wants to end their marriage or relationship, but it happens. A lot. About 40% of marriages with children end in divorce. So it’s likely that you or someone you know and love will have to co-parent through this challenging time. What’s the best way to handle the situation for our kids? And how do we find the strength … Read more about this episode...

Almost immediately, parents have to make an important medical decision for their children. Do they agree to start their babies on a vaccination schedule? The Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and The American Academy of Pediatrics are all strongly in favor of vaccination. Yet, an increasing number of parents refuse this option. Why is that? Is there … Read more about this episode...

On this week’s show, I talk with literacy expert, educator, and mom Melissa Taylor about her new book for parents called Book Love: Help Your Child Grow from Reluctant to Enthusiastic Reader. Melissa explains the four main reasons why your child might not be the reader you wish she were, and how you can help her become a lifelong … Read more about this episode...

I want to wish all of my listeners happy holidays and a joyous and healthy new year! We love our children, but at some point they have to leave the nest and start facing life’s challenges on their own. So how can we make sure that we are raising resilient, self-reliant kids who will be able to successfully launch into … Read more about this episode...

In this week’s show, I speak with child psychiatrist Dr. David Axelson about how parents can tell if their child’s quirkiness, high energy level, anxiety, or sad mood is typical child behavior or warrants assessment from a professional. Dr. Axelson is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Director of the Child and … Read more about this episode...

In today’s show, instead of focusing on parenting, we focus on the parents. That’s right – this show is about us! In this episode, I speak with folks who have developed expertise and products specifically designed to make our lives easier. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Specifically, you’ll hear from America’s Time Management Expert and author of Take Back Your Time … Read more about this episode...

In a word – yes! On this week’s episode, I speak with civility expert, Vicki Fleming, a Certified Etiquette Coach who specializes in working with children and teens. You’ll learn why she believes manners are critical to our kids’ future success and how we can help our children gain the necessary skills to make and keep friends, ace a job … Read more about this episode...

Girls face their own unique challenges. If you’re a mom, you’ve been there yourself. If you’re the parent of a girl, you’ve either faced some of these issues already or you will down the road. How do you deal with mean girls? What if your daughter turns out to be the class bully? How do you keep the lines of … Read more about this episode...