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

If your teen feels overwhelmed about the future, you are not alone. Between college applications, social pressure, and constant conversations about success, many families are struggling with intense academic stress. In this episode, Dr. Jocelyn Abrams joins me to talk about how parents can offer real career guidance for teens without accidentally increasing anxiety. We also discuss how thoughtful, supportive conversations and strong positive parenting techniques can help teens feel more confident and understood during this stage of life.Dr. Abrams shares practical parenting resources and explains why helping teens explore their strengths and interests is often far more effective than pushing them toward a specific path. We talk about how academic stress impacts both teens and parents, why curiosity matters when offering career guidance for teens, and how positive parenting techniques can create an environment where teens feel safe exploring different possibilities for their future.In this episode, we cover:Why academic stress is affecting teens earlier than everHow to provide healthy career guidance for teens without creating more pressureThe role of positive parenting techniques in helping teens feel supportedWhy strong parenting resources can reduce conflict around future planningHow academic stress impacts confidence and self-esteemWays to use career guidance for teens that focus on strengths and interestsWhy positive parenting techniques help teens feel seen and heardThe value of using trusted parenting resources when navigating college and career conversationsIf your family is navigating academic stress, struggling with career guidance for teens, or looking for better parenting resources, this episode will help you use positive parenting techniques that support your teen without increasing anxiety.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Episode 15: Should You Keep Pushing Your Child to Succeed or Back off? With Kristin Mervich, LCSWLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH JOCELYN ABRAMS:Website

Kids fighting in the car can turn even a short drive into a stressful experience fast. In this episode, I’m sharing practical, evidence-based strategies to help you handle sibling conflict in the back seat without yelling, losing your patience, or feeling completely overwhelmed. From simple snacks to smart distractions and behavior systems that actually work, these effective parenting strategies can make car rides calmer for everyone.If you’ve been searching for realistic travel tips for kids, better car activities, and ways to survive sibling arguments while driving, this episode will give you tools you can start using immediately.In this episode, we cover:Why kids fighting in the car happens so much more often during stressful transitions, and what most parents miss about itThe surprisingly powerful role snacks, boredom, and overstimulation play in sibling conflict, and how small travel tips for kids can completely shift the moodEasy car activities that redirect attention before arguments spiral out of controlHow to use simple, effective parenting strategies to encourage cooperation instead of constant fightingWhat to do when sibling conflict becomes more serious, and when it may be time to seek professional supportIf you’re exhausted by kids fighting in the car and want realistic, research-backed solutions that actually help, this episode is for you. Listen now and learn how small changes can create calmer car rides, less stress, and more connection with your kids.LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

When it comes to supplements for kids, most parents are left asking the same questions: Are they safe? Are they regulated? And how do I know what’s actually inside the bottle?In this episode of The Educated Parent Podcast, Dr. Leah Clionsky sits down with board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Shetal Amin to unpack what every parent needs to know about supplements for kids and pediatric supplements.With shelves full of gummies, powders, and capsules promising better sleep, improved focus, calmer behavior, and stronger immunity, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many families turn to supplements for kids as a first step before considering prescription treatment. But are all pediatric supplements created equal?Dr. Shetal Amin explains:• Why supplements for kids are not regulated the same way as prescription medications are• How to evaluate the safety and quality of pediatric supplements• What third-party testing actually means• Why “natural” does not automatically mean safe• How marketing and social media influence decisions about supplements for kids• The red flags to watch for when evaluating pediatric wellness productsYou’ll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls, including proprietary blends and products that sound too good to be true. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about choosing pediatric supplements, this episode will help you approach the process with clarity and evidence in mind.Most importantly, this conversation is about confident parenting. Making informed decisions about supplements for kids requires asking good questions, understanding the science, and knowing when to involve your pediatrician. Dr. Shetal Amin shares practical guidance so you can practice confident parenting without fear, pressure, or guilt.Whether you’re considering a multivitamin, a sleep aid, or another type of pediatric supplements, this episode will give you the tools you need to make thoughtful, informed choices.Tune in to learn how to navigate supplements for kids safely and confidently.LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH DR. SHETAL AMIN:Website

Watching your teen experience their first heartbreak can feel absolutely gut-wrenching as a parent. You want to fix it. You want to make the pain disappear. And at the same time, you may be flooded with memories of your own teenage breakup experiences that still live in your nervous system. In this episode, we talk about how to show up in a way that actually supports healing instead of creating more distance.I’m joined by teen mental health specialist Charity Chaffee to talk honestly about why a first heartbreak hits teens so hard, why a teenage breakup can feel world-ending, and how parents can support teen mental health without minimizing feelings or becoming overinvolved. This conversation is all about learning how to stay connected through pain, using validating emotions as the foundation for trust and emotional safety.In this episode, we cover• Why a first heartbreak is developmentally intense and why teens experience a teenage breakup differently than adults• How to support teen mental health without rushing the healing process or trying to fix the pain• The difference between dismissing feelings and validating emotions in a way that builds long-term resilience• Common parenting reactions that unintentionally make a teenage breakup harder to process• How validating emotions helps teens feel safe opening up instead of shutting down• What parents can model to support teen mental health after a first heartbreakIf your teen is struggling after a teenage breakup, this episode will help you understand what they actually need from you and how validating emotions can strengthen your relationship during one of the most vulnerable moments of adolescence. Supporting teen mental health through a first heartbreak is not about fixing the pain. It is about staying present, steady, and emotionally available when it matters most.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Read the full show notes HERE!Episode 13: How to Help an Angry Child Calm Down Without Losing Your Cool: The Key to Connection Before CorrectionLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH CHARITY CHAFFEE:InstagramSkoolWebsiteTeens Uncharted Website

