Podcasts about happy kids

Today's conversation takes us upstream—to the source—of one of the most pressing and emotionally charged topics in modern pediatrics: the rise in autism spectrum disorders. Autism rates have continued to climb in 2025, but what if much of what we call “the epidemic” isn't simply genetics or better diagnosis, but a reflection of deeper biological, environmental, and developmental changes affecting the human organism before birth? To explore this critical question, I'm joined by three extraordinary clinicians who have dedicated their lives to understanding the roots of children's health and disease. Dr. Sandy Newmark, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF, has spent the past two decades at the intersection of conventional and integrative medicine—focusing specifically on children with autism and ADHD. His approach blends deep compassion with scientific rigor, examining how nutrition, toxins, inflammation, and the microbiome shape the developing brain. Dr. Elisa Song, Stanford-, NYU-, and UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician and author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, is one of the leading global voices in pediatric functional medicine. As founder and Chief Medical Officer of Healthy Kids Happy Kids and Tiny Health, she's pioneering microbiome-centered strategies to reverse chronic disease in children and reshape how we think about wellness from the inside out. Dr. Leslie Stone, family physician, obstetrician, and co-founder of GrowBabyHealth.com, brings a lifetime of experience delivering and caring for over 5,000 babies. Her groundbreaking work in the science of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease—the DOHaD model—shows how what happens before and during pregnancy programs a child's long-term health, resilience, and risk for conditions like autism. Together, we'll discuss the emerging evidence that the autism epidemic is not a mystery of genetics alone, but a story written in inflammation, metabolic disruption, environmental exposures, and the developmental stressors of modern life. We'll explore how integrative and functional medicine are reframing prevention—not just treatment—and what it will take to truly turn the tide for the next generation. This is a conversation about hope, science, and the possibility of rewriting the future—one mother, one child, and one generation at a time.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, OR— BRAND NEW: we've included a fully edited transcript of our interview at the bottom of this post.In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, I do a coaching call with Joanna who has a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old. We cover how to make mindset shifts so you can better show up for your kids, as well as get into specifics around night weaning, bedtime battles, handling meltdowns, playful parenting and increasing our connection to our kids.**If you'd like an ad-free version of the podcast, consider becoming a supporter on Substack! > > If you already ARE a supporter, the ad-free version is waiting for you in the Substack app or you can enter the private feed URL in the podcast player of your choice.Know someone who might appreciate this post? Share it with them!We talk about:* 6:40 how to manage meltdowns* 9:00 Night weaning and bedtime challenges* 20:00 Emptying a full emotional backpack* 26:00 Kids who always want more attention* 28:00 Understanding blame and anger* 38:00 Games to play when a child is looking for more power* 44:00 How our mindset makes such a big difference when parenting* 47:30 Two keys to peaceful parenting!* 55:00 Playful approaches to bedtimeResources mentioned in this episode:* Yoto Player-Screen Free Audio Book Player* The Peaceful Parenting Membership* How to Help Our Little Ones Sleep with Kim Hawley * Episode 100: When Your Child Has a Preferred Parent (or Not) with Sarah and Corey * Episode 103: Playful Parenting with Lawrence Cohen * Playful Heart Parenting with Mia Wisinski: Episode 186 xx Sarah and CoreyYour peaceful parenting team- click here for a free short consult or a coaching sessionVisit our website for free resources, podcast, coaching, membership and more!>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, “Weekend Reflections” and “Weekend Support” - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in the spring for the 3rd year!) All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.In addition to knowing you are supporting our mission to support parents and children, you get the podcast ad free and access to a monthly ‘ask me anything' session.Our sponsors:YOTO is a screen free audio book player that lets your kids listen to audiobooks, music, podcasts and more without screens, and without being connected to the internet. No one listening or watching and they can't go where you don't want them to go and they aren't watching screens. BUT they are being entertained or kept company with audio that you can buy from YOTO or create yourself on one of their blank cards. Check them out HERETranscript:Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Peaceful Parenting Podcast. Today's episode is a coaching episode. My guest is Joanna, mom of a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old. Joanna's 7-year-old is an intense child, and she wanted to know how to handle her big feelings and find more connection with her.She also had some specific challenges around bedtime, namely that her partner works shift work and is not home at bedtime. She still breastfeeds her 2-year-old to sleep, so is unavailable to her seven-year-old for a bit, and then has trouble getting her seven-year-old to bed without a fight. Joanna also shared how low she was on resources, and we had a great discussion about how that impacts her parenting and what she might do about it.Also, meltdowns—we talked about those too and how to respond. I know Joanne is not alone. One note: after we did the follow-up call, I realized I forgot to ask her about a few things. So she kindly recorded a couple of P.S.'s that I'll include. If you're curious, like I am, you'll be glad she gave us the latest updates.If you would like to come on the podcast and be coached by me, I am looking for a few parents who are interested. You can email me at sarah@sarahrosensweet.com.As always, please give us a five-star rating and a review on your favorite podcast app, and if you know another parent or caregiver that this would be helpful for, please screenshot it and send it to them. The best way to reach more families with peaceful parenting is through word of mouth, so we really appreciate any shares that you might be able to give us.Okay. Let's meet Joanna. Okay.Sarah: Hi Joanna. Welcome to the podcast.Joanna: Hi. Thanks for having me.Sarah: Tell me a little bit about yourself.Joanna: Sure. I live up in Ottawa, Canada, with my husband and my two kids. I'm a music therapist, so right now I'm working with babies. I teach Yoga with Baby and, um, a class called Sing and Sign at a local wellness center.Sarah: Nice. How old are—Joanna: Yes, I have a 7-year-old girl who we'll call Jay.Sarah: Okay.Joanna: And then a 2-year-old boy called JR.Sarah: JJ. Okay, perfect. Okay, so how can I support you today?Joanna: Yeah, so my daughter has always been, like, a bit of a tricky one. Um. She was born premature, so at 29 weeks. And no kind of lasting effects. But as she's gotten older, we've noticed, like, she's really struggled a lot with emotional regulation. Um, and she kind of gets stuck on certain behaviors. So I feel like we've done a lot to change our parenting, in part thanks to you and your podcast and all the material. Um, I did finally read, um, Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids this past summer.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: And I feel like it also had a huge effect, just having, like, that bigger scope of understanding of, like, the peaceful parenting philosophy.Sarah: Uh-huh.Joanna: So I would say, like, even from where we were a few months ago, we've experienced tons of positive shifts with her.Sarah: Sweet.Joanna: Yeah, so we're already kind of well on our way, but there are certain behaviors that she has that still I find really perplexing. So I wondered if maybe we could go over a couple of them.Sarah: Sure. Yeah, no problem. For anyone—if, for anyone who doesn't know, Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids is the book written by my mentor, who I trained with, Dr. Laura Markham. Um, and just for my own curiosity, what do you think? Because, you know, I always worry that people are—that they don't have the fully formed idea of peaceful parenting. And that—and I'm not saying you, because you've listened to the podcast so you probably have a deeper understanding—but some people are just getting their little snippets on Instagram reels, you know, and so it is hard to understand, like, the, the sort of the core reasons why we do the approach if you don't have that deeper understanding. And also, I'm working on a book right now, so hopefully soon you'll be able to say you read my book. But what did you—what do you feel like got fleshed out for you when you read that book?Joanna: I think she really breaks a lot of things down step by step, such as, like, what to do when your child is going through a meltdown.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: And that has always been an area—like, when my daughter gets to that point where she's, like, become really explosive and aggressive and she's just, like, in it and she's kind of unreachable at that moment—like, what to do step by step at that time. I think, like, that's been the most helpful because I've been able to really settle into my own parenting and just, like, really trust myself and anchor in at that point, which is exactly really what she needs and what was missing.Sarah: Yeah. Yeah.Joanna: So—Sarah: So I think, um—like I always say, focus on regulating yourself first. Like, when someone's having a meltdown, empathize.Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: Um, you know, it—yeah, it's—it can be hard because you often feel like you need to do something. And even though you're saying step by step, it's less about doing anything than just centering yourself, staying calm yourself, trying to get in touch with the compassion and empathy even if you're not—some pe—some parents say, “Oh, well, when I try to say anything, then my kid just screams more.” So sometimes it's just empathize—like, getting connected in your own heart to the empathy and compassion, even if you're not saying anything—and that, that does something.Joanna: Absolutely it does. Yeah.Sarah: Yeah.Joanna: Yeah, so that's all been really helpful. Now, in—in terms of emotional regulation, I do definitely think that that's the biggest piece.Sarah: Okay.Joanna: Uh, it's been the biggest piece for me and sort of, like, one of the big things that I wanted to talk to you about today is we are still really not getting sleep because my 2-year-old is not a good sleeper and has never been a good sleeper. And we've gone through periods where I'm like, okay, now he's only waking up, like, twice a night, and that feels manageable. Um, but he's kind of been back to waking up, like, three to six times a night again, which is so hard. And then my husband's very supportive; however, he works afternoons, so he's gone from about 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM, so he needs to be able to sleep until about eight, which means I'm up with my son between six and seven. My daughter gets up for school around 7:30, so that's, like, a tricky time of day because she's really quite grumpy in the morning. He's not—the toddler's really, like, kind of a totally different temperament. But, like, I'm tired after struggling with, like, night wakings all night. And then I'm with the kids from the time that she gets home from school, um, and then doing both bedtimes myself.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: Um, so there's a lot of time where, like, I am solo parenting, and I'm definitely, like, the preferred parent. Um, and both my kids really want me and need me at bedtime. So he is still nursing—like, I'm nursing to sleep and then nursing during the night. And I know that that's probably contributing a lot to all the night wakings. So, I guess my question is, like, I am at the point where I am ready to night-wean. I probably should have done it already, but—Sarah: Don't say “should have.” Like, it's—if you're not ready to make that change, like, in your heart, it's really torturous to try to—try to, like, not—so say you decide you want to night-wean, but you weren't really ready to do it. It would be so painful for you to deny your son nursing in the night if you were—if you didn't feel in your heart, like, “No, this is the right thing to do. I'm totally ready. I think he's ready.” So, so I think waiting until you're really, like, actually, yes, “I'm done with this,” is a smart thing. Yeah. So don't beat yourself up for not having done it already. But you're right, it probably does contribute to him waking up in the night.Joanna: Yeah. And, um, I do feel like I—I'm ready. I just—I'm not quite sure how to make that shift. So what generally happens is, like, we have some, like, virtual babysitting going on with my mom, where, like, when I nurse my son to sleep, which generally takes, like, between maybe 30 and 45 minutes, she'll, like, sit with her and do a workbook. So we'll have, like, a video chat, and then after—Sarah: Yeah, it's great.Joanna: So then after, um, I'm with her to get her ready for bed, and that oftentimes looks like a lot of, like, dragging heels on, like, “Oh, I want another snack,” and “I wanna, like, brush my teeth,” and “Whatever—don't wanna brush my teeth.” So, um, then that ends up taking usually about an hour, but we both sort of have, like, this expiration at about 9:00 PM, where, like, she just gets so dysregulated because she's so tired.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: So if I don't have her in bed at that point and, like, already kind of with the lights out, there's often just, like, a meltdown and some—like, she'll start calling me names and start, like, you know, throwing stuff down at me and whatnot. And then I'm just really tired by that point too. Yeah. So we can kind of joke around about it now—like, nine o'clock is the time where we're, like, where we both expire. So I'm trying to figure out, like, how can I night-wean? Because I know that that is supposed to start with, like, him being able to fall asleep by himself at the beginning of the night, so—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: Slowly phasing that out and laying with him. I know it's gonna probably take a lot longer in the beginning, so I'm just a little worried that, like, maybe if it takes, like, an hour, an hour and a half, then all of a sudden she's kind of, like, left hanging and it's getting later and her bedtime's being pushed back.Sarah: Are there any—are there any nights that your partner is home at bedtime?Joanna: There's two—Sarah: nights that—Joanna: he—Sarah: is,Joanna: yeah.Sarah: Yeah. I mean, I guess I would start with those nights.Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: Yeah. Start with those nights. And—and when was your son's birthday? Like, like how—two—is he—Joanna: He just turned two, like, two weeks ago.Sarah: Okay. So, I mean, I think I would start with trying to just practice, you know, nursing him and maybe nursing him somewhere else and then bringing him back, you know, and then putting him in—are you co-sleeping?Joanna: Sleep—yeah. Well, I put him—like, I generally nurse him to sleep. He has a floor bed in his room, and then I go to bed in my own room, and then at his first wake, then I go back in, and I just stay there for the room—the rest of the night from that point.Sarah: Right, right. So I, I guess I would try just, like, nursing him and trying to, like, pat his back and sing to him and, you know, tell him that—that he can have—I, I mean, what we did was, “You can have milk in the morning,” you know, “You could have it when it's light.” I remember my oldest son—when he—it took him a couple of days—and if you wanna hear the whole story of my failed night-weaning with my second son, it was in a podcast that we did about infant and toddler sleep, uh, with Kim.Joanna: Yeah, Kim?Sarah: Yes. So you could listen to that if you haven't heard that already. But my second—my first son was super easy to night-wean, and a couple of—it was, like, a couple of nights of a little bit of crying, and he would just say, “Make it light, Mama. Make it light,” because he wanted—I said, “You can nurse when it's light.” But, you know, I, I, I don't wanna get into that whole big thing on this podcast because—mm-hmm—just because I've already talked about it. But if you wanna listen to that, and if you have any questions when we do our follow-up, you can, uh, you can ask me. But, you know, I would just try, you know, talking to him about, then, you know, “You can have Milky in the morning,” or whatever you call it, and, you know, those two—see how it goes for those two nights where your partner's around. And if it doesn't—I would say, if it still seems really hard, maybe just waiting to do it until—I don't know if you have any other support you could enlist. You mentioned your mother—maybe she could come and visit, you know, because I do think it would be hard to try and do this and do the solo bedtimes for a while. So I don't know if there's a time when your mom could come visit or if there's some other support that you could have. But yeah—Joanna: I think the tricky part with that is that, like, she—even with my husband—like, she doesn't want him to put her to bed.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: And depending on the kind of night that she's having, sometimes she'll end up, like, screaming, and their bedrooms are right beside each other. So we've had it before where, like, she'll start having a meltdown and, like, wake him up, and then he's not able to fall asleep either. And then we—Sarah: There's also—your husband could be with your son.Joanna: It's the same—same situation though. Like, he doesn't—him—Sarah: It sounds—it sounds like possibly—I mean, there—kids do have preferred parents even when, um, they do have good connection with the—with the other parent. And you could maybe still work—have some—that be something that you're working on, having your partner, you know, maybe even practicing having—before you start doing the night-weaning—practicing having your partner doing some of the bedtime stuff. When you are—when, you know, when—before you're starting to make a change so that your son doesn't associate, you know, “I'm not getting what I want,” and my dad, you know, putting me to sleep.Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: So I would maybe try to get your partner a little bit more involved in bedtime before making a change. And—and even if there's some crying—we also have a podcast about preferred parents that you could listen to. So I—you know, I think maybe you do have a little bit of pre-work to do before you start doing the night-weaning, and, in terms of when—how can you get support at bedtime?Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: Okay.Joanna: I mean, the other option is if you just kick it down the road more and—or, you know, there isn't—there's actually a third option now that I think about it—it's that you still nurse him to sleep but then don't nurse him when you wake him up—when he wakes up in the night. Get him to go back to sleep without that.Sarah: I hadn't thought about that, because I think that everything that I've heard has been, like, they have to fall asleep on their own because then they're always gonna be—Joanna: looking—Sarah: for—Joanna: Yeah. Yeah.Sarah: But I mean, you could still try it.Joanna: Hmm. Okay.Sarah: Or you could try shortening the—you know, give him a little bit of milk and then see if he'll go to sleep, um, after he has a little bit, but without nursing to sleep.Joanna: Okay. Yeah. Okay, I'll give that some thought and try some different things there.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: Okay. Thank you. But yeah, I feel like just starting to get sleep again is pretty important. So, even in terms of, like, being able to center myself to handle all of the things that goes on with my daughter during the day, that feels like a really important piece right now.Sarah: For sure. And if she's—if she's some nights not going—it sounds like quite frequently maybe she's not asleep before nine.Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: And what time does she wake up?Joanna: 7:30.Sarah: 7:30. So do you think she's getting enough sleep?Joanna: Probably not. She's really lethargic in the morning.