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

If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to your kids about sex without feeling awkward, overwhelmed, or unsure what to say, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions I get from parents, and it’s something every parent will eventually face.
In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Goldberg Mintz, a clinical psychologist and parenting expert, to walk you through how to approach age appropriate sex talk in a way that feels natural, supportive, and aligned with your values. We break down what sexual education for kids can actually look like in real life and how to use this moment as powerful advice on parenting that strengthens your relationship with your child. Instead of avoiding the conversation, this episode will help you feel more confident about how to talk to your kids and make age appropriate sex talk an ongoing, comfortable dialogue.
In this episode, we cover:
How to talk to your kids about sex in a way that feels calm, confident, and aligned with your values
What age appropriate sex talk actually looks like at different developmental stages
How sexual education for kids can be guided by your child’s questions instead of a one-time “big talk”
Practical advice on parenting to help you feel more comfortable having these conversations
Why sexual education for kids should be ongoing and not just a single conversation
How to use age appropriate sex talk to build trust and open communication with your child
Why learning how to talk to your kids about hard topics sets the foundation for future conversations
Insights and strategies from Melissa Goldberg Mintz on making these conversations easier and more effective

Learning how to talk to your kids about sex doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right approach, age appropriate sex talk becomes a natural part of parenting and a powerful way to connect. This kind of advice on parenting helps ensure that your child receives accurate sexual education for kids directly from you, in a way that supports both their understanding and your relationship.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and Recovery
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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If you’ve ever wondered how to get kids to listen, you’re not alone. Parents often feel like they are repeating themselves over and over, asking their child to put on shoes, clean up toys, or get ready for school. In this episode, I share simple strategies that can dramatically improve how to get kids to listen by making small changes to the way we communicate with our children.
In my clinical work, I often see that the issue isn’t that kids refuse to cooperate. Instead, the problem is that our instructions for kids are unclear, indirect, or overwhelming. When parents focus on clearer instructions for kids and strengthen positive communication with your child, cooperation becomes much easier. These simple shifts can make a huge difference in how to get kids to listen during everyday routines.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why kids sometimes ignore directions and what parents misunderstand about how to get kids to listen
How clearer instructions for kids can increase cooperation and reduce frustration
The role of positive communication with your child in helping kids respond the first time
Why vague directions often fail, and how better instructions for kids solve the problem
How strengthening positive communication with your child can reduce yelling and power struggles
Why are strategies like these frequently discussed on the best parenting podcasts focused on practical parenting tools
How improving positive communication with your child helps children understand expectations more clearly

If you enjoy learning practical strategies from the best parenting podcasts, this episode will give you simple tools you can use immediately to improve cooperation at home. Conversations about how to get kids to listen are common across the best parenting podcasts, because small communication changes can transform everyday parenting moments.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love 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!

Do you really have to talk to your kids about sex?
In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Melissa Goldberg Mintz to talk about one of the parenting topics people avoid the most: having an age appropriate sex talk with your children. Melissa is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and assistant clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine who specializes in helping parents navigate difficult conversations. Together, we discuss why sexual education for kids is so important and why choosing to talk to your kids about sex is one of the most important pieces of advice on parenting we can offer.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Why parents often feel uncomfortable starting an age appropriate sex talk
• How sexual education for kids helps protect children and build healthy boundaries
• Why choosing to talk to your kids about difficult topics builds trust and communication
• The risks of children learning about sex from the internet, friends, or misinformation
• Practical advice on parenting for creating a safe space where kids can ask tough questions
If you've ever wondered whether you really need to talk to your kids about sex, this conversation will help you understand why an age appropriate sex talk and honest sexual education for kids are such important parts of modern advice on parenting.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and Recovery
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram

Love 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 MELISSA GOLDBERG MINTZ:
Website
Instagram

In this solo episode of the Educated Parent Podcast, I’m talking about what to do when your child does something that feels intentionally “naughty.” From peanut butter in the hair to Sharpie on the walls, moments of child misbehavior can feel personal, frustrating, and completely overwhelming.
I know how easy it is to assume our kids are doing these things on purpose. In the moment, naughty behavior can feel like sabotage. But what if most child misbehavior is not defiance at all?
In this episode, I walk through why kids misbehave from a developmental perspective and explain how our reactions can either escalate conflict or turn the situation into a teaching moment. I share how curious parenting has helped me respond more effectively and why regulating ourselves first is the most important step.
In this episode, I cover:
• Why kids misbehave even when they are not trying to cause problems
• How developmentally appropriate behavior can look like naughty behavior
• How I calm myself before responding to child misbehavior
• How curious parenting helps prevent power struggles
• How to turn frustrating moments into opportunities for growth
If you have ever felt personally attacked by your child’s behavior or wondered why kids misbehave in ways that create chaos at the worst possible time, this episode will help you approach child misbehavior with more calm, clarity, and confidence.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love 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 products
You’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 Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love 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:
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