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

If your child seems to know exactly how to get a reaction out of you, you’re not imagining it. When kids engage in attention-seeking behavior in children, it can feel intentional, frustrating, and hard to ignore, especially when it looks like child testing boundaries in real time.
In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s really going on underneath attention-seeking behavior in children and why kids rely on it to get positive attention. We’ll talk about how to respond when your child is child testing boundaries, what it looks like to stay grounded in confident parenting, and why your reaction matters more than you think. You’ll also learn how to shift your approach so that positive attention reinforces the behaviors you actually want to see.
In this episode, we cover:
Why attention-seeking behavior in children is normal and often tied to a need for positive attention
What’s happening when your child is testing boundaries and looking for a reaction
How confident parenting helps you respond without escalating the situation
Why giving positive attention at the right time reduces attention-seeking behavior in children
How to handle moments of child testing boundaries without reinforcing the behavior
What positive attention looks like when you feel triggered or frustrated
How increasing positive attention can decrease attention-seeking behavior in children over time
When frequent child testing boundaries might signal a deeper need for connection and positive attention

If you’re stuck in a cycle where attention-seeking behavior in children and child testing boundaries lead to bigger reactions, this episode will help you shift into confident parenting and use positive attention in a way that actually works.
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If your child is bright but still struggling with studying, you’re not alone. I see this all the time in my practice, where kids have the ability but not the study skills for students or the time management for kids that actually help them succeed. And that can be incredibly frustrating for both parents and kids.
In this episode, I sit down with Evan Weinberger to talk about why even smart kids struggle and what we can actually do about it through confident parenting. We break down what’s missing when it comes to study skills for students, how time management for kids plays a huge role in academic success, and how to support your child without turning studying into a constant battle. Evan Weinberger shares practical strategies you can use right away to help your child build independence, confidence, and stronger habits.
In this episode, we cover:
Why smart kids often lack study skills for students even when they understand the material
How poor time management for kids leads to last-minute stress and inconsistent performance
What confident parenting looks like when your child resists studying
How Evan Weinberger approaches building study skills for students in a way that actually sticks
The role of time management for kids in reducing homework battles
How to shift into confident parenting instead of nagging or constant reminders
Simple systems Evan Weinberger recommends to improve studying at home
Why building study skills for students and improving time management for kids creates long-term success

If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of reminders, frustration, and your child avoiding work, this episode will help you take a confident parenting approach while building the study skills for students and time management for kids your child actually needs, with guidance from Evan Weinberger.

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CONNECT WITH EVAN WEINBERGER:
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Reach out (713-665-4263 or [email protected]) to discuss any additional support needs for academic tutoring and/or executive function coaching

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is just learning at their own pace or truly a child struggling to read, this episode is for you. Questions about early reading can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure what’s typical and what might require support from a dyslexia psychologist.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dyanna Villesca, a dyslexia psychologist, to talk about what’s really going on when a child struggling to read isn’t making progress. We break down what to look for in early reading, how specialists think about how to diagnose dyslexia in a child, and when it might be time to seek guidance from a dyslexia psychologist. If you’ve been unsure about your child’s early reading development, this conversation will give you clarity and next steps.
In this episode, we cover:
What’s typical in early reading, and when to start paying closer attention
How a dyslexia psychologist evaluates a child struggling to read
Early indicators that may point toward the need for how to diagnose dyslexia in a child
What parents should understand about how to diagnose dyslexia in a child and the evaluation process
Why early reading struggles don’t always mean something serious, but shouldn’t be ignored
How a dyslexia psychologist supports families through the assessment process
The emotional experience of a child struggling to read and how to support them
When to take the next step toward how to diagnose dyslexia in a child

If you’re concerned about a child struggling to read, this episode will help you better understand early reading, what a dyslexia psychologist looks for, and how to approach how to diagnose dyslexia in a child with confidence.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Read the full show notes HERE!

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CONNECT WITH DYANNA VILLESCA:
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Is your child not listening in public, making every outing feel stressful? You are not alone. So many parents struggle with this, especially when expectations aren’t clear, and behavior quickly unravels. Often, the issue isn’t your child being difficult; it’s a mismatch in child expectations from parents that hasn’t been clearly communicated.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how to get your child to listen in public settings using simple, practical strategies that actually work. When you clearly communicate child expectations from parents ahead of time and consistently use positive reinforcement for kids, you’ll see a major shift in behavior. Instead of reacting to your child not listening, you’ll be setting your child up for success before you even walk into the store.
In this episode, we cover:
Why a child not listening often comes from unclear child expectations from parents
How to get your child to listen by setting clear expectations before entering public spaces
The role of positive reinforcement for kids in improving cooperation and behavior
What to do in the moment when your child not listening starts to escalate
How clear child expectations from parents reduce confusion and prevent power struggles
How to get your child to listen without yelling or threatening consequences
How to consistently use positive reinforcement for kids to reinforce the behavior you want
Why understanding a child not listening is key to long-term success

If you’ve been frustrated with your child not listening, this episode will help you figure out how to get your child to listen by setting clear child expectations from parents and using positive reinforcement for kids in a way that feels calm, confident, and effective.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Episode 29: Why Praising Children Matters More Than You Think with Julia Lair
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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
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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.
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CONNECT WITH MELISSA GOLDBERG MINTZ:
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