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: But I can't really seem to figure out how to be able to get her to sleep. Like, I did talk to her about it, and she was like, “Well, maybe when I turn eight, like, I can start putting myself to bed.” And I was like, “Okay, well what—what would that look like?” And she kind of went through, like, “Okay, I'll, you know, I'll brush my teeth on the phone with Grandma, and then I'll just, like, read in bed.” And—but this is, like, in a moment where she's feeling very regulated.Sarah: Right, right, right. And when's her birthday?Joanna: Uh, in about two months.Sarah: Okay. Yeah. Um, have you had a conversation with her about how neither of you likes the fighting at night? And, you know—and does she have any, like—not in the moment, but does she have any ideas of, you know, how you can solve the problem of her not, you know, not wanting to go to bed and then getting too tired and then getting really cranky?Joanna: Yeah, we have—we have talked about it, and we can talk about it with, like, a little bit more levity now, but I don't think that she's actually—we've gone to, like, the problem-solving—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: of that.Sarah: I mean, that might be a helpful conversation to have with her and just say, “You know, I've been thinking about what often happens at night, you know, and I totally get it, that you don't wanna go to bed. Like, you know, when I was a kid, I never wanted to go to bed, and I would've stayed up all night if I could. And I'm sure you're the same because it's just—you know, when you're young, going to bed is, like, you know, not any fun at all.” And you can make—you could even make a joke, like, “When you're old like me, like, you can't wait to go to bed.” But of course when you're young, you don't wanna go to sleep, and I totally get that. So, like, lots of empathy and acknowledging, like, her perspective. And—and then you could say, “And at the same time, you know, you do—you know, why do you think it's important to sleep?” So I guess you could have that conversation with her too about, like, you know, what happens when we're sleeping that—your, you know, you could talk about how your cells, like, fix themselves. Also we grow when we're sleeping—like, we get the—like, the growth hormone gets secreted, and that's the—if we don't get enough sleep, we're not gonna grow and we're not gonna feel happy the next day. So you can, like, talk to her about the importance of sleep. And then you could say, like, “So, you know, I know you don't wanna go to sleep, and I know how important it is, and now you do too. And, you know—and I hate fighting with you at bedtime. You know, do you have any ideas for how we can solve this problem? Because I really want us both to go to bed feeling happy and connected.”Joanna: Yeah. Yeah, that's a great suggestion. Thank you. I think the biggest barrier to her getting to bed on time is she is finally feeling, like, a bit more calm and relaxed at night. Like, she comes home after school with a lot—she's holding a lot from school. They have, like, a point system for good behavior at school.Sarah: Oh.Joanna: And you should see how she racks up the points. She has great behavior at school. The teacher's, like—would never believe what goes on at home.Sarah: Of course, yeah.Joanna: So then she comes home, and it's, like, a lot of unloading. So I feel like by that time of night she's, like, ready to pursue her hobbies. Like, she's like, “Oh, I just wanna do this one more little”—you know, she's drawing something, and it's always like, “I just need to finish this,” because once she gets started on something, she can't seem to break her focus on—We're very much suspecting ADHD. That's gonna be probably in the next year we pursue a diagnosis, but—Sarah: Typically—do have a lot of trouble falling asleep—that's with ADHD. What about—you know, so two outta three of my kids had a lot of trouble falling asleep, and they're both my ADHD kids, and what really helped them was something to listen to at night. You know—Joanna: Yeah, she does listen to podcasts falling asleep—Sarah: Does listen to stuff.Joanna: Yeah, she's always listened—listened to, like, a story falling asleep. I think part of it too is we don't get a lot of one-on-one time throughout the day.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: Because my son's around in the morning.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: And it's usually just the three of us until my husband wakes up, which is shortly before she goes to school. And then it's again the three of us from after school till bedtime most days, except for the two days a week that he's off.Sarah: Well, I mean, that's something to explore too, like, in—are there, you know—I don't know if you live in a neighborhood that has some, like, tweens that could come over and play with your son for an hour—you know, just someone really fun that he would like to play with—and then you and your daughter could have some time together. Because what I was gonna say when you said that she comes home with what we call the “full backpack” in Peaceful Parenting—which is, she's been carrying around, for anyone who's listening who doesn't know what that is, it's a concept that my mentor, Dr. Laura, came up with—where you're holding on to all of the stresses, big feelings, tensions from the day, and then when you come home, it's too much to, you know, to keep holding onto it. And so that's what you were just referring to, is just that she's got a lot to unpack after the day at school. And so I'm wondering—so when you mentioned that, I was gonna say, like, what could you do to try to proactively get some of that emptied out? Couple of ideas: do you do any roughhousing with her?Joanna: We actually just started doing that, and I couldn't believe how much she was into it. Yeah, I was super surprised. But I also think that it's taken just a lot of, like, repair with our relationship to get to the point that I've even been able to try some of this stuff. Like, because at first, like, when I first started hearing about some of these, like, peaceful—I, I don't know if you'd call them techniques—but, like, being playful and, um, roughhousing and things like that—she was so not open to anything at all because she was just so serious and so edgy and like, “Get away from me,” like, so irritable. So now I think that we've just—I've poured a lot of time in on weekends just to, like, spend time together that's enjoyable, and I'm noticing a huge shift. So now we are able to do some of these things, and it—it is turning out more positively.Sarah: Good. I mean, as you're speaking, I'm thinking that it sounds like there was maybe, um, quite a—a breach when your son was born, like, the last two years. Or, or do you feel like your relationship has always been a little strained even before that?Joanna: I feel like maybe it's always been a little fraught. I don't know if his birth had, like, a huge impact on that. Um, it has always been pretty strained.Sarah: Okay, okay.Joanna: Just because she's the more challenging kid?Sarah: I think so. And, you know, when she was two there was the pandemic. I think, like, I was carrying a lot of trauma after the whole NICU experience with her. And then we had the pandemic, and then we moved, and then I got pregnant, and then I had my son. So it's like there's sort of been these, like, things along the way where—yeah, I don't know.Sarah: Yeah. Okay. Well, I mean, that's good that you brought that up because I think that, you know, maybe that's gonna be the pre-work—that even before bedtime starts to feel better is really working on—you know, if you can get some support in, because it is really hard to have one-on-one time with a 2-year-old who probably doesn't wanna leave you alone. But even if—you know, continue with your sort of bulking up on the weekends with that time with her and do some, like, roughhousing and special time with her. Do you guys do special time?Joanna: Yeah. And that's something I wanted to talk about because special time has been sort of a big fail when I call it special time and when we set a timer for special time, because it really tends to dysregulate her, I think, because she's like, “Oh my God, I only have you for 15 minutes.” Mm-hmm. She gets really stressed out, and then she's like—oftentimes she likes to do these, like, elaborate pretend plays—things which need, like, a lot, a lot of setup time. Yeah. So she'll be like, “Pause the timer so I can set this up,” and then it just becomes, like, more tension between us. Like, it's not enjoyable.Sarah: It's one of those things where, like, you really have to adjust it to how it works for your particular family. Um, so, you know, maybe you just have, like, a couple hours with her on the weekend and you're—and it would be good for your—your partner and your son too. Maybe he could take him to the park or go and—you know, for them to work on their connection, which might make him a little bit more willing to go to bed with his dad, you know, on the nights that your partner is home. So, you know, I would really work on that connection with her and do those pretend play things with her. And even—you know, and this is maybe obvious, which is why I didn't say it before—but, you know, partly she's dragging her heels because that's the only time she has you to herself—at bedtime, right?Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: And so she doesn't want that to end because that's the only time that it—her brother's asleep—she has you all to herself. So if you can increase the time where she has you all to herself, she might be more willing to, um, to go to bed. Yeah. The other thing I was gonna say is, do you have anything that you do together at bedtime that would be, like—it sounds like she's dragging her heels to actually get in bed. Is there anything that you can do to entice her to get in bed, like a chapter book that you're reading her, that you read a chapter every night or something like that?Joanna: Yeah, and that has worked in the past, but it can—it can also kind of cause tension because I find, like, then I am a lot more apt to kind of hold it as, like, a bargaining chip instead of, like, “Oh, let's get to that.” Right. But lately we've been playing cards, and she's really motivated to, like, play a game of cards when we're in bed. So that seems to be working right now, but it's always kind of like—it changes all the time.Sarah: Right, right. Well, just keeping—thinking of something that you can use to make getting in bed seem more attractive? Um, maybe—I mean, my kids used to love hearing stories about me when I was little or about them when they were little. So it could even just be, like, a talk time. I know Corey, who works with me, does—she started doing a 10-minute talk time with one of her sons, who's a little bit older than—than your daughter, but where they just have, you know, this time where they just get in bed and he tells her stuff and they—they talk. So that could be something too—just really pure, straight-up connection.Joanna: Yeah. Okay, I like that. Maybe I can just ask you a couple more things about some of the things I—She's kind of a person that really wants constant connection too. Like, it does feel like I could spend, like, all day with her, and then she—once it's over, she would still be like, “Well, why are we not still—” like, it—we've always kind of—my husband and I will joke that she's got, like, a leaky cup because it's, like, “Just fill up their cup,” but it doesn't seem to matter. He used to play with her for, like, two to three hours when she was younger, and then at the end she would just, like, not be satisfied. Like, it didn't seem like anything was going to, like, fill her cup.Sarah: And that—you know what, there are kids like that. I remember I had this client once whose son actually said to her, “Mama, all the—all the hours in the world are not enough time with you.” And there are some kids that are really just like that. And, you know, I'm not sure how you respond when she says, like, you know, “But we hardly even got to play,” after you play for three hours. I mean, that playful—like, “Oh my gosh, like, what if we could just play all day?” You know, either, like, playful response of, like, “We could play for 27 hours,” you know, “and—and—and we would still have so much fun together.” Or just pure empathy, you know, like, “Oh no, it just feels like it's never enough time, is it?”Joanna: And it almost seems like sometimes when I am empathetic, it almost, like, fuels her anger. I don't know if you've ever heard that before from anybody else, but—eh, I don't know. Like, we had a situation with—like, she was looking for a specific bear last weekend—a teddy bear that she's missing—because she wanted to bring it to a teddy bear picnic. And so we were sort of, like, you know, we had to get out the door to go to this party. She couldn't find this bear, and I was, like, you know, offering a lot of empathy, and just, like—the more that I was like, “I know, like, you're so frustrated; you're so disappointed that you can't find your bear,” it was like the more that she was like, “Yeah, and you took it, you hid it, you put it somewhere.” Like, it just—the more empathy I gave, it seemed like the more that she was using it as almost, like, fuel to be upset. Does that make sense? Right.Sarah: Yeah. No, that's pretty common. And the thing is, you have to remember that blame is trying to offload difficult feelings. It's like, “I don't wanna feel this way, so I'm gonna blame you.” And then—you know, it's anger—have you ever seen the image of the anger iceberg?Joanna: Yes.Sarah: Yeah. So the anger iceberg is, like, the anger is the only thing you see coming out of the water. But underneath the iceberg are all of the more tender feelings, right? And anger is actually a secondary emotion. So you don't start out by feeling angry. You feel—like, like for her, she maybe was feeling frustrated and disappointed that she couldn't find her bear. And those are the first feelings. But those more tender feelings are harder to feel, and so anger is often protective. And the tender feelings also set off that—you know, that overwhelm of our emotions registers as a threat to the nervous system, which sets off that fight, flight, or freeze. So there's all those things going on, right? Like, the blame of, like, trying to offload the feelings; the anger of feeling like it's easier to go on the offensive than to feel those tender feelings; and then the nervous system getting set off by that overwhelm that registers as a threat, right? It sets off the fight, flight, or freeze. And they're—they're kind of all different ways of saying the same thing. And yes, empathy often will help a child—that they get more in touch with those feelings. And I'm not saying that you don't wanna empathize, um, but just recognize that, you know, the feelings are happening, and when you empathize, they—you know, you're welcoming the feelings, which sometimes can have that fight, flight, or freeze effect.Joanna: And would you recommend that I continue to really lean into empathy more and just stay with all of that emotion until it passes?Sarah: So—totally depends. The other thing I was gonna say is it's possible—like the situation you just gave me—it's possible—like, how—were you actually feeling empathetic, or were you trying to just get out the door?Joanna: I think I was, but at a certain point I was like, “I think, you know, we have two options from here. Like, we can continue to be upset about the bear and it—it will make us late for the party, or at a certain point we can move on and make a new plan,” and, like, “get our—make our way over there.” So, um, is that effective? Yeah, I—I mean, she eventually was able to change gears. But, I mean, it doesn't feel like real life to just be able to, like, sit in your negative emotions all the time. And I think, like, maybe I struggle with doing that for, like, a long enough period of time to actually let her—let them out.Sarah: Well, I don't know—yeah. So, I mean, there's a difference between welcoming feelings and wallowing in emo—in emotion, I think.Joanna: Yeah. And she definitely is a wallower, and she almost has really, like, attached so much sadness and frustration and anger to this bear. Like, now she'll just, like, think about the bear and be like, “Oh, I still can't find that bear.” Like, she was just, like, you know, exploding about it again this past weekend. So it almost feels like she's just latching onto it to, like, feel bad there.Sarah: I mean, some kids—she's probably not choosing to latch onto it to feel bad, but she probably just has. So, so what I was gonna say is sometimes when kids seem to be wallowing, it's just that there's so much there that they haven't been able to get out on a regular basis. So I think it is just like a full backpack, and there's just a lot there. And it's not—it's probably not just about the bear. It's probably just like she's—it's, you know, processing other older things too. And you don't have to know what's in the backpack or try and figure it out. But you might find that if you had more opportunities for her to process feelings, then she might not get so stuck when they do start to come out.That's one thing that I would think of. Like—and more laughter should help with that. Like, more laughter and roughhousing to help her sort of process stuff. And also sometimes—so the bear thing reminds me of—some kids will just feel bad, you know, like feel bad sometimes from, like, a full backpack, or maybe they don't even know what it is, they can't connect. Or maybe they're just tired and low-resourced and their brain is kind of like, “Why do I feel bad? Why do I feel bad?” And she's like, “Oh, the bear.” You know, she remembers, like, the bear. Like, I've had clients tell me, my kid will say, like, “I miss Grandpa,” who they never met, who died before they were born—like, just kind of casting around for, like, “Why could I be feeling this way right now? Oh, I know—it's 'cause I can't find that bear.”Or maybe the bear is so important to her that it really is—that she thinks about it and it just makes her feel bad. But I think what you wanna remember when it seems like she's wallowing is that, you know, getting—like, having empathy. And I actually also did a podcast about this too, with another coaching call, where I talked about, you know, cultivating a certain amount of nonchalance after you feel like you've been pretty empathetic and welcomed the feelings. Because I think if we're too empathetic sometimes—and I do wanna be very careful with this because I don't want anyone to take this as, like, “Don't be empathetic”—but, you know, there is a time where you just say, like, “You know what? I hear how upset you are about this, and I get it. And I would be really bummed if I couldn't find the bear I wanted also. And we have to decide, like, are we gonna stay here and just keep feeling sad about the bear, or should we figure out another plan?” Like what you said, right.Joanna: Yeah, I have heard you say that before, and that's been so helpful for her. Mm-hmm. It seems like if I'm not so reactive to her emotions, she realizes that they're not an emergency either.Sarah: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I mean—and that's a good point too, because I didn't even ask you, like, how's your regulation when this is happening? Like, are you getting, like, annoyed, frustrated, upset for her, kind of drawn in? Are you able to, like, kind of center yourself and stay calm?Joanna: It varies. I would say I currently am the most resourced that I've ever been—good with, like, the emotional regulation piece. And then that—I see, like, sometimes she is able to come out of it more quickly, or it just depends on, you know, what her tolerance is at that—at that time. So—Sarah: Joanna, it might be that, you know, you're coming out of—almost like you're coming out of a fog of, you know—you said all the things: like the NICU experience, and then the—and then COVID, and then your new baby, and—and that it might be that you're really, finally for the first time, kind of getting to tend—you know, look at yourself, your own regulation, and be more present and connected with your daughter. And all these things are gonna start having a little bit of, um, of a snowball effect. And it may be that you've just had this, like, seven-year period of difficulty, you know?Joanna: Oh, that's horrifying.Sarah: Well, but the good news is it sounds like things are shifting.Joanna: Yeah. It really does feel like that. Yeah. You're—I feel like even if I talked to you a few months ago, I would've been like, “Oh, help me.”Sarah: Well—and that you're recognizing what you brought—what you bring to the table, and that, you know, things have been fraught with your daughter, and that you're sort of starting to come out. And—and honestly, also doing that—doing that bedtime—after-school bedtime by yourself five days a week, that's gonna be tough too. Uh, so you've got situ—just that current situation doesn't sound like it'll change, but you're changing what you're bringing to it.Joanna: Yeah. Yeah. Um, if I can maybe just ask you, like, one more little thing?Sarah: Sure.Joanna: Maybe this is—it all comes back to, like, wanting a lot of connection, but this is also what kind of drains my battery. She constantly wants to, like, talk to me or ask me questions from, like, the time that she wakes up to the time that she goes to bed. And it will be—like, currently it's, like, “Would you rather.” It's like, “Would you rather eat all the food in the world or never eat again?” Uh-huh. In the past it's been, like, “Guess what's in my mouth?” But then she always really tries to make it—make me wrong in the circumstance, if that makes sense. Like, I don't know if that's just her, like, looking for power or, like, the upper hand, or like—I don't know. I'm not sure what it is.Sarah: Well, I mean, if you feel—if you have a sense that she's looking for power, I would bring that into the roughhousing—where you are the one who's weak and bumbling and idiotic, and, you know, you're so slow, and she beats you every time at a race. So I would really try to bring some of that—some of that stuff into your roughhousing where she gets to be—Do you know the kind of stuff I'm talking about? Like, “I bet you can't—um, you know, I bet you can't beat me at arm wrestling,” and then, like, you know, you flop your arm over in a silly way, and like, “How are you so strong? Like, I'm gonna beat you next time.” And it's obviously playful, because probably you are stronger than she is at this point, but, you know—feats of strength or speed, or, you know, figuring things out, and you act like you really don't know anything. And—but in, of course, in a joking way, so she knows that you're not—you know, you're pretending to be all these things, but she still gets to gloat and, like, “Ha, you know, I'm the strongest, I'm the best.” So really giving her that in roughhousing.And then also, like, real power. Like, I don't know if she gets to make—what kinds of decisions she gets to make, or, you know, how much—how flexible you are on limits. Because sometimes, as parents, we do set unnecessary limits, which can make our kids, you know—make them look for power in other ways. So really looking at what limits you're setting and if they're necessary limits, and—and how you're setting them. Uh, and also I think it sounds like it's connection-seeking—like, she just wants you. You know, she wants to know that you're there and paying attention