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

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:
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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
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Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
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CONNECT WITH MELISSA GOLDBERG MINTZ:
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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
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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