Eating out with kids can quickly turn into a battle over screens. If your child expects a phone the moment you sit down at a restaurant, you are not alone. In this episode, I walk you through how to reset expectations, change screen time habits, and build sustainable screen time boundaries without turning every meal into a meltdown.I explain why this pattern develops, why it is so hard to undo once it starts, and how to step out of it using evidence-based, realistic strategies. This episode is full of positive parenting tips to help you feel more confident and prepared the next time you go out to eat with your child.In this episode, you will learn:Why screen time habits form so quickly at restaurantsHow to reset expectations before you even walk through the doorPractical ways to build and hold screen time boundaries without escalating behaviorWhat to do when your child pushes back and how to respond calmlypositive parenting tips to make restaurants less stressful and more connectedIf you are tired of relying on screens at meals and want a plan that actually works, this episode will help you take the first steps toward screen-free restaurant experiences that feel doable and respectful for everyone.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Read the full show notes HERE!Episode 16: How to Stop Meltdowns Before They Start by Managing Expectations and Parenting Without Power StrugglesLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

If you feel disconnected from your child, overwhelmed by behavior struggles, or unsure how to rebuild closeness without adding more to your plate, this episode is for you. I am going to show you how just 5 minutes per day can meaningfully change your relationship with your child and help you feel more grounded in confident parenting.In this solo episode, I walk you through one of the most powerful positive parenting tips I teach as a PCIT specialist. This simple daily practice comes straight from evidence-based parent-child interaction therapy and has helped hundreds of families strengthen their relationship with your child without punishment, power struggles, or long complicated routines. I also share how I use this exact strategy in my own home when things start to feel off.In this episode, we talk about:Why 5 minutes per day of focused attention can transform your relationship with your childHow this approach supports confident parenting even when behavior feels challengingWhat parents often get wrong about play and connection, and how to fix itThe specific positive parenting tips that make these five minutes actually workHow letting your child lead builds emotional safety and strengthens your relationship with your childIf you are looking for realistic positive parenting tips, want to feel more confident in your parenting choices, and are hoping to improve your relationship with your child without burning out, this episode will give you a clear place to start. Five minutes per day really can make a difference, and I want to show you how.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Read the full show notes HEREListen to Episode 29 with Julia Lair: Why Praising Children Matters More Than You Think: How to Praise Your Child with Julia LairLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

In this episode of the Educated Parent Podcast, I sit down with Kristin Mervich, a fellow clinician and parenting expert, to talk about how toxic masculinity shows up in subtle ways in families and how evidence-based parenting can help us raise emotionally healthy boys. We explore emotional literacy as a core skill for kids and parents, and why trusting yourself is essential when outside voices get loud. This conversation is grounded in evidence-based parenting, real-life experience, and confident parenting practices that support boys' emotional development without shame or fear.In this episode, I talk about:How toxic masculinity can quietly interfere with emotional literacy in boys and what parenting experts see happening in families every dayWhy trusting yourself as a parent is critical when teaching boys emotional literacy through evidence-based parentingHow confident parenting helps boys express emotions without fear and reduces the long-term impact of toxic masculinityThe role of a parenting expert in helping families apply evidence-based parenting strategies that strengthen emotional literacyHow trusting yourself and leaning into confident parenting creates space for boys to grow into emotionally aware and resilient humansIf you want practical insight from a parenting expert on evidence-based parenting, emotional literacy, and trusting yourself while raising boys in a culture shaped by toxic masculinity, this episode will leave you feeling more confident in your parenting choices and more grounded in your instincts.LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH KRISTIN MERVICH:WebsiteInstagram

Holiday gatherings can feel joyful and overwhelming at the same time, and this episode will help you walk in with clarity, calm, and a strong foundation of confident parenting. When kids are navigating new environments, loud relatives, unpredictable routines, and big emotions, they need support with child emotion regulation. With the right positive parenting tips, your entire experience at holiday gatherings can feel smoother and more connected.In this conversation, I share the approach I use in my own home to prepare my kids for holiday gatherings. You will learn how to strengthen child emotion regulation, how to stay anchored in confident parenting, and how to use simple positive parenting tips to reduce stress for everyone involved. These strategies help you anticipate challenges, understand what your child needs, and protect your own emotional well-being so you can truly enjoy these moments.Here is what we will cover • How to prepare your child before holiday gatherings so they enter with stronger child emotion regulation and fewer unexpected reactions • What to say to relatives who do not understand your positive parenting tips, and how those conversations strengthen your confident parenting • How to build a calm-down kit that supports child emotion regulation even in unfamiliar settings • What to do when you feel like the overwhelmed parent, and how reconnecting to confident parenting helps you regulate in the moment • How practicing positive parenting tips ahead of time makes holiday gatherings more peaceful for the whole familyYou deserve to approach this season with steady confidence. Your child deserves the gift of child emotion regulation in environments that challenge them. These positive parenting tips will help you step into your holiday gatherings with more peace and more confident parenting.Watch the Full Episode Here LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!