to her. And so everything else that you're doing—that we're talking about—that you're gonna try to do more—more time with her and get more one-on-one time with her, hopefully that will help too.And I think it is okay to say, like, after you've done, like, 25 “would you rathers,” I just say—like, I used to say to my kids, “You know what? My brain is just feeling really stimulated from so many words. Like, can we have some quiet for a few minutes?” And not—and being very careful to not phrase it like, “You're talking too much,” or “I don't wanna listen to—” and I'm exaggerating for effect—but just framing it as, like, your brain and a regulation thing—like, “My brain,” and it is words. Yeah. And so, like, “Do you—should we put some music on?” You know, “Can we—like, think of—can you connect in a way that—let's listen to a story.” Okay. Something like that where you still, like, keep up connection with her, but—and it might not work. She—she might not be able to stop talking, but you can try it at least.Joanna: No, that's a—that's a really good suggestion. Almost like replacing it with some other kind of stimulation if she's looking for that in that moment.Sarah: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So I think—I think it's just—I think it's fair. Like, it's totally—I, at the end of the day, with people, like, talking at me all day, I sometimes am like—you know, when my kids were younger, I'd be like, “Okay, you know, I—I just need a little—my brain needs a little bit of a break. It's feeling overstimulated.” So I think just using that language with her.Joanna: Okay. Okay. Great. Thank you. Well—Sarah: Yeah, I think you're—you know, I think that I've—that we've connected at a point where you're, like, at—you're, like, at the—sort of the top of a mountain, you know? And you've been, like, having all this struggle and uphill battles. And I think you've put—before even we talk—you've put a lot of pieces [together] of what—you know, why some of the challenges were. And they do seem to be connection—you know, connection-based, just in terms of, um, you know, her wanting more and you not being as resourced. And so hopefully working on connection is gonna help with that too.Joanna: Yeah. I'm gonna keep that at top of mind.Sarah: And your self-regulation too. You said you're—you know, you've been having—you're more resourced now than you ever have been, so you're able to work on really staying, like, calm and compassionate in those times when she's dysregulated. Going back to what I said in the beginning, which is that, you know, the steps for the meltdowns really start with our own regulation.Joanna: And I find it's a snowball effect too, because once you start seeing positive changes, it allows you to, like, rest in knowing that things will not always be so hard.Sarah: Yeah. So it—Joanna: It gives you motivation to keep going, I think.Sarah: Totally. And, you know, with complex kids—which it sounds like your daughter is one of those more complex kids—um, brain maturity makes such a huge difference. Um, like, every month and every year as she's starting to get older. And, you know, you mentioned ADHD—that you—that you suspect that she might be ADHD. ADHD kids are often around three years behind, um, in terms of what you might expect for them in terms of, like, their brain development. And not—and not across the board. But in terms of, like, their regulation, in terms of what they can do for themselves, um, like in—you know, and obviously every kid is different. But it really helps to think about, um, your ADHD kids as sort of, uh, developmentally younger than they are. My—my girlfriend who has—her son and my daughter are the same age, so they're both just starting college or university this year. And, um, she was—I—she lives in California, and I was talking to her, and her son has ADHD, and she was talking about how much support he's still needing in first-year college and how she was feeling a little bit like, “Oh, I feel like I shouldn't be supporting him this much when he's 18.” And—and she said, “Actually, I just re—you know, I always remind myself of what you told me a long time ago: to think of him as three years younger than he is in some ways,” and that that's made her feel a little bit better about the scaffolding that she's having to give him.Joanna: Yeah, I've never heard that before. That's good. She's also gonna be starting to work with an OT in a couple of weeks, so we'll see if that has any effect as well.Sarah: Cool.Joanna: Cool.Sarah: Alright, well, I look forward to catching up with you in around maybe three weeks or a month and seeing how things went, and, um, good luck, and I hope this was helpful and gave you some things to work on.Joanna: Okay. Thank you so much.Sarah: Hi Joanna. Welcome back to the podcast.Joanna: Hi Sarah.Sarah: So—how has—it's been about—I think it's been about four weeks since we talked the first time. How have things been?Joanna: Yeah, things I think have been going a little better. Like, every day is a little bit different. We definitely have, like, a lot of ups and downs still, but I think overall we're just on a better trajectory now. Um, it's actually—I was wondering if things—if, like, the behavior has actually been better, or if it's more just, like, my frame of mind.Sarah: That is the classic question because—it's so funny, I'm—I'm laughing because so much of the time when I'm coaching parents, after a couple of sessions they'll say, “This isn't even about my kids. This is all about me.” Right.Joanna: Yeah, it really, really is and just continues to be about, like, my own—not just frame of mind, but, like, my own self-regulation. That's always the biggest thing.Sarah: Yeah.Joanna: Um, I think the biggest challenge is, like—ever since, like, about six months ago, I just have had really bad PMS. So I find, like, the week before—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: I just feel so irritated by everything.Sarah: Yeah.Joanna: So I feel like that's a really—just so much more of a challenging time because then things that normally don't bother me are bothering me a lot more.Sarah: Right.Joanna: And then it's harder to keep that connection strong.Sarah: Totally. Yeah. And you also—as we mentioned last time—you have come off of a whole bunch of different events of, you know—we talked your daughter's premature birth, and then COVID, and then the new baby. And the new baby—you know, you're not sleeping that much, and, um, all of those things would make it also have your resources be low. Like, not only the PMS, but, like, anything that puts a tax on us—on our resources—is gonna make us more irritable.Joanna: Totally. And—but I'm really trying to lean into having a lot more compassion for myself, because I know that when I do that, I can have a lot more compassion for her and, mm-hmm, whatever's going on that she's bringing to the table too. So that's—that's, I think, probably the biggest thing. But I think that our relationship is just starting to have a lot more resilience—like, when things do start to go sideways, either she or I—we're able to kind of get back on track a lot more quickly than before, and it doesn't become as, like, entrenched.Sarah: That's awesome. And we—we talked last time about trying to get some more time with her so that the only time that she has with you isn't just at bedtime when you're trying to get her to go to bed. Have you been able to do that, and has it—do you think that's been helping?Joanna: Yeah. It depends. Like, we had a really busy weekend this past weekend, so not as much. And then I find that sometimes, like, a barrier to that is, like, by the time the weekend finally comes, I'm so depleted and really just, like, needing time for myself. As much as I'm like, “Okay, I need to spend one-on-one time with her,” I'm like, “I don't want to—I just, like, be by myself for a little while.” So it's—Sarah: I hear that.Joanna: It's always that—like, yeah, it's always that balancing act. And then, like, feeling guilty of, like, “Okay, no, I know I should want to hang out with her,” and I kind of just don't really.Sarah: Mm-hmm. No, you're—you're totally not alone. And it's funny that you just—you mentioned self-compassion and then you said, “I feel guilty 'cause I—I don't wanna hang out with her,” but we all—the theme so far in this five minutes is that, um, you know, what you're bringing to the—what you're bringing to the relationship has been improving. Like you said, your mindset has shifted, and that's helping things with her. So even if you're not getting time independently with her—and hopefully you can work towards that after you fill your own cup—but you're still helping things with her by getting time to yourself.Joanna: True. Yeah, because then I'm coming back just a much better, happier—yes—parent and person.Sarah: Totally.Joanna: Oh, thank you. That's helpful.Sarah: Yeah, and the—and I think you've—you know, you've touched—just in these few minutes—you've touched on two big things that I always say: if you can't really take these two things to heart, it'll be really hard to be a successful peaceful parent. And one is what you said—the mindset shift, you know, of how you see her behavior with, you know, that children are doing the best they can. You know, they're not giving us a hard time; they're having a hard time. And the other one is self-compassion. So making strides in both of those areas will really help you be that parent that you wanna be.Joanna: Yeah. And even though we're maybe not getting huge chunks of time individually, I am really trying to make the most of, like, those little moments—Sarah: Good.Joanna: —of connection. Yeah. So even, like—what we've started doing is, because my husband's on night shift, he is waking up with her in the morning because she has a really hard time in the morning. So now he's sort of with her, getting her ready in the morning. And then I am—like, we used to all walk to the bus together because my son likes to go too. But now my husband's hanging back with my son, so now I'm just walking her to the bus. And even though it's five minutes, it's like we're holding hands. She's able to tell me—Sarah: Yeah.Joanna: —you know, talking about whatever.Sarah: That's still—that—that totally counts. That's—and that also, um, that also takes care of something we talked about last time too, which is your husband and your son having more time together, um, so that the nights that—when your husband is home—maybe he can put your son to bed and start trying to shift that dynamic. So yeah. That's amazing that you're doing—that. Yeah, I think that's a great shift—walking to her—to the bus by herself.Joanna: And I think it—it actually makes a huge difference. You know, before it was like she would just kind of get on the bus and not really look back, and now she's, like, giving me a hug and a kiss and waving—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: —waving in the window. So, like, I can see that it's having a positive effect right away.Sarah: You could even leave five minutes earlier than you have to and have—turn that five minutes into ten minutes.Joanna: I would love to do that. It's always just—like, it's really hard to get to the bus on time as it is. We will work toward that though.Sarah: I hear that. Well, if you did try to leave five minutes earlier then it might be more relaxed, even if you didn't even have any extra time, but you were just, like—leave, you know, change your whole morning back five minutes and try to get out five minutes early.Joanna: Yeah. Yeah. True. So I think that we had talked a lot about roughhousing last time too—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: —and I do find that that's—that's really—it works well for her, but I run into this really specific problem where when, uh, like, we start roughhousing, and then she's enjoying it, but then my son wants to get in the mix—Sarah: Mm-hmm.Joanna: —and then right away she's like, “No, like, get outta here.” So then she'll start kind of, like, pushing him or, like, throwing kicks or something. So—and then he gets upset because he's like, “Mom! Mom!” So then I end up sort of, like, pinned underneath both of them—Sarah: Right.Joanna: —they're mad at each other, hitting each other—Sarah: Oh no.Joanna: —they both want me.Sarah: Well, maybe—maybe don't do it then if that's how it ends up. But I do have a couple of shifts that might help before you give up on it when you're alone with them. One is, do you ever try to do those “two against you”? Like, start it out right from the get-go—“You two against Mommy. See if you can—see if you can—” Um, it's funny you just said you end up pinned down because that's what I often say. Like, “See if you can stop Mommy from getting up,” or “See if you can catch me,” or, you know, trying to align the two of them against you. That might help.Joanna: Yeah, I love that idea. Never thought about that. Yeah, I think she would love that.Sarah: Yeah. So, “Okay, you two are a team, and you have to try to stop me from jumping on the bed,” or “You know, you—you have to stop me from getting to the bed,” or, you know, something like that.Joanna: Okay, I'm gonna try that. I think that they'll love it.Sarah: Yeah. Another idea is, um, what I call “mental roughhousing,” where you're not doing, like, physical stuff, but you're being silly and, like, um—I think I mentioned her last time to you, but A Playful Heart Parenting—Mia—W—Walinski. She has a lot of great ideas on her Instagram—we'll link to that in the show notes—of, like, different, um, like, word things that you can do. When I say mental roughhousing, it's like getting everyone laughing without being physical.Joanna: Mm-hmm.Sarah: Uh, which—you know, the goal of roughhousing is to get everyone laughing, and sometimes being physical might not work. But you can—like, I'll give you an idea. This isn't from Mia, but this is something that I used to do with my kids. Like, you know, one of you—you're like—you say to JR, “Oh—where did your sister go?” And she's sitting right there. “She was just here a minute ago. Where did Jay go? I don't see her. What happened to her? She disappeared.” And meanwhile she's like, “I'm right here! I'm right here!” You know—something like that that's more of, like, a—more of a mental roughhousing.My kids and I used to play this game that actually my brother-in-law invented called Slam, where, like, you both say a word at the same time. Um, so, like—I'm just looking around my—like, you know, “curtain” and, you know, “lemonade.” Uh, and then it's like—you both say it—both—you both say your word at the same time. And that actually wasn't a very funny one—kids come up with much funnier ones than I do—but it's like, “Is that, like, a lemonade that is made out of curtains, or is it a—what—” It's such a dumb example now that I think of it, but—but—or is it, like, a curtain that hides the lemonade? And so you just try and—like, you think of silly things that the two words together—the two words “slam” together—mean.Joanna: Okay, great. That's—that's on my next book—that's on my next thing to read. You—man—you keep mentioning—what is it? Playful—Playful Heart Parenting? She has an—I—Sarah: There was a book—there was a book too. And—Joanna: Oh—Sarah: Playful Parenting—the Larry Cohen book.Joanna: The Larry Cohen book, yeah.Sarah: Yeah.Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: That's a great book. Yeah, and he was on my podcast too, so you could listen to that. We'll also link to—Mia was on my podcast, and Larry was—so we'll link to both of those in the show notes as well.Joanna: Okay, great. I may have listened to one of those, but—yeah. Okay. Yeah.Sarah: And Playful Parenting is really great for also talking—and, like, Mia is just straight up, like, how to be more playful in life and to, you know, make more joy in your family kind of thing. And Larry talks about how to be more playful to also support your child through transitions and through big emotions and different things—like, it's a—it's a little bit more, um, like, all-around parenting—Playful Parenting.Joanna: Okay.Sarah: But it is different.Joanna: Yeah. I used to have a really hard time getting the kids upstairs to start the bedtime routine. And now it's like—I'll be like, “Okay, I'm gonna hide first,” and, like, I go upstairs and hide and we start—Sarah: Oh, I love that.Joanna: —we play hide-and-seek, and—Sarah: Oh yeah, it was a stroke of genius one day, and it's been working so well just to get everyone, like, off the main floor and—Joanna: —upstairs.Sarah: I'm gonna totally steal that idea. That's such a good idea. Yeah, because you could also send them up—“Okay, go hide upstairs and I'll come and find you.” And then you could do a round of you hiding. And I love that. That's a great idea. Yeah.Joanna: And I especially love hide-and-seek for sometimes when I need, like, 30 seconds by myself in a dark closet—Sarah: —to, like, take a breath.Joanna: That's great.Sarah: I love it. I love it. Yeah, it's—that's so great.As I mentioned before, I forgot to ask Joanna for an update about a few things. So here's the update about breastfeeding her son in the night.Sarah: Okay.Joanna: Hi, Sarah. So, in terms of the night-weaning, um, I haven't gone ahead and done anything about that yet just because he does have his last molars coming in and has been sick. So I want to wait until he's well and pain-free to kind of give us our best chance at getting that off on the right foot. But I have really realized that because he's my last baby, that this is really the last little home stretch of being woken up by a baby at night—specifically to nurse. So that's helped me kind of reduce my feelings of resentment toward it.Sarah: I love that Joanna zoomed out and looked at the big picture and the fact that this is her last baby, and used that to sort of just change her mindset a little bit and make it a little bit easier to continue on with something when she knew it wasn't the right time to stop. And now here is her update about bedtime with her daughter. And for this, I love that she got preventive—you'll see what I mean—and also playful. Those are two really great things to look at when you're having any struggles with your kids: like, how can I prevent this from happening? And also, how can I be playful when it is happening and shift the mood?Joanna: And in terms of bedtime with my daughter, we've made a couple of schedule changes to set us off on a better foot once I get back together with her after putting my son to bed. So I think we used to have a lot of conflict because it was like she was still asking for another snack and then hadn't brushed her teeth, and then it was just kind of getting to be too late and I was getting short on patience. So now we have, like, a set snack time where everybody has a snack, and I let them know, like, “This is the last time that we're eating today,” and then we're going upstairs—using hide-and-seek, like I mentioned—and then just really continuing to be playful in all doing our bedtime tasks together.So, for example, I'm saying, like, “Okay, I'm gonna go into my room and put my pajamas on. Can you guys go get your PJs on—and then don't show me, but I have to guess what pajamas you have on?” So she really loves that because, like I mentioned, she loves to get me to guess things. But also she's then helping her brother get ready for bed, and he's far more cooperative with her than with me in terms of getting his pajamas on. So it all works really well.Yeah, and then just kind of continuing to be silly and playful is really helping with brushing teeth—it's like, “Who can make the silliest faces in the mirror?” and stuff. So, really kind of moving through all those tasks together so that by the time I'm out of the room and ready to put her to bed, everything's done, and we can just get into playing cards and then snuggling and chatting and—and leaving from there after maybe a five- or ten-minute snuggle. So there's been way fewer meltdowns at the end of the night because we are able to just not get in this place where we're getting into power struggles in the first place. It's just really all about, like, the love and connection at the end of the day.Sarah: The final thing I wanted to check in with you about is—you were asking about the meltdowns. You know, when Jay gets really upset and, you know, how to—um—how to manage those. Have you had any chances to practice what we talked about with that?Joanna: Yeah, she actually had a really, really big, long, extended meltdown yesterday, and, um, I just continue to not really feel like I'm ever supporting her in the way that she needs supporting. Like, I don't—I always end up feeling like I'm not—I'm not helping. I don't know. It's just a really, really hard situation.Sarah: I was just talking to a client yesterday who—who actually wanted to know about supporting her child through meltdowns, and I said, “Well, what would you want someone to do for you?” You know—just kind of be there. Be quiet. You know, offer a—you know, rub the—rub your back—rub her back. I mean, I don't know exactly what your child wants, but I think that's a good place to start if you feel like you're not being successful—like, “Well, what would I want if this was happening to me?”Joanna: And I think that really—that's enough, right? It's enough—Sarah: Oh, totally.Joanna: —to be there. And it always—maybe I'm just feeling like it's not enough because we don't really even get, like, a good resolution, or, like, even—eventually it just kind of subsides, right?Sarah: If you were having a meltdown, that's what would happen. Nobody can come in there and fix it for you.Joanna: Um, exactly.Sarah: Nobody can come in and say the magic words that's gonna make you not feel upset anymore. So it's really just about that—being there for somebody. And we're—it's not that the resolution is “I fixed their problems.”Joanna: Yeah.Sarah: The resolution is “I was there with them for the journey.”Joanna: Yeah. And it goes back to what you were saying, where it's like, “Oh, this work really is just about me.”Sarah: Yeah, totally.Joanna: And learning how to show up.Sarah: And not feeling anxious when your child is upset and you're like, “I don't know what to do,” and just think, “Okay, I just have to be

