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

Play dates are supposed to be fun, but so many parents tell me the same thing: play dates are stressful. You worry about how your child will act, whether they’ll feel left out, or if things might go sideways in front of another parent. In this episode, I wanted to give you concrete tools to help play dates feel calmer, smoother, and actually enjoyable for everyone involved.
I’m joined by Maria Hammond, Ph.D., a specialist in communication development and parent-child relationships. Maria runs social skills groups for young children and brings a thoughtful, practical lens to helping kids build social skills through everyday interactions. Together, we talk about why successful play doesn’t mean perfection and how small shifts in preparation can make a big difference.
In this episode, we cover:
Why play dates are stressful for both kids and parents, and how anxiety can shape expectations
How to build social skills by planning play dates witha clear structure and realistic goals
Why going into a play date with a “mission” helps kids feel more confident and engaged in successful play
How environment and expectations impact successful play, especially for shy or sensitive kids
When and why it’s better to leave a play date while it’s still going well
How parents can support build social skills without hovering or overcorrecting

If play dates have ever left you feeling tense, discouraged, or unsure of what went wrong, this conversation will help you reframe what success really looks like. With guidance from Maria Hammond, Ph.D., you’ll walk away with practical strategies to support successful play, reduce stress, and help your child build social skills in a way that feels manageable and developmentally appropriate.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Listen to Episode 16: How to Stop Meltdowns Before They Start By Managing Expectations and Parenting Without Power Struggles
Read the full show notes HERE!
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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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 restaurants
How to reset expectations before you even walk through the door
Practical ways to build and hold screen time boundaries without escalating behavior
What to do when your child pushes back and how to respond calmly
positive parenting tips to make restaurants less stressful and more connected

If 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 Struggles
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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If choosing extracurricular activities leaves you feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, and stuck in constant mom guilt, this episode is for you. Many parents in a busy family feel pressure to do more, sign up for everything, and keep up with what other families are doing, even when it does not feel right. In this conversation, I want to help you step out of overschedulingand into confident decision-making that actually supports your child and your nervous system.
In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Fein, a licensed child psychologist and board certified behavior analyst, to talk about how parents can prioritize extracurricular activities without burning out. Rachel Fein brings both clinical expertise and real-life parenting experience to this conversation, helping parents rethink mom guilt, pressure, and what children truly need to thrive.
Together, we break down how overscheduling happens so easily in a busy family and how parents can make intentional choices that support connection, emotional regulation, and physical activity for kids without sacrificing family wellbeing.
In this episode, we discuss
Why overscheduling is so common in a busy family and how it quietly fuels mom guilt
How to evaluate extracurricular activities through the lens of family values instead of outside pressure
The difference between meaningful physical activity for kids and activity overload
How to recognize when mom guilt is driving decisions instead of your child’s actual needs
Practical strategies for setting boundaries around extracurricular activities without feeling selfish
Why protecting downtime matters just as much as physical activity for kids
How confident parenting reduces overschedulingand supports healthier routines for the entire busy family

This episode is a reminder that you do not need to do everything to be a good parent. When you let go of mom guilt, reduce overscheduling, and make values-based choices, you create more space for connection, regulation, and joy for both you and your child.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Episode 15: Should You Keep Pushing Your Child to Succeed or Back Off? With Kristin Mervich
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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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 child
How this approach supports confident parenting even when behavior feels challenging
What parents often get wrong about play and connection, and how to fix it
The specific positive parenting tips that make these five minutes actually work
How letting your child lead builds emotional safety and strengthens your relationship with your child

If 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 HERE
Listen to Episode 29 with Julia Lair: Why Praising Children Matters More Than You Think: How to Praise Your Child with Julia Lair
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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If you have ever worried about how diet culture is shaping your child’s thoughts about food, this episode is for you. Sehrish Ali helps us understand how helping kids build a healthy relationship with food feels harder than ever when diet culture is everywhere, and child eating habits are constantly judged.
In this episode, I sit down with Sehrish Ali, a psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist, to talk about how parents can protect a healthy relationship with food while raising kids in a world dominated by diet culture. Sehrish works closely with families and brings practical, compassionate insight into child eating habits, body image, and the subtle ways parents unintentionally pass down food rules. This conversation is full of real-world parenting resources you can start using immediately.
In this episode, we cover:
How diet culture shows up in everyday parenting and quietly influences child eating habits in ways parents often miss
What a healthy relationship with food actually looks like for kids and why perfection is not the goal
The language parents should stop using around food and bodies to support healthier child eating habits
How to model a healthy relationship with food, even if you are still unpacking your own experiences with diet culture
Practical parenting resources that help parents prioritize connection over control around meals

If you are looking for evidence-based parenting resources, want to reduce the impact of diet culture, and hope to support long-term child eating habits that feel calm and sustainable, this episode will give you clarity and confidence. Listen to the full episode with Sehrish Ali to learn how to support a healthy relationship with food for your child and for yourself.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Read the full show notes HERE!
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...