"Skip Schools!" - module #86 of the Einstein Blueprint Click here to watch the highly energetic video [1 min 37 sec] I took when we visited a "Monday Night" event in Huntington Beach, CA. It was 2.5 hours and totally packed with beautiful young adults! Check out the new Naples, Florida Einstein Blueprint Academy ! Order my new hardcover book -> https://www.zerogravitykids.com/ Order my rebellious hs'ing book -> https://www.homeschoolsecrets.com/

This week on The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry are joined by A&E doctor turned mental health campaigner, author and Stompcast host Dr Alex George. Together, they dig into what young people are up against right now, how tiny daily routines can build big resilience, and why honest, calm conversations at home matter more than perfect fixes. Dr Alex talks through “mental fitness,” the case for more wellbeing in schools, and his new children's book Happy Habits, which helps kids build small, realistic routines for happier, healthier days. (Plus: Alison's “raffle to buy a toy” saga becomes a teachable moment on dopamine!) In this episode: Why schools should balance grades with wellbeing (and life skills like money basics) The “life audit”: a 5-minute way to choose the one habit that moves the needle Simple family habits that stick (hello, 10-minute morning nature walk) How to talk to children about grief, worry and eating disorders without “fixing” Mental fitness vs. mental health: building resilience and capacity for joy Alex on ADHD & OCD: what diagnosis changed and what “normal” even means Boundaries with reality TV and choosing goals that align with your values A sneak peek at Alex's next book, Am I Normal?, coming in January This episode is proudly sponsored by Aldi Mamia.  Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums  Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

This interview first aired on Monday the 20th of October, 2025 on ONE FM 98.5 Shepparton. One FM breakfast announcer Plemo interviews Gary Mason from the Rotary Club of Euroa about their upcoming fundraiser Fleetwood Max in concert raising funds for Healthy Happy Kids Euroa. Fleetwood Max will be at the Euroa Memorial Oval from 6:30pm - 11pm. Special guest appearance - ELVIS by Karl Adams and The Vegas Knights. Click to book: https://www.trybooking.com/DFMSG Listen to Plemo for Breakfast live on weekday mornings from 6am-9am. Contact the station on admin@fm985.com.au or (+613) 58313131 The ONE FM 98.5 Community Radio podcast page operates under the license of Goulburn Valley Community Radio Inc. (ONE FM) Number 1385226/1. PRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association Limited and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) that covers Simulcasting and Online content including podcasts with musical content, that we pay every year. This licence number is 1385226/1.

First aired in 2018, this episode still ranks in the Top 5 of most popular ones. I'm sharing it here as part of my short Honeymoon Reprise series. Dr. Joseph Lee shares about effective parenting skills for raising children to be secure, mature, and fulfilled people. Joseph also discusses why authoritarian parenting leads to bad outcomes, how surprises in life reveal our blind spots, and why parents should be gardeners not carpenters. 

Welcome to The Night Feed, the podcast that keeps brand new mums company during those long, lonely night feeds. I'm Charlotte, and in this episode, we're covering:The reality of postpartum hair loss (and why nobody warns you how bad it can get)Thoughts on gentle sleep training and what's actually realistic in those newborn daysThe chaos and comfort of bed sharing with multiple kidsAnd a big reflection on how optimising everything around our children's happiness might actually create anxiety for them later in lifeIf you're up right now feeding, rocking, or just trying to get through another night, you are not alone. This podcast is here to bring you comfort, camaraderie, and real talk about motherhood.

Kids today are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before, with many experts attributing this to constant screen time and social media exposure. In response, lawmakers and schools nationwide are experimenting with policies such as banning cell phones in the classroom and prohibiting social media use for teens. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University and author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness," has been warning parents and policymakers for years about the harmful effects of cell phones and screen time. Haidt recently joined host Lisa Brady on the FOX News Rundown to analyze how the digital age may be reshaping childhood and what steps we can take right now to address this crisis. He also discusses the risks of requiring mental health screenings in schools, which Illinois plans to implement next school year, and the importance of encouraging children to simply go outside and play. We often have to cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full conversation. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire interview with author Jonathan Haidt, allowing you to hear even more of his insights on how to raise children in this new world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids today are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before, with many experts attributing this to constant screen time and social media exposure. In response, lawmakers and schools nationwide are experimenting with policies such as banning cell phones in the classroom and prohibiting social media use for teens. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University and author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness," has been warning parents and policymakers for years about the harmful effects of cell phones and screen time. Haidt recently joined host Lisa Brady on the FOX News Rundown to analyze how the digital age may be reshaping childhood and what steps we can take right now to address this crisis. He also discusses the risks of requiring mental health screenings in schools, which Illinois plans to implement next school year, and the importance of encouraging children to simply go outside and play. We often have to cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full conversation. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire interview with author Jonathan Haidt, allowing you to hear even more of his insights on how to raise children in this new world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids today are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before, with many experts attributing this to constant screen time and social media exposure. In response, lawmakers and schools nationwide are experimenting with policies such as banning cell phones in the classroom and prohibiting social media use for teens. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University and author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness," has been warning parents and policymakers for years about the harmful effects of cell phones and screen time. Haidt recently joined host Lisa Brady on the FOX News Rundown to analyze how the digital age may be reshaping childhood and what steps we can take right now to address this crisis. He also discusses the risks of requiring mental health screenings in schools, which Illinois plans to implement next school year, and the importance of encouraging children to simply go outside and play. We often have to cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full conversation. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire interview with author Jonathan Haidt, allowing you to hear even more of his insights on how to raise children in this new world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I hope you enjoy this rewind episode! Also... this is the last episode before my book is out!!!!!If you want to come and see me this year on my BOOK TOUR all the tickets for London, Manchester, Liverpool & Dublin and info are HEREOrder Manifest Like a Mother on AMAZON or WATERSTONES (Use code ManifestAmber25 for 25% off!) (Amazon Influencer)Then enter your order number and retailer HERE to gain access to your bonus bundle which includes a Happy Kids subliminal, two EFT tapping videos & a 7 day Summer Holiday Survival manifesting challenge.Come and find me @francescaamber & @lawofattractionchangedmylife on Instagram - I would LOVE to hear from you.Join the Book Club B*tches - the UK's largest self development book club - we're doing Manifest Like a Mother in the book club starting the 1st September!You can find all my work including overnight subliminals for weight loss, wealth, fertility, beauty and confidence, success etc..as well as online masterclasses on my website, francescaamber.comThings I love that I think you'll love too...Hitting my health and body goals every day with my at home walking pad. Use code 'francescaamber' for 5% off.Try my favourite magnesium supplement for FREE with this 5 day free trial.Thank you so much for listening and I'll see you again next week,Fran xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and thank you so much for listening in again this week, I'm honestly so shooketh by how quickly this 3 minute tapping routine worked. If you want to access the video tutorials I made on EFT tapping as part of the BONUS BUNDLE for pre-ordering Manifest Like a Mother:Order Manifest Like a Mother on AMAZON or WATERSTONES (Use code ManifestAmber25 for 25% off!) (Amazon Influencer) Then enter your order number and retailer HERE to gain access to your bonus bundle which includes a Happy Kids subliminal, two EFT tapping videos & a 7 day Summer Holiday Survival manifesting challenge. Come and find me @francescaamber & @lawofattractionchangedmylife on Instagram - I would LOVE to hear from you.Join the Book Club B*tches - the UK's largest self development book club.You can find all my work including overnight subliminals for weight loss, wealth, fertility, beauty and confidence, success etc..as well as online masterclasses on my website, francescaamber.comIf you want to come and see me this year on my BOOK TOUR all the tickets for London, Manchester, Liverpool & Dublin and info are HEREThings I love that I think you'll love too...Hitting my health and body goals every day with my at home walking pad. Use code 'francescaamber' for 5% off.Try my favourite magnesium supplement for FREE with this 5 day free trial.Thank you so much for listening and I'll see you again next week,Fran xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clinical psychologist and author of the bestselling Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Dr. Laura Markham joins me for a rich conversation about what peaceful parenting really means — and how it can help you set firm, loving limits while staying deeply connected to your child.   Together we explore:   Why connection, not control, is the true foundation of cooperation and emotional resilience.   What setting limits with empathy looks like in real life (and why it's not the same as being permissive).   The surprising way laughter can help your child release built-up stress and unshed tears.   Practical tools to respond to big feelings like anger, sadness, and aggression — without adding more fuel to your child's fire.   Why behaviorism often oversimplifies how kids learn and grow and what advances in neuroscience reveal are how humans actually learn best.   Why the goal of parenting isn't perfectly calm, compliant kids — but helping them build the neural wiring for lifelong emotional regulation.   If you've ever felt torn between being “too strict” or “too soft,” or overwhelmed by the endless parenting advice out there, this episode will help you zoom out, get grounded, and focus on what really matters for your child — and for you.     LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:   https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/  

In today's episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, we're gonna go over what to do when your kid gets sick, including what to do, what not to do, and how you can address the top 25 acute childhood concerns using an integrative approach with Dr. Elisa Song. You'll hear us discuss: 1. Integrative approaches to pediatric health 2. Post-antibiotic recovery for your kids 3. Engaging your vagus nerve to enhance your health 4. Breathing exercises for children 5. Homeopathy and natural remedies for children's health Dr. Elisa Song is a holistic pediatrician and pediatric functional medicine expert who has helped over 1,000 children thrive by combining conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, essential oils, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is the Founder of Healthy Kids Happy Kids, a trusted online resource for holistic pediatric advice. Dr. Song is also the Founder and Holistic Pediatrician at Whole Family Wellness. Her new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience, offers practical insights on how to nurture resilient children. Order tests through Rupa Health, the BEST place to order functional medicine lab tests from 30+ labs - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide

Is your toddler screaming at bedtime? Is your teen suddenly moody or defiant? Before you blame "bad behavior," take a breath. Dr. Wendy Hunter shares four real stories—from an 11-month-old to a 14-year-old—to show why acting out is often a cry for help, not disrespect. Learn how emotional dysregulation can look like defiance and discover calm, practical ways to respond. You'll walk away feeling more confident—and more connected to your child. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think!    Read:  The Explosive Child by Ross Greene  Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka  Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham    Send your questions to hello@pediatriciannextdoorpodcast.com or submit at drwendyhunter.com  Find products from the show on the shop page.   *As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.    More from The Pediatrician Next Door:    Website: drwendyhunter.com   Instagram: @the_pediatrician_next_door  Facebook: facebook.com/wendy.l.hunter.75  TikTok: @drwendyhunter  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drwendyhunter    This is a Redd Rock Music Podcast  IG: @reddrockmusic  www.reddrockmusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Elisa Song—pediatrician, integrative medicine expert, and author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids. With a deep commitment to helping children thrive, Dr. Song shares how gut health forms the foundation of pediatric wellness and why holistic care is essential in addressing the chronic health challenges kids face today. We dive into how the microbiome shapes immunity, mood, and behavior, and why addressing nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factors is crucial for long-term health. Dr. Song also breaks down five core pillars for nurturing a healthy gut in children and reveals the surprising ways added sugar and ultra-processed foods impact the developing brain. You'll learn: - The role of gut health in preventing and managing childhood conditions - Five foundational habits to support your child's microbiome - How sugar and processed foods disrupt children's brain and gut function - The link between gut health and mental wellness in kids - What lab tests can help assess and guide pediatric gut health interventions This episode is a must-listen for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers who want to raise healthy, resilient children through informed, integrative strategies. Order tests through Rupa Health, the BEST place to order functional medicine lab tests from 30+ labs - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide

Chuck E. Cheese's Melissa McLeanas joins hosts Damian Fowler and Ilyse Liffreing on The Current Podcast to discuss how Chuck E. Cheese is leveraging its iconic IP for the streaming era, what advertisers are excited about and more. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian FowlerIlyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing,Damian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Current Podcast.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):This week we're thrilled to be joined by Melissa McLeanas, Vice President of Global Media Licensing and Entertainment at Chuck E. Cheese.Damian Fowler (00:18):For people who grew up in the us, Chuck E. Cheese means childhood birthday parties. It's long been a go-to destination for pizza games and the giant mouse that knows every kid's name.Ilyse Liffreing (00:29):In short, it's a pop culture icon with over 500 worldwide venues. But under Melissa's leadership, the brand is leveling up by launching the CEC Media Network in partnership with programmatic platform future. Today,Damian Fowler (00:42):It's a big move that signals a shift from just a physical play space to a full on entertainment platform, think digital storytelling in store screens, branded content and advertising that actually fits into the family experience.Ilyse Liffreing (00:57):We're going to jump in and talk about why in venue media might just be the next big driver of customer loyalty and growth.Damian Fowler (01:07):Chuck E. Cheese is such a nostalgic brand, especially in the United States, but here you are launching a full media network, which is a kind of big new chapter for you. Can you walk us through the vision and the strategy behind the CEC Media network and what is bringing it to life?Melissa McLeanas (01:26):Absolutely. First of all, thank you so much for having me. It is an incredibly exciting time at CEC Entertainment. Then Chuck Cheese, I would say it's a bold new chapter for the company and the Media network is really just a piece of that. The brand has been going through an incredible transformation over the last few years, and really at the heart of that is the vision to establish this brand as a global leader in entertainment. Now, I say that, but it's really reestablished the brand in entertainment. Chuck E. Cheese was born in entertainment. I don't know if you know, but the E in Chuck E. Cheese stands for entertainment. And really when you think back to where we started, we were a leader and really established the category of EAT entertainment. And as that space has evolved and family entertainment centers have really taken that center stage, we've continued to be a leader and an innovator in that space.(02:14):But a few years ago, I would say we probably hit a wall and it was a little bit tired. The bones were good as they would say, but it was really time for a reset and bringing a new leadership team to the forefront with a new background and experience in entertainment. We established several different strategic objectives, one of them being the division that I lead, and that's media licensing and entertainment. So really very simply put, the mission is to really drive incremental value and revenue for the company in a new way. So all US locations, we've invested over 350 million back into the business, a capital investment, and I'm happy to say that right now at this point we've completed the US all US locations, so just under 500, no small feat, and we're about to finish our own Canada locations as well. And what this looks like is cosmetically update to the interior and the exterior, a revamp of menu, all new games, and that entertainment package now features a large video wall. And then of course our character program.Damian Fowler (03:16):That's a lot right there. It's almost like you've had a complete perception shift in terms of what you're doing. It sounds like you are a channel in and of your own right and media channel. You mentioned out of home, but there's also CTV on all those points. This is a kind of multistream content strategy. And could you just talk a little bit more about how that will ultimately reach all of these consumers and how it'll deepen engagement, I guess, for families who go to all these different venues in the US and around the world?Melissa McLeanas (03:50):So yeah, that's a great point. So I guess let me step back and actually talk about what that content looks like. Within our fund centers, we have entertainment programming, let's call it a 90 minute loop, and it consists primarily of entertainment, content, family friendly entertainment content. Of all these initiatives, obviously the first and foremost most important thing for us is to make sure that we're delivering an amazing experience for our guests. And so that content must do that. It has to be relevant for our families, it has to be engaging, and it really has to convey everything that our brand stands for. So that's a mix of our own original content. So I talked about that, the library. And so we continue to create new content and then we pull from our library of content. So we really look for things that are a little young, but it has to be appealing to an older guest.(04:37):At the same time, there can be aspirational content, so maybe some of our 10 year olds and 12 year olds are there with younger siblings, and then you got your parents. So there's a lot of opportunity there. The other thing that digital screens in this update to programming does is it allows us to do regular seasonal updates. And I think that's also really important, especially as we're growing programs like our membership program, our past program, we've got some repeat visitation, we're consistently updating and keeping that fresh throughout the year. Now as part of that, there's a lot of partner opportunities. And so for our entertainment partners, like I said, you can get the latest clips from your newest release for some of the newer content creators. We've got an active captive audience sitting right there paying attention to those screens, and we've created an environment where they're tuning into those screens. And so bringing our characters, since we do all of that content ourselves and working with other content creators to create some co-branded content, there's a lot of different ways for partners to really be a part of that entertainment experience.Ilyse Liffreing (05:38):Now I know it's early days too, but perhaps you can talk about some of those partnerships that you have going on with needy buyers and national advertisers and then how important the media network is to Chuck E. Cheese's broader business evolution.Melissa McLeanas (05:54):Absolutely. I'll actually take that moment to do a quick and talk more specifically on the advertising opportunity. I think a lot of what we're doing with the content and the characters is incredibly exciting, but it's also a really exciting time in the digital out of home and out of home space. So if you look at other venue operators and retailers, they're debuting these owned media networks. And so we've really took a page out of their book and we said, Hey, we've got this updated experience, we have this traffic. How do we really bring this to partners in a big way? And so on the, I would say the tech solutions side, we've had some really strong relationships with Panasonic so that we've got media players in advertising solutions that are going to support the various types of advertisers locally, regionally, nationally. And then we most recently have a relationship with Vista Media, so we were able to integrate their supply side platform directly into that CMS.(06:44):So that gives us access to a wide array of advertisers, and they're coming straight through programmatic, so turnkey solution for those who are buying programmatic space. So we're seeing a lot of advertisers come through there. And then we've got some more strategic relationships in the entertainment space. Kids BOP is one of those. They've been a partner for many, many years. And in addition to some of the entertainment content, they've really leveraged these screens to advertise tours to localize and talk specifically to upcoming tours at a specific venue ahead of that. We've worked with the Harlem Globetrotters to do the same, and then we have a various CPG toy, again, family appropriate, parent appropriate that are really taking advantage of those screens. And then of course we're talking out of home, but I don't want to forget too that we also announced a partnership with Future Today.(07:33):And so in addition to having this opportunity around content in our venues, we also have this content online. So we've had a lot of this on YouTube and YouTube kids. We actually started putting our content there in 2012 and have been doing so in a more meaningful way in the past few years. And with this new relationship with Future Today, a leader in the CTV space, not only are we getting content on their Happy Kids channel and their network alongside the co melons and the Paw trolls, but in the future we're working towards launching our own streaming network. So Chuck E. Cheese branded Fast Channel, so ad supported, but again, leaning into the content and the IP and engaging those guests and those fans and then offering that opportunity to brand safe and family friendly advertisers.Ilyse Liffreing (08:17):I know Chuck E. Cheese has traditionally been mostly about the physical experience before all of this. I remember going there as a kid, my dad brought us there all the time growing up, and obviously that part of the business is not dying down at all. I'm curious how many screens you have at each of the 500 plus venues that will be part of this network.Melissa McLeanas (08:41):So every location has a video wall, and that's going to be the focal point of when you walk into Chuck E. Cheese and it's incredibly important. You really can see that almost anywhere in most locations. Every one of our locations is unique, they're like children. They vary in size and layout, but really that video wall is huge. And then screens and the number of screens is going to depend on that layout and how big the location is. So it can be anywhere from six to 15 to 18 in some of our larger locations. So it's done strategically to make sure that there's visibility no matter where you are. And then audio isn't tied to those screens, so audio is just piped uniformly throughout the entire locations.Ilyse Liffreing (09:21):Besides those giant screens, are there any other ways you guys are blending that physical presence within the new digital touchpoints that you're bringing?Melissa McLeanas (09:30):So like I said, the character program is, I mean the epitome of the live physical experience. And so we really try to find a balance between how we take the digital parts of our brand and our entertainment and balance that with the interactive and the physical. So when the character, when Chucky comes out, whether it be for a birthday or for a dance, there's also supporting content on the screen that really help families follow along, be able to follow and interact with their parents and their friends and all of that. So we want to make sure it's on an interactive dance floor. So there's a lot of different ways to bring that to life. We also just recently launched a STEAM program, and so that is rooted in the media that you see on those screens, but then as part of that curriculum, those kids go off into the game rooms and they're playing with the games and they're doing all the different tasks that they've learned.(10:21):We did that in partnership with stem.org and then just digitally throughout the locations, our menu boards are all digital now. We've done some tremendous and deep upgrades in terms of innovation and technology, so no more tickets, which some people get sad about because that visual of having that bucket of tickets feels so iconic. But etickets are far more efficient for families that are trying to get through the price counter and out the door. So we've got Etic, we've got Play Pass, no more tokens, the menu boards, the games. We're really leaning into digital. It makes us more efficient when we need to make changes. We think about testing menu items in certain local and regional rollouts that's all supported digitally. It's far easier to make those updates on the backside than it is to roll out new point of sale and printed materials. And so we're looking for those digital opportunities throughoutIlyse Liffreing (11:11):Life. Things are certainly changing.Damian Fowler (11:12):They really are. Let's talk a little bit about some of the takeaways from all of these innovations. Now, let's say you're a family, you've been exposed to the video wall and the games room and you go home. How is this exposure being measured across the network, if you like?Melissa McLeanas (11:28):Yes, feedback is everything. We actually have a really active fan base and we do have guests who are reaching out to give us feedback. We have an in-house insights team and we have regular surveys, and then they're asking questions across every element of Chuck E. Cheese because we want to make sure that we're understanding as we update and introduce new exactly what's working, what's not and what can be better and happy to, the screens in the entertainment continues to have a really positive score. A very high guest are seeing it, they're tuning in and they love the entertainment. And so we'll continue to watch that. And when it comes to the advertising campaigns, from a measurement perspective, we're working with companies like Place their AI and an IMP purview to measure the impressions through our door as well as impressions against our screens, both being well-recognized auditors, if you will, in that space.(12:20):We don't sell tickets, so that's important to make sure that when we do these campaigns we can accurately say this is how many folks we're actually exposed to those screens. And then as we continue to work with our partners, and then I think this is something you'll see, especially in the digital out of home space, it's constantly evolving. And so for us it's really important to work with partners on their campaigns and understand those KPIs because we are a unique platform and the guests are engaging with these screens maybe differently than they might and screens out in a different venue. And so we want to make sure that the content that we're delivering, one, again, great guest experience and it's appropriate for our families, but two, it's achieving what our partners are looking to do with these campaigns.Ilyse Liffreing (13:04):So you've spoken about how Chuck E. Cheese as a brand spans generations. How do you ensure that the content and messaging then stay relevant to today's kids while still honoring the brand's legacy from the past?Melissa McLeanas (13:18):It's an amazing gift to have a brand and a character that has touched almost five decades, and that comes with great responsibility first and foremost, at the heart of what we are still, where a kid can be a kid. So as we continue to innovate and evolve for these families, we never lose sight of that. We are a kid first space. So while our content could be developed with co-viewing in mind and there's some Easter eggs that maybe parents will understand, but it's just fun silly songs for kids, we want to make sure that kids still own their space. Chuck E. Cheese is a place for kids. Our parents obviously need to enjoy their space too. And so in addition to how that content comes to life within our fund centers, we take a lot of opportunity to find extensions outside our four walls that pay homage to the rich legacy that this brand has.(14:11):So licensing is an important part of the strategic objective of growing this brand and increasing its value and entertainment. And so we've really grown our license program over the past five years. We've got just over 35 licensees and we've been able to really segment our brand across these decades and offer a classic Chuckie for those who know the OG seventies, eighties, Chuckie with the bowler hat. And we've got our retro Chuckie who's skater and he's the nineties, two thousands, and we offer that up to teen and young adult audiences in various spaces that make sense. We've done a few other things like we've saved our animatronics and in a few different locations, we started that in Northridge, California, wildly successful, lots of feedback there. And so we were able to extend that to four additional stores. And so those animatronics are going to live in those locations.(15:02):They're still fully remodeled, they're still on the media network, they still have all the new, but for fans that want to pilgrimage to see the original band in that format, those are available and we continue to look for opportunities like that. We've announced Chuck Arcade, it's an arcade space that's really geared towards Martine and adult, and there's some really fun touch points. Again, paying ho much to the legacy. And so we want to make sure that, again, our brand is a brand and we're going to take care of those kids and those families, but there's a lot of opportunity to really extend that and talk to the other generations of fans.Ilyse Liffreing (15:36):I certainly appreciate that. I remember Skater, Chuckie, myself, ninetiesMelissa McLeanas (15:41):Chucky, everybody has their Chuckie.Ilyse Liffreing (15:42):Oh yeah. I know it's early days still, but how has the feedback been so far from the brands that you guys are starting to approach about the network? Is there excitement, interest?Melissa McLeanas (15:56):I think a takeaway that is for brands and partners and even a lot of our guests is because just as you said, everyone has their Chuck E. Cheese and this is a brand that has such incredible awareness and strong attachment to a very specific memory and time of when you had your Chuck E. Cheese experience. As we're going through this remodel and introducing the median network, it's a bit of a surprise when they actually go in and they're like, oh my goodness, this is not the Chuck E. Cheese that I used to know. And we hear it from guests and it's why we really lean into reopening events when we remodel a location and then really make a splash in the local community. And I'm hearing that a lot from partners. It's incredibly positive once they see how their brand is coming to life on these screens and we're hosting lunch and learns with agencies, you have to see it to get it because that memory is so strong in so many people and we're doing things so differently. And so it's been really positive and it's been exciting, but it definitely is. It's a space where you've really got to lean in and say, oh, wait a second. You're right. This is incredible.Damian Fowler (17:06):We seem to be in a sort of almost, you mentioned the ip, but we seem to be in a bit of a golden age as it were, of brand storytelling and more and more brands leaning into sort of that owned media channel to tell their stories. How do you see this whole media network fitting into that general trendMelissa McLeanas (17:23):From a brand storytelling perspective? It's funny. We always make this differentiation. Our characters are part of our experience. We never look at them to tell the experience. And so as we debut all of these new channels for our content and open up to a larger audience, we have the opportunity to really dive into these characters, their personalities and invest in telling their story and in a deeper way. And so we've got so much content, but there's so many new formats that we are excited about long form formats, animation, publishing, and so much of that can be supported and come to life on these channels. But when we think about a storytelling opportunity from a character perspective, there's a great path forward to really get these beloved characters out there and to continue to build their world, their ecosystem, and not just in content. How do we take them outside the four walls? How do we create more experiences? We've taken the band out on tour, how do we do that in a bigger way? And I think these channels and this content is the beginning of a much bigger journey for the characters.Damian Fowler (18:31):Yeah, I imagine. Is there a movie in the works?Melissa McLeanas (18:36):No comment. No. In all serious, that's where we're going. That's where we're thinking for these characters. And so while nothing has been announced, I think we've been fairly vocal in the fact that that is what we would like to do and how we are making decisions on content and bringing on partners.Ilyse Liffreing (18:55):It's amazing. Looking even further ahead, if the movie doesn't happen, if the movie does happenMelissa McLeanas (19:03):When the movie happens,Ilyse Liffreing (19:03):When it happens,Melissa McLeanas (19:04):Exactly when the movieIlyse Liffreing (19:06):Happens, I like it. It happens. What else do you see in terms of innovation, whether it's maybe gamified content, augmented reality, personalized experiences, is there anything else that you guys are hoping in the near future to evolve the Chuck E T's experience?Melissa McLeanas (19:26):Gaming is in our DNA. And so I mean we are the largest arcade operator in the world. We buy thousands and thousands of games. We've got 2 billion game plays a year. And so we're always looking and talking to different companies about how we can continue to innovate in that space. And so that's always on our radar. You've seen a change in even some of the games that have come through our doors, things like ar, you need to make sure that it's safe for our young kids, but we're always having those conversations and now that we've got more media driven experiences, there is opportunity to take that to the screens. And with the dance floor personalization, if you think about birthday and how important that is to our brand, personalization is something that we're always looking to do in a bigger way. So from tiering and offering different options to our parents who are booking parties, to giving something personal just to remind or say happy birthday to the kids and how we can do that with our characters and at scale is something that is starting to get more exciting as this technology evolves.Ilyse Liffreing (20:34):Amazing. Let's go into some of rapid fire questions now, some quick fun ones for you. So the first one here is actually about your background. You've held roles across licensing, entertainment and media. What would be one lesson from building these brand partnerships that served you especially well?Melissa McLeanas (20:55):Partnerships can be incredibly powerful and they can serve so many purposes. And I think right now in the industry, you're hearing the word collaboration a lot. And it's refreshing because I also think that if you look back a few decades, it was very rigid of this is the partnership, I need X, you get X, this is how we do it or we don't do it. And I think the openness and the receptiveness across all industries, entertainment, licensing, media of building something that is going to benefit both parties in a bigger way has really changed how a lot of these partnerships have come to life. And for us, and in this journey that we've been in, they've really been a huge benefit to us. And one telling our story, aligning with some of these best in class entertainment brands and putting Chuck E. Cheese in a conversation that frankly people weren't expecting. And as you said, I have been very fortunate to have worked with some amazing partners across my career and bring some of these different programs to life and building them around Chuck E. Cheese has been really fun.Damian Fowler (22:02):What other family or entertainment brand is doing something truly innovative in the media space that inspires you?Melissa McLeanas (22:10):So I'm a theme park nerd, admittedly because of my background, and this almost feels like a cop out, but it has been really exciting to watch Universal grow as a behemoth in this space and even their marketing and from a grassroots perspective of how they've been able to engage their fan base. It's just fun and it's exciting to watch someone in that space grow as they have. But all that said, what I think is even cooler in location-based entertainment is these snackable moments that are kind of emerging outside of these giant theme parks. I think in the beginning it was always like that can only happen if you're paying a high ticket price to go to a Universal or Disney. And now so many of the IP holders and the brands are bringing these really cool experiences to life outside of that, whether it be a mobile tour or a retail experience or maze that's themed for the season. And I think that's really elevating the space and it's giving a lot of us opportunity to activate in these ways that doesn't require a giant theme park build around it. And so I think that the location based entertainment and experiential space in general has been growing and being more creative over the past few years.Ilyse Liffreing (23:22):Do you have a favorite moment from launching the CEC Media network?Melissa McLeanas (23:27):I think something that I could really call out is the feedback from our operators. So when you work for a company that is really the life force is your field and your cast members and your operators on the ground. We've got some cast members and some managers that have been with us for over 30 years and they know this brand and they've been delivering this amazing experience and change is hard. So when this started testing in markets and we got not only good feedback, but outwardly positive feedback and managers were approaching me like, you know what you could do? I'm like, this is fantastic because not only are we updating the entertainment experience, we're delivering on all these new objectives, but we're bringing value to the team that's operating and they see this great opportunity to talk to their guests and to be more efficient. And so that was very satisfying and it made it all the better because they really are the ones that are doing the work on the ground and making sure that this brand is coming to the life in the best of ways.Damian Fowler (24:27):On that point, was there a personal moment that stands out that you've witnessed where the brand genuinely sort of moved you or surprised you in how it was being received?Melissa McLeanas (24:38):So yes, I mentioned this summer concert series, and I'll give you a little bit of context. So during the pandemic, we had to close a lot of locations and as we started to open them, we made the decision to keep Chucky outside the fun centers to our families. That message was that he was recording an album and we didn't realize that he was going to have to record a box set in the end, but when we did get to a place where we were getting comfortable to bring him back to our guests and it wasn't everywhere, we were trying to think of how best to do that. And again, this is still early for me and in my role at Chuck E. Cheese. And so we decided to, for the first time ever, create a fully choreographed scripted show, 30 minute show with our characters, took 'em out on the road, all free concerts, open air outside public parks so all guests could attend no matter where we were in the world in terms of what those restrictions looked like.(25:33):And it was just an amazing team building event. So it's all new music, upbeat, fun, I still have it on my playlist, but we have our birthday song as part of this concert and we do it under the guise of Does anyone have a birthday this year? Which is of course everyone. And if you're familiar with the Chuck E. Cheese birthday song, it's not just Happy Birthday, it's very specific to Chuck E. Cheese. And as it started, every single guest was up and singing along to the lyrics and dancing the food truck vendors, the parents, everybody knew this song. And from a moment that was needed, it was incredible. But from a brand perspective, that's really powerful and that's really something special. And so that really stood out in my mind of like, wow, this is something, we really got something. So that would definitely be it. And if you don't know the birthday song,Ilyse Liffreing (26:25):I do know we can practice it after do birthday song.Damian Fowler (26:28):We should play this podcast out with a birthday song soon.Ilyse Liffreing (26:30):Yes, we should.Damian Fowler (26:32):Well, first off, Melissa was so enthusiastic about this new brand, this new entertainment network that the company's launching. I almost couldn't keep up with the amount of innovation the brand is putting out.Ilyse Liffreing (26:45):So much, so much has happen isDamian Fowler (26:45):Incredible. But I feel like there were a couple of bits there where she almost gave us some news. She talked about Chuck E. Cheese streaming platform potentially on the horizon, and then we sort of joked about this, but Chuck E. Cheese movie. But in an era where IP is everything and we're thinking of Barbie, why not?Ilyse Liffreing (27:05):Yeah, no, there's so much value in it for other advertisers too, when they're building this media network across their 500 plus venues in the US and internationally, that's a lot of screens and advertisers want to be with kids and with their parents especially.Damian Fowler (27:24):Another thought that was interesting to me was the way she talked with the way Melissa talked about the digital out of home and Chuckie, she's venues being almost an extension of that channel that is on the up and up really, and especially when it comes to programmatic media. So that was also something that I found intriguing.Ilyse Liffreing (27:44):It's also nice to know that they're doing a good job of blending their physical footprint with the digital and keeping everything we like about Chuck E. Cheese still alive in some way. Even those who remember the brand from the seventies, eighties, nineties, check that mouse is still there.Damian Fowler (28:05):Yeah, well, I can't say I grew up with it, but I know you did. So it's reassuring that that nostalgia is still alive.Ilyse Liffreing (28:11):And maybe for my birthday next year, are you going to invite me? Yes, Damian, you're invited. Thanks. And that'sDamian Fowler (28:18):It for this edition of the current podcast.Ilyse Liffreing (28:21):This series is produced by Molton Hart. The current podcasts theme is by Love and caliber. The current team includes Kat Vesce and Sydney Cairns.Damian Fowler (28:29):And remember,Melissa McLeanas (28:30):Our characters are part of our experience. We never look at them to tell the experience. I'm Damian and I'm my, we'llIlyse Liffreing (28:38):See you.

Listen as Marisa Peer and Dr. Shefali reveal the secrets to raising happy, balanced kids

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Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do your kids fight? Does it drive you crazy. Join us to learn some helpful tips for handling sibling rivalry and fighting. Our guest is Dr. Laura Markham, a clinical psychologist and author of several books, including Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids and Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life.In this episode, we discuss:Why do siblings squabble?How is sibling rivalry and sibling fighting a good thing for our kids?How to teach sharing?What are the warning signs that a sibling fight has gone beyond a useful tool for developing those skills? When do we step in to stop sibling squabbles?What's an effective way for parents to step into these sibling fights? How to handle rivalry based on one child thinking you favor the other?What about verbal aggression, name-calling, etc? A struggle common to kids impacted by trauma is a delay in emotional and social skill development. Identifying and managing internal discomfort can be challenging for our kids. Or all feelings are disproportionate to their situation (both bigger and smaller or shut down). Can you speak to what helps kids develop these skills outside the moments of conflict?What practical strategies can you offer to help parents cultivate satisfying, loving relationships between siblings? Would you offer a word about self-care for parents raising kids who fight all the time?Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of Marriage Fit, we dive into what it really takes to raise healthy and happy kids. Parenting today comes with unique challenges—screen time battles, busy schedules, and the constant temptation of unhealthy food choices. But the good news? Small, intentional habits can create a lifelong foundation for your kids' well-being. We break down six key strategies that make a difference in your child's physical and mental health while strengthening your family bond. 1. Be the Example: Stay Healthy and Active Yourself Kids don't just listen to what we say—they mimic what we do. If you prioritize your health, they're more likely to follow suit. We discuss: The power of leading by example through daily exercise and balanced nutrition. Simple ways to integrate fitness into family life without it feeling like a chore. A personal story of how our kids have been inspired by our health habits. 2. Give Them Good Options: Protein, Something They Love, and Something They Need Making mealtime stress-free while ensuring kids get proper nutrition is key. Our approach: Every plate should include protein, something they love, and something they need (like veggies!). How to make healthy eating fun—without forcing it. Easy, kid-friendly meals that check all the nutritional boxes. 3. Play with Them & Include Them in Your Workouts Exercise should be fun, not a punishment. We cover: How movement strengthens family bonds and builds lifelong habits. Creative ways to incorporate kids into workouts (from dance parties to obstacle courses). The importance of making movement a daily, natural part of life. 4. Create a Healthy Relationship with Eating and Exercising Avoiding guilt and shame around food and fitness is critical for kids' self-esteem. We discuss: How to use positive language around food and movement. The importance of teaching kids to listen to their bodies. Why emphasizing progress over perfection builds confidence. 5. Reduce Screen Time, Blue Light, and Encourage Outdoor Activity Too much screen time? You're not alone. We share: How blue light impacts sleep and stress levels. Strategies to cut back on screens while increasing outdoor play. Family-friendly activities that make getting outside exciting again. 6. Involve Your Child in the Process: Grocery Shopping, Cooking, and Movement Choices When kids feel ownership over their health, they're more likely to embrace it. We cover: Why bringing kids to the grocery store helps them make better food choices. Simple ways to get them involved in meal prep. How letting them choose family workouts boosts engagement and consistency. Final Thoughts: Creating a healthy and happy environment for kids is a long-term investment—but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Small, consistent actions add up over time. The best part? You'll be growing stronger as a family in the process. What's one habit you'll start implementing today? Share your thoughts with us on social media or leave a review on Marriage Fit! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tous les jours, du lundi au jeudi, la France bouge retrace une belle histoire entrepreneuriale.Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

"God gives us our children to heal and transform us." - Kyle Wester   Summary In many ways, being a parent is less about our kids and more about our own formation!  When we lean into the vocation of parenthood, God can use every experience with our children to show us His love and to form us into the person He has created us to be.  In this podcast, we talk to Kyle and Sara Wester, counselors and hosts of the podcast The Art of Raising Humans. During our conversation, they explained four different parenting styles that we move in and out of depending on our life circumstances, how our marriage is actually the most important parenting tool we have, and how our understanding of who we are in the eyes of God affects how we relate to our kids.  This podcast is full of great insights for parents and we know you will gain from the Wester's wisdom.     Key Takeaways Children need to be taught relationship skills and correct behavior.  The most powerful way they learn is by watching how you relate to your spouse.  God gives us our children to heal and transform us.  To love our children effectively, we need to first receive God's love for us personally.  Every conflict with our spouse or children is about expectations.   When our child exhibits behavior that is inappropriate for a situation, we need to ask ourselves, “What is this behavior telling me about this child?” Discipline comes from discipleship and the foundation of discipleship is relationship.  We all must work on having a deep and rich relationship with our children to form them.   There are 4 different parenting styles that we move through depending on our life circumstances.  We don't always choose what is best, but we can keep in mind the goal of Loving Guidance and move towards that.  Recommended books from the Westers: Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by by Rebecca Bailey Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen No Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson   Couple Discussion Questions Are we happy with how we are modeling conflict resolution for our children? How can we do this better?  What in our children do we see in ourselves?  Write these things down.  Do we love these things in ourselves? Why or why not?   Resources:   The Art of Raising Humans Podcast Link    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans?igsh=MXkyOGRwbzJ2ZDF1MQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@artofraisinghumans?_t=8itlE1tnZSF&_r=1

As parents, we're tasked with helping our kids manage technology in a world that is constantly pulling them toward screens. In today's episode, we're looking at how screen time impacts our kids, why structured guidelines matter, and how we can work with technology—rather than letting it take over—so our kids can thrive in both the digital and the real world.If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to: https://leighgermann.com

The research is showing us that our kids are not okay. They are anxious, depressed, and worried. We have to do something, and my guest today has one solution that is actually very simple.  Play! More unstructured, unsupervised, rough and tumble play time. I have Rusty Keeler, Playscape Designer and Author, joining me on the Heartful Parent Podcast today to break down all things play, playscapes, and the importance of letting our kids just BE. So. What is play? Why is it important? What happens when our kids don't get enough play? How do we help our teens and tweens play?  With over 30 years of experience in the field, Rusty shares his wisdom on the power of independent play for fostering resilience and emotional well-being in children. A “free-range” childhood has many benefits, including combating ever present anxiety and depression that haunts our kids, tweens, and teens.  Rusty is sharing insights for parents who want to nurture happier, healthier kids. Rusty and I also explore how we can design inclusive, natural play spaces that benefit not just younger children but also older kids and teens. Listen, and share, to help reimagine play and give your child the tools they need to thrive in a fast-paced world.   Resources: rustykeeler.com Adventures in Risky Play by Rusty Keeler Natural Playscapes by Rusty Keeler Seasons of Play by Rusty Keeler Rusty's FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide Rusty's Newsletter Play Nature Podcast Follow Rusty @rustykeelerdesigns Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn - @rustykeeler Follow Christy @theheartfulparent | Join the Heartful Parent Academy with code PODCAST

Dr. Elisa Song, a holistic pediatrician, founder of Whole Family Wellness, and author of “Healthy Kids, Happy Kids,” discusses the latest research on how gut bacteria, viruses, and other factors influence childhood health, from eczema and colic to immune resilience. We also touch on the growing concerns around autoimmunity in teenagers, the impact of birth methods and breastfeeding on the microbiome, and the importance of EMF protection for reproductive health.   WE TALK ABOUT:  08:00 - Dr. Elisa Song's journey starting in the holistic pediatric space 10:00 - How holistic pediatrics is discussed then vs now 14:00 - The rise and root causes of ADHD and autoimmunity in children and teenagers 25:00 - The role of Bifidobacteria in immune system development 30:00 - How gut health is connected to food sensitivities and allergies 37:00 - Effect of breastfeeding in your baby's microbiome 43:00 - Why a healthy vaginal microbiome is crucial for pregnancy and birth outcomes 50:00 - The benefits of fermented food  53:00 - Insights on the measles outbreak in the US 57:00 - Natural and holistic ways to supporting your and your kids' microbiome SPONSORS: Protect your reproductive health with Leela Quantum Tech's EMF-blocking underwear. Use code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY for an extra 10% discount on all of their products! Elevate your brainpower and energy with four powerful mushrooms in a delicious daily drink from BiOptimizers Mushroom Breakthrough —get 10% off with code BIOHACKINGBRITTANY. RESOURCES: Optimize your preconception health by joining my Baby Steps Course today! Optimize your preconception health and fertility through my free hormone balancing, fertility boosting chocolate recipe! Download it now! My Amazon storefront Dr. Elisa Song's website and Instagram Dr. Elisa Song's book - Healthy Kids, Happy Kids Tiny Health code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY Evivo code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY LET'S CONNECT: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Shop my favorite health products Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music

 Welcome to the sleep revolution. More than ever experts know how SLEEP defines the health of cognitive function, emotional regulation, social interaction... for everyone... but most especially teenagers!Sleep-deprived teens often struggle with moodiness, risky behaviors, relational skills and even academics due to being forced to operate on insufficient sleep. The cascade of poor sleep can result in what Dr. Skinner refers to as "ego depletion," leaving teens incapable of functioning at their best, or even just adequately. Are our teenagers being rebellious or lazy, or is there more to the story? Dr. Meers enlightens us on the biological changes that occur during adolescence, which can account for those infamous late nights and groggy mornings. Maybe their disengagement isn't just teenage defiance— maybe our kids are exhausted!In this fascinating episode, renowned clinical psychologist and certified sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Jessica Meers, uncovers the hidden intricacies of sleep, focusing on the enigmatic and often elusive sleep patterns of teenagers—a topic more vital to their well-being than we might think.Join us to find out how better sleep for our kids and teens is possible, today on Finding Noble. You and us,We got this.Carly Red & Dr. Skinner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://findingnoble.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show Notes:00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement00:45 Dr. Jessica Meers' Background and Expertise01:26 The Importance of Sleep for Mental Health02:00 Challenges of Adolescent Sleep03:18 Biological Changes in Teen Sleep Patterns07:47 Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Teens11:11 Solutions for Better Sleep12:00 The Role of Consistency in Sleep14:12 Advocating for Later School Start Times15:40 Real-Life Examples of Sleep Deprivation20:20 The Perfect Storm of Sleep Risks for Teens23:15 The Connection Between Sleep and Health24:53 Modeling Good Sleep Habits for Teens26:04 Parenting Challenges: Screen Time Before Bed26:41 The Science Behind Device Usage and Sleep27:37 Balancing Screen Time and Sleep Quality28:30 The Role of Anxiety in Sleep Patterns31:23 The Benefits and Drawbacks of Napping36:08 Caffeine vs. Napping: What's Better?37:44 Understanding Individual Sleep Needs41:54 The Importance of Early Sleep43:46 When to Seek Professional Help for Sleep Issues47:57 Final Thoughts and Resources for Better SleepLink to freebie: Teen Sleep Survival GuideTo find out more about Dr. Jessica Meers:-          Visit her website: rhythm-well.com-          Follow her on Instagram: shetalkssleepTo subscribe to helpful emails head here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://findingnoble.com/about/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the episodes on Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FindingNoblePodcast***SEND YOUR PARENTING QUESTIONS TO: hello@findingnoble.comFind expert-led parenting courses on: https://parentguidance.org/

I am thrilled to have Dr. Elisa Song (@healthykids_happykids) on the show, an integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children. Elisa is on a mission to revolutionize the future of children's health. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding childhood nutrition and natural medicine for kids. Her book "Healthy Kids Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience" is my go-to when my kids aren't feeling well to find the right homeopathic remedy or natural option for what they are going through.  We had an amazing conversation about why kids are sicker today than ever with chronic diseases like asthma, eczema, ADHD, and anxiety. We talk about how healing the gut and microbiome is at the root of many kids' health issues, the importance of incorporating prebiotics, probiotics, and even postbiotics into the diet, the impact of environmental toxins, and most importantly the impact that processed and high sugar foods have on the immune system and why it's important to start your kids on real food from a young age. I am excited for you to listen to this jam-packed episode!  Highlights from this episode: Why are kids sicker today? How mom can prepare her microbiome pre & post pregnancy Learn how to talk to kids about making better food choices What is leaky gut? When to take prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics Why antibiotics are overprescribed + how to repair your child's gut after antibiotics How to approach fevers in a confident way What are febrile seizures? + Treatment options The power of homeopathic remedies for healing The top supplement to keep your kids healthy Show sponsors: Ultimate Baby Nutrition Consulting - Send me an email at marniwasserman.com/contact with the title “I want to work with you” if you're interested in working with me to support your baby starting solids Needed - Save 20% off Immune Support when you use the code ultimatebaby at checkout Hawthorn Homeopathics - Save 10% off when you use the code Marni10 at checkout Paleovalley - Save 15% off your 1st order of Paleovalley products, discount applied at checkout Related links: Follow @marniwasserman and @ultimatehealthpodcast on Instagram for Sarelle and Hayden updates Dr. Elisa Song - Healthy Kids, Happy Kids (book) Dr. Elisa Song's website (Healthy Kids, Happy Kids) Follow Dr. Elisa Song (Healthy Kids, Happy Kids) on Facebook and Instagram Hyperbiotics Vital Nutrients Pro Kids Probiotic Genexa Kids Clean Pain & Fever Acetaminophen Subscribe to TUBP in Apple Podcasts and Spotify Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. Making a purchase through these links won't cost you anything but we will receive a small commission. This is an easy, free way of supporting the podcast. Thank you!

Struggling with junk food battles or getting your kids off their screens?  In this episode, Joe De Sena and nutrition expert Amelia Phillips tackle the biggest challenges of raising healthy, active kids in today's screen-obsessed world.   Hear Amelia's tips for parents who want to raise the next generation of strong, healthy achievers. Learn simple, actionable strategies to transform your family's habits, conquer unhealthy cravings, and unlock your kids' true potential.   Discover why screen addiction is the new smoking epidemic and how to take control now. Plus, get age-specific advice on fostering lifelong fitness and nutrition habits that work for every stage of childhood.   Don't miss this episode if you want to build a healthier, stronger future for your family! Timestamps: 00:47 Introduction to Amelia Phillips 01:34 Kids' nutrition and finding the balance 04:46 The addictive nature of phones 08:38 Quick nutrition tips for various ages 14:16 The challenge of kids' meals in restaurants 14:47 Encouraging fitness and movement in kids 18:07 Screen addiction and boundaries for screen time 21:09 Modeling healthy behaviors as parents 22:27 Using technology to encourage positive habits 23:36 Addictive products and personal responsibility 25:39 How to build impactful family habits

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2408: Dr. Laura Markham shares actionable advice for helping children embrace healthier eating habits, particularly with vegetables. She highlights strategies like exposure to new foods, creative snack options, incorporating veggies into family recipes, and fostering a no-pressure environment to encourage positive associations with nutritious meals. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/how-to-help-children-become-healthy-eaters-especially-vegetables Quotes to ponder: "Research has shown that the most important factor in getting kids to eat new foods is exposing them to the food." "I would NEVER force a child to eat a specific food. I think it's fine to ask them to try one taste, but if they don't want more, that's their prerogative." "Mostly, I should reassure you that most kids end up eating diets much like what they grew up eating." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2408: Dr. Laura Markham shares actionable advice for helping children embrace healthier eating habits, particularly with vegetables. She highlights strategies like exposure to new foods, creative snack options, incorporating veggies into family recipes, and fostering a no-pressure environment to encourage positive associations with nutritious meals. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/how-to-help-children-become-healthy-eaters-especially-vegetables Quotes to ponder: "Research has shown that the most important factor in getting kids to eat new foods is exposing them to the food." "I would NEVER force a child to eat a specific food. I think it's fine to ask them to try one taste, but if they don't want more, that's their prerogative." "Mostly, I should reassure you that most kids end up eating diets much like what they grew up eating." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, join me in conversation with Dr. Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and the director of the longest-running study on happiness and well-being, to discuss the secrets to building a happy life and raising happy kids. Dr. Waldinger shares insights from the study and offers practical advice on how to cultivate strong relationships, find purpose and meaning in life, and create a positive environment for children to thrive in. This is an episode you won't want to miss as we dive into the science of happiness and learn how to apply it to our own lives and the lives of our children. Check out Dr. Waldinger's book, The Good Life, today! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Good-Life/Robert-Waldinger/9781982166694 I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsLSubscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/Follow me on Instagram for more:@raisinggoodhumanspodcast Sponsors:Saks.com: Find gifts guaranteed to bring joy to every hard-to-shop-for person this season at saks.com.Skylight Frames: Get twenty dollars off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/HUMANSInstagram: Check our Instagram teen accounts!Dime: DIMEBEAUTYCO.COM FOR THIRTY PERCENT OFF DIME'S BEST-SELLING SKINCARE.TruHeight: Take up to 40% off your first subscription order for a limited time when you go to truheightvitamins.com/HUMANS and use code HUMANS at checkout.Little Spoon: Go to LITTLESPOON.COM/HUMANS and enter our code HUMANS at checkout to save 30% off your first order.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liz & Becca are joined by Dr. Elisa Song, an integrative pediatrician and founder of Healthy Kids Happy Kids. They dive into the alarming rise of chronic illnesses in children, from autoimmunity to mental health challenges, and explore root causes like gut health, environmental toxins, and stress. Dr. Song shares practical advice for parents, including dietary strategies, the importance of microbiome diversity, and how to be an informed advocate for your child's health. This episode is packed with actionable insights to empower parents in creating a healthier future for their kids. Connect with Dr. Elisa Song Instagram | Facebook | Web Order Healthy Kids, Happy Kids book ***

Dr. Elisa Song is a Stanford, NYU, UCSF-trained pediatrician, and one of the foremost pioneers and trusted medicine experts in pediatric integrative and functional medicine. She's the author of the bestselling Healthy Kids, Happy Kids and a mom to two amazing kids of her own. We are so excited to share this rich conversation with the wise and insightful Dr. Elisa Song with you. We believe this episode is going to be so helpful and hopeful for us all! You might also enjoy Ep 217: Cooking with Kids and the Difference Food Can Make with Danielle Walker. . . . . . Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raising healthy, resilient kids in today's world? It's no easy task, especially when antibiotics are prescribed for every other ailment. But Dr. Elisa Song is here to change the game. As a Stanford-trained integrative pediatrician, she's on a mission to help parents protect their children's gut microbiomes and overall health by avoiding unnecessary antibiotics. In this episode, Dr. Song shares the must-ask questions before giving your child antibiotics, the hidden dangers behind disrupted microbiomes, and how to safeguard your child's health naturally. Armed with knowledge from her book Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, Dr. Song offers practical advice on everything from probiotics and diet to vagus nerve engagement—all designed to support the gut and help your kids thrive in a toxic world.   Tune in to discover how you can take a proactive, holistic approach to your child's health.   “Our kids really are in crisis—from a physical health standpoint, immune standpoint, and mental health standpoint.” ~ Dr. Elisa Song   In This Episode: - Dr. Song's journey in integrative pediatrics - The crisis in children's health - Glyphosate and its impact on children's health - Antibiotic crisis: overuse, resistance, and long-term consequences - What happens after you take an antibiotic? - How to support your child's gut after antibiotics - Probiotic gummies: are they really beneficial? - Added sugars and mental health concerns - Reading food labels and making informed choices - Natural alternatives to antibiotics - Dr. Song's book: "Healthy Kids, Happy Kids" - Where to find Dr. Song and learn more For more information, visit https://www.myersdetox.com    Ready to discover your body's toxic burden and how it affects your health? Take my quiz to find out! http://www.heavymetalsquiz.com    Products Mentioned in This Episode: - Dr. Elisa Song's Book: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids—get your copy here: https://a.co/d/7eWk0zP  - Tru Energy Skin Care by Cathy Goldstein: Discover the magic of frequency-infused skincare—get yours here: https://store.truenergyskincare.com/aff/76D44761648F32018CF962E3661FD100/index.html?subid=wendy - Therasage Infrared Saunas: Explore Therasage's infrared sauna collection today at https://store.myersdetox.com/pages/therasage    About Dr. Elisa Song: Dr. Elisa Song is a Stanford, NYU, and UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and the best-selling author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Song has helped thousands of children get to the root cause of their health concerns by blending conventional pediatrics with integrative approaches such as functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. She is the founder of the online platform Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, a holistic pediatric resource designed to empower parents and practitioners in bridging the gap between traditional and integrative care.   Disclaimer The Myers Detox Podcast was created and hosted by Dr. Wendy Myers. This podcast is for information purposes only. Statements and views expressed on this podcast are not medical advice. This podcast, including Wendy Myers and the producers, disclaims responsibility for any possible adverse effects from using the information contained herein. The opinions of guests are their own, and this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests. This podcast does not make any representations or warranties about guests' qualifications or credibility. Individuals on this podcast may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to herein. If you think you have a medical problem, consult a licensed physician.

Host Danusia Malina-Derben gets real with Molly Forbes, author of “Body Happy Kids: How to raise children who love the skin they're in” for adults and “Every Body” for children. They're talking about one thing every parent worries about—how to raise kids who love their bodies in a world obsessed with diet culture. Spoiler: It's not about looking “pretty.”   Molly dishes out her no-BS take on raising confident kids, from smashing beauty ideals to using her household mantra “It's not my job to be pretty.” You'll learn how to dodge diet culture's sneaky traps and arm your kids with the self-love they need to stay strong. Oh, and Molly even has a genius idea involving compliment circles that you'll definitely want to steal for your next family hangout.   This episode? Pure fire for anyone ready to raise resilient, body-happy kids.   Discover more from us: • Follow PWT on Substack • Follow us on Instagram • Connect with Danusia • Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts • Advertising Inquiries here   Credits: • Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben • Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Kruz • Cover art by Anthony Oram

Development pediatrician Dr. Mark Bertin talks about his new book How Children Thrive: The Practical Science of Raising Independent, Resilient, and Happy Kids, as well as resilience in our kids and the benefits of mindful parenting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Upcoming Podcast and Current Book Review. For all parents who love the content of this newsletter, I have a book for you to enjoy. It is a comprehensive look at parenting a child in modern times through the struggles of food, technology, stress and life in general. My good friend Elisa Song is a Stanford, NYU and UCSF trained pediatrician and lover of children. In her recently published book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, she offers a comprehensive and integrative approach to pediatric health that will resonate deeply with today's parents who seek to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare and modern life. Dr. Song's dual expertise as a pediatrician and a mother is evident in her compassionate and practical guidance. Much like the work of our mentor Sandy Newmark, her book is relatable but more importantly scientifically grounded. At the heart of Dr. Song's philosophy is the idea that optimal health for children is not just the absence of disease but a state of overall well-being or optimal health, including: physical, emotional, and mental states. She emphasizes the importance of nutrition, advocating for whole, unprocessed foods while addressing the impacts of common allergens/intolerances, sugar, and artificial additives on children's health. Her dietary recommendations are backed by a solid understanding of how nutrition influences immunity, inflammation, behavior, long-term development and ultimately chronic disease. Plus, a discussion on cancer, autoimmunity in children post Covid... Enjoy, Dr. M

In Episode 130, Kyle and Sara, LPC's, interview Dr. Laura Markham, the author of the books Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids and Peaceful Parent, and Happy Siblings. She is a trailblazer in the field of parenting. We talk with her about her journey actually creating and implementing the peaceful parenting approach with her own kids. She also gives parents great tips on how to help their children when they are struggling with their big feelings. Dr. Markham has been a huge mentor and teacher in our lives and we are so excited to give all of our listeners the opportunity to hear her wisdom and tips. Do not miss this episode!!!! Learn more from Dr. Markham:Website: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/Newsletter: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/newsletterGet our video courses at https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com.View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/dr-markham-joins-us-to-discuss-does-peaceful-parenting-actually-workVisit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.comVideo Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumansInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumansPodcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.comThe Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

This week I sit down with Dr. Elisa Song to discuss her new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids. Dr. Song is a graduate of Stanford University with a degree in political Science. She then attended New York University for her medical degree and finally a stop at the University of California San Francisco for pediatric residency training. In her own words, Dr. Song is a holistic pediatrician. She founded Whole Family Wellness, an integrative pediatric practice in Belmont, CA – one of the first and most highly regarded holistic pediatric practices in the country. She created Healthy Kids Happy Kids – dedicated to empowering parents to take charge of their kids' health … naturally! She lectures around the world for the Center for Education and Development in Clinical Homeopathy (CEDH), Academy for Pain Research, Institute for Functional Medicine, and Holistic Pediatric Association, A4M among others. In this interview we look at health through a prevention first lens with a deep look at the intestinal microbiome and nutrition. Dr. Song's immense fund of knowledge is on full display in her book and this interview. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Elisa Song, Dr. M

British journalist and internationally bestselling author Helen Russell returns to the podcast to discuss THE DANISH SECRET TO HAPPY KIDS, a refreshingly funny, witty, and heart-warming roadmap to raising kids the Viking way—and helping them be happier, healthier, and more independent. Helen shares the experience of moving from London to Denmark, initially just for a year and before she had children, and discovering the unique parenting methods that prioritize unstructured play, spending time in nature (regardless of the weather!), and genuine connection, aided by the supportive social systems in the Nordic countries. She reflects on how these practices have shaped her parenting journey and her own perspectives on happiness and well-being.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4g0Z9KHShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Now there's more! Subscribe to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books on Acast+ and get ad-free episodes. https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2293: When children act out, it's natural for parents to feel anger, but managing this emotion is key to effective parenting. Dr. Laura Markham shares practical strategies to stay calm, including recognizing the signs of anger, using a pause button, and reframing thoughts to prevent escalation. By practicing these techniques, parents can transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth and connection with their children. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/how-can-you-stay-cool-when-your-kid-acts-up Quotes to ponder: "Staying cool is essential to actually solving the problem, instead of making it worse." "Tell your child that you're sorry you got so upset, and the two of you are going to try a Do-over." "Every time you resist acting when you're angry, you're rewiring your brain, so managing your anger gets easier every time you do it." Episode references: Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting: https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Parent-Happy-Kids-Connecting/dp/0399160280 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2293: When children act out, it's natural for parents to feel anger, but managing this emotion is key to effective parenting. Dr. Laura Markham shares practical strategies to stay calm, including recognizing the signs of anger, using a pause button, and reframing thoughts to prevent escalation. By practicing these techniques, parents can transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth and connection with their children. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/how-can-you-stay-cool-when-your-kid-acts-up Quotes to ponder: "Staying cool is essential to actually solving the problem, instead of making it worse." "Tell your child that you're sorry you got so upset, and the two of you are going to try a Do-over." "Every time you resist acting when you're angry, you're rewiring your brain, so managing your anger gets easier every time you do it." Episode references: Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting: https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Parent-Happy-Kids-Connecting/dp/0399160280 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2680: Dr. Laura Markham shares strategies to encourage children to eat vegetables and fruits by making them regular parts of meals and snacks. She emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure, offering choices, and avoiding forcing or rewarding children for eating vegetables to create a healthy eating environment. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/how-to-help-children-become-healthy-eaters-especially-vegetables Quotes to ponder: "Research has shown that the most important factor in getting kids to eat new foods is exposing them to the food." "If a child really does not like a specific vegetable that is served that night, then why not have a rule that they can have a different one that night?" "I would NEVER force a child to eat a specific food. I think it's fine to ask them to try one taste, but if they don't want more, or even if they spit it out, that's their prerogative." Episode references: The Importance of Family Dinners: https://thefamilydinnerproject.org Healthy Eating for Kids: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/mealtime/index.html Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting: https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Parent-Happy-Kids-Connecting/dp/0399160280 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Elisa Song is an integrative pediatrician and author of 'Healthy Kids, Happy Kids.' She joins Dr. Stephanie to discuss the judicious use of antibiotics in early childhood and their long-term impacts on mental health, the role of fevers in the immune response, and natural remedies for minor illnesses.This episode highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy microbiome, practical steps to restore gut health after antibiotic use, how we have misunderstood fevers, and the negative effects of added sugars on children's diets. Kickstart your child's school season with this informative episode with Dr. Elisa Song.Episode Overview:0:00 Intro/Teaser2:36 Restoring Gut Health in Children5:32 Understanding the Impact of Childhood Gut Health18:52 Antibiotic Use in Children29:23 Optimal Approach to Child Illness40:05 Fever Management in Children49:52 Natural Fever Management Techniques in Children53:59 Restoring Gut Health After Illness1:06:33 The Power of Fermented Foods1:12:20 Managing Added Sugar Intake in KidsResources mentioned in this episode:In-utero antibiotic exposure and subsequent infections in infancy: a register-based cohort study with sibling analysis - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589933323000022Pelargonium Sidoides - https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1135/pelargonium-sidoidesAconitum Napellus - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Aconitum+Napellus+Fever management: Evidence vs current practice - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145646/Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25629583/Health Benefits of Saccharomyces Boulardii - https://www.health.com/saccharomyces-boulardii-8628939Fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity, decreases inflammatory proteins, study finds - https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/07/fermented-food-diet-increases-microbiome-diversity-lowers-inflammationHealthy Kids, Happy Kids: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/healthy-kids-happy-kids-elisa-songBio:Dr. Elisa Song, MD is a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children. Dr. Song is chair of A4M's pediatric education and has been featured on BloomTV, Forbes, Healthline, MindBodyGreen, National Geographic, PopSugar, Parents, Motherly, Parade, Verywell Health, and New York Post. More info at https://healthykidshappykids.com/ We are grateful to our sponsors:TIMELINE Skin CareFeeling tired and having no energy does not have to be your fate. Mitopure is a supplement and skin health line that helps improve energy at the level of the mitochondria so that you can continue to engage in the activities you love. Go to https://timelinenutrition.com/better and use code BETTER to get 10% off your order.BON CHARGE Red Light Face MaskI am doubling down on this year for my best skin ever. The Bon Charge Red Light Face Mask helps with glowing, younger, firmer-looking skin with minimal effort or time AND without really changing your usual day or night routine. Head over to https://boncharge.com/better and use the discount code BETTER at checkout to get 15% off your entire cart.EQUIP Prime ProteinEquip Foods Prime Protein is a complete bovine protein with the nutritional equivalent of 4-ounces of grass-fed beef. The best part is, it tastes like dessert, not beef. I use it all the time in my baking efforts when I'm trying to sneak in more protein. Head over to https://equipfoods.com/better and use code BETTER at checkout to get 20% off of your order.

Almost 50% of kids today are diagnosed with a chronic condition.  Let that sink in.  Some studies state that children today are expected to have shorter lifespans than their parents for the first time in history.  So what's causing this disruption in our modern world… and how do we start with an integrative approach to care for our kids?  Pediatric expert and functional medicine practitioner Dr. Song joins me on the show today to help us parents become MORE proactive. So no matter what our kids are exposed to– their immune systems, brains, and microbiomes can learn how to bounce back and stay healthier for longer. Don't miss this episode for top recommendations on how diet, movement, and gut microbiome health can help your child remain free from chronic illness, and live a healthier, happier life!  Dr. Elisa Song, MD  Dr. Elisa Song is a Standford-, NYU-, UCSF- trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, AND a mom of 2 thriving children. Her mission is to revolutionize the future of children's health. She's the founder of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids– an online holistic pediatrics resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics. She's chair of A4M's pediatrics education and has lectured globally at various functional medicine conferences and parenting events.  IN THIS EPISODE The state of children's health in the modern world  The gut microbiome's influence on chronic childhood disease  Common ways children's gut microbiomes become disrupted  Educating kids on balancing their gut with healthy foods Proactive steps for parents to help their children's microbiomes  Encouraging movement in children for their overall health  The gut-brain connection and engaging the vagus nerve  More about Dr. Song's new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids View the podcast page here: https://drmariza.com/episode585  RESOURCES MENTIONED Get Dr. Song's Book: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids Book Dr. Song's Website: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids Dr. Song's Instagram  Dr. Song's Facebook RELATED EPISODES  #515: The Connection Between Gut Health And Hormone Balance With Dr. Vincent Pedre #267: The Gut Hormone Connection And What You Can Do To Start Healing Your Gut Today With Tina Anderson #388: The Top 5 Things I Have Learned From Being A Mom So Far #297: Is It Possible To “Have It All” As A Mom Today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#453: Holistic pediatrician and pediatric functional medicine expert Elisa Song, joins me for a compelling conversation about treating illness, kids' immune systems, the vagus nerve, and “man colds” (yes, really)! She talks all about the meaning of integrative medicine, her thoughts on antibiotics and why you shouldn't freak out when your child has a fever! We discuss the gut microbiome, the most vulnerable times in your child's life, why they should avoid social media and so much more! Through her practice, Whole Family Wellness and her company, Healthy Kids Happy Kids, Elisa is revolutionizing children's health and helping thousands of children thrive in the process. By integrating the best of conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, essential oils, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Elisa is on a mission to educate and empower so that we can raise children who are flourishing in mind, body and spirit.  Follow Elisa on Instagram HERE Check out Healthy Kids Happy Kids HERE To order her new book, “Healthy Kids, Happy Kids,” click HERE    

In this conversation, Dr. Anthony Youn interviews Elisa Song, a holistic pediatrician, about the difference between traditional and integrative pediatrics. They discuss the importance of the gut microbiome in children's health and how an integrative approach can help build resilience in their microbiomes. Elisa shares her journey into integrative pediatrics and the challenges of finding trained practitioners in this field. They also talk about Elisa's book, 'Healthy Kids, Happy Kids,' which provides a guide to keeping children healthy using a true integrative approach. The conversation covers topics such as the impact of processed foods, the importance of fiber and phytonutrients, and ways to incorporate fermented foods into children's diets. The conversation covers various topics related to nourishing the microbiome and promoting whole child resilience. It discusses the importance of fermented foods and provides ideas on how to incorporate them into children's diets. It also highlights the negative impact of ultra-processed foods on the microbiome and offers tips on how to read food labels to avoid harmful ingredients. The conversation explores the role of the vagus nerve in gut-brain communication and suggests ways to engage the parasympathetic nervous system for better overall health. Other topics include boosting the immune system, choosing a good probiotic, and finding joy in life. Links and Resources: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience Where can you find more information about how to autojuvenate your skin to a younger you? Check out my new book, Younger For Life! It's available at https://autojuvenation.com, and if you buy it now, you will receive over $100 in FREE gifts, including a $30 gift certificate for my online store younbeauty.com! Check out Dr. Youn's skincare products and nutritional supplements - younbeauty.com Download his FREE eGuide: "What to Eat to Look Younger" - dryoun.com/eat-look-younger Follow Dr. Youn on Instagram - @tonyyounmd Follow Dr. Youn on YouTube - youtube.com/tonyyounmd Follow Dr. Youn on TikTok - @doctoryoun Follow Dr. Youn on Facebook - @dryoun  

In 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine predicted that, for the first time in history, our kids are expected to have shorter lifespans than us – their parents. To address this startling statistic and figure out how to help our kids be more happy and healthy, we're joined by Dr. Elisa Song, a Stanford, NYU, and UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician and pediatric functional medicine expert. Also a mother of two thriving children, Dr. Song has dedicated her career to helping parents and practitioners bridge the gap between conventional and holistic pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed, parent-approved approach. Acknowledging the rise in mental health issues and chronic illnesses in the younger generation, we tackle the tough conversation around how to help our kids make better food choices and manage stress to support their gut health and overall wellbeing. From dissecting the impact of diet choices to connecting the dots between stress and gut health, Dr. Song offers research-backed practical strategies for nurturing resilience in children and encouraging informed food choices. Through empowering discussions on nutrition education, stress management techniques, and navigating the influence of the food industry, this episode will give parents a guide to teaching their children tools for living their most healthful and happy lives.If you're a parent who wants to know that you're doing everything you can to help your kids be well and stay well, look no further. Dr. Song has you covered with her practical, proven steps to raising resilient kids one microbiome at a time. For more information and support on this topic, make sure to preorder Dr. Song's new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids.We also cover:(00:01:11) Why Kids Today Aren't Happy or Healthy(00:13:12 The New Normal: Links Between Stress & Gut Health(00:23:40) The Stress Performance Curve & Nervous System Regulation(00:35:04) Practices to Help Parents & Kids Manage Stress(00:47:01) Helping Kids Build Gut Health & Resilience Through Informed ChoicesResources:• Click here for full show notes• Website: healthykidshappykids.com• Instagram: @healthykids_happykids• Read: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids by Elisa Song, MD• Whole Family Wellness: Helping Our Kids Thrive with Dr. Elisa Song #208Connect with Kelly:• kellyleveque.com• Instagram: @bewellbykelly• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bewellbykelly* Content from this podcast is provided for information and education purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. The use of information from this podcast is at the user's own risk. Always speak with your healthcare professional before taking any medication, nutritional or herbal supplement.Be Well By Kelly is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:BWBK Protein Powder | Get $10 off your order with...

In today's world, our kids are up against a whole host of lot of factors that are threatening their overall health. Our modern environment presents threats like the accessibility of ultra-processed food, repeated exposure to chemicals like pesticides, and the overuse of medications that are harmful to human health in excess. If we want to raise healthy, strong children who can face these challenges head on, we have to help them build resiliency – and that's exactly what you're going to learn on today's show.   Today's guest is Dr. Elisa Song. She is a Stanford, NYU, and SCSF-trained integrative pediatrician and pediatric functional medicine expert. She's helped thousands of families get to the root cause of their kids' health concerns by bridging the gap between conventional medicine and functional medicine. Her new book, Healthy Kids Happy Kids, is a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to whole child health.  In this interview, Dr. Song is sharing so many valuable insights on children's health. You're going to learn what every parent needs to know about using antibiotics, how to get to the root cause of common ailments, and how our children's mental health is influenced by their gut health. Dr. Song is also sharing her five science-backed, foundational behaviors for raising healthy, happy kids. This interview is full of tangible advice that I hope you will use to help your children thrive. Enjoy!  In this episode you'll discover: How Dr. Song got into the field of pediatrics.  Why our modern environment is hurting children's health. What percentage of antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed.  How antibiotics affect an infant's microbiome. The ripple effect of antibiotics during infancy.  How polypharmacy occurs and its impact on overall health.  Why microbial health should be considered before taking any medication.  What the purpose of tonsils is.  How to search for the root cause and avoid a tonsillectomy.  The different ways gut problems can manifest in the body.  Why the first 1000 days are foundational to a child's microbiome.  How a baby's microbiome is established.  The truth about taking daily probiotics.  How breastmilk promotes a healthy gut microbiome.  The power of creating microbiome resilience.  Three things your child should eat for microbial health.  How to deal with picky eaters.  The importance of breathing to regulate your nervous system. Five foundational things we can do to create healthy, happy kids (and adults!)  How to take advantage of the stress performance curve and build stress resilience. What the most important prescription for life is.  Which biomarker works in accordance with your gut microbiome health  Items mentioned in this episode include:  Organifi.com/Model - Use the coupon code MODEL for 20% off + free shipping! DrinkLMNT.com/model - Get a FREE sample pack with any order!  Healthy Kids, Happy Kids by Dr. Elisa Song - Preorder Dr. Song's amazing book! Connect with Dr. Elisa Song Website / Instagram Join TMHS Facebook community - Model Nation  Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes:  Apple Podcasts Spotify Soundcloud Pandora YouTube  This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Organifi and LMNT. Organifi makes nutrition easy and delicious for everyone. Take 20% off your order with the code MODEL at organifi.com/model. Head to DrinkLMNT.com/model to claim a FREE sample pack of electrolytes with any purchase.