Adventures in Parenting

Water is everywhere, pools, lakes, backyard splash pads and more, and knowing how to stay safe in and around water could make all the difference. In this episode, join Jessi and Erin, with special guest Maria P. Giustizia, Director of the Recreation & Parks Department, from the Patchogue Village as they discuss all things water safety! Topics covered: 🏊 Swimming lessons build more than water...

Join Jessi and Erin in the final installment with Safe Harbour's very own, Stephanie Muller and Jahira Campazano. Learn about protecting your kids from the vulnerabilities of grooming and how to look out for red-flags in relationships and behavior patterns over time. This episode highlights the importance of open communication among parents and their children and educating children about boundarie...

In this episode, join Jessi and Erin as they sit down with Olivia Howell from Fresh Starts Registry and discuss all things family and divorce. Not only about the emotional weight of legal processes but about navigating and rebuilding of families during challenging and emotionally charged times. Most importantly, supporting and guiding children through familial shifts with love and hope. *Please no...

Why do teens make impulsive decisions even when they know better? Join Jessi and Erin as they sit down with Stephanie Muller and Jahira Campazano from Safe Harbour to decode adolescent brain development and behavior.  Learn practical strategies for setting boundaries, navigating emotional outbursts, and maintaining open communication without pushing your teen away. Plus, explore how social media e...

We're back just in time for Family Literacy Month this November! In this episode, we're diving into an important discussion relevant to parents everywhere - how kids really learn to read. Join Jessi and Erin with a special guest, Chad Aldeman, creator of Read Not Guess. This free, online resource is helping families and schools shift toward Structured Literacy, which is focused on letter sounds an...

Ever feel lost when teens say something is "mid" or "giving main character energy"? Join Jessi and Erin as their special guest, Emily Moyers, a Teen Librarian at PML and self professed language lover breaks down the wild world of modern slang – from how it spreads faster than ever on social media to why some terms stick while others get left on read. What's inside: ✨ The psychology behind why tee...

Erin and Jessi are joined by Jasmine Lucas from the Association for Mental Health and Wellness who shares practical strategies for creating mentally healthy family environments. Listen and discover how to recognize warning signs in children, engage reluctant teenagers, and have age-appropriate mental health conversations. Jasmine offers guidance on balancing personal wellbeing with children's need...

🎧 Join librarians Jessi and Erin as they tackle the challenges of the "sandwich generation" - those caring for both young children and aging parents with Alzheimer's or dementia. With special guest Regina Anderson from the Families & Children Association’s (FCA’s) Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Program, this episode offers practical wisdom and emotional support for caregivers navi...

Join librarians Jessi and Erin as they sit down with Nick Tanzi, a straight-talking tech expert, author, and Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library, who admits he has a "love-hate relationship" with AI. From ChatGPT doing homework to AI chatbots giving questionable advice, Nick reveals what's happening in our kids' digital world. Discover why Nick calls AI a "non-consensual rela...

In this episode, Jessi and Erin welcome Rhonda Nedderman and Natalia Johnson from local community organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) to discuss bullying. Learn about current bullying statistics, the shift to cyberbullying, and practical strategies for parents. YES experts share insights on empowering children, monitoring social media use, and the importance of being an "upstander." Whet...

In this enlightening episode, professional organizers and authors Annmarie Brogan and Marie Limpert are back to share their unique approach to organization with Jessi and Erin. As co-owners of Organize Me! of NY, LLC and authors of Beyond Tidy: Declutter Your Mind and Discover the Magic of Organized Living, Annmarie and Marie are experts on blending personalized organizational strategies with posi...

It's time to turn that back-to-school chaos into calm with our latest episode featuring organizational experts, Annmarie Brogan and Marie Limpert, the brilliant minds behind Beyond Tidy and Organize Me! of NY, LLC. Discover how a tidy space can skyrocket mental health and academic performance. It's not just about clean rooms – it's about creating an environment where young minds truly flourish. Jo...

Beat the heat with our BONUS summer episode designed to soothe your soul and save your sanity! Join hosts Jessi and Erin as they dive into the world of mindfulness and meditation with special guest Michele Cayea. Michele isn't just the Head of Community Engagement at the Library – she's also a Reiki Master and meditation guru! In this enlightening episode, she'll unravel the mysteries of: Mindfuln...

On this episode, listen as Jessi and Erin talk with Jason Mosquera, the Community Mental Health Promotion & Support Team Leader at local organization YES (which stands for Youth Enrichment Services) about Teen mental health. Join them as they discuss the signs of mental health struggles in teens, the impact of social media, and steps for supporting teen (and parental!) mental health. Episode #...

Step into the world of video games with hosts Jessi, Erin, and special guest and gaming expert Brian Schwartz. They unravel the complex role of video games in parenting, offer advice on game ratings and recommendations, plus they discuss the cognitive benefits and potential risks of gaming. Episode #12, April 2024 For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Adventures in Parenting...

Join Jessi and Erin in a heart-warming episode of Adventures in Parenting, featuring Jennifer Bollerman, the Assistant Director at Patchogue-Medford Library and an Ambassador of Applied Compassion through Stanford University. Listen as they dive into the science of compassion, distinguishing it from empathy, revealing its positive effects on mental and physical health, and its significant role in...

Don't be bored this February break! Join us in this episode of Adventures in Parenting as Jessi and Erin talk with Brian Schwartz, the head of the Teen Department at the Patchogue- Medford Library and an experienced board gamer. Brian talks about the benefits of family gaming, shares top game picks, and talks about integrating board games and gaming into libraries. Learn how playing board games ca...

Join Jessi and Erin this month for a two part series on Families and Finances. Part 1 of the series focuses on how parents can help educate their children on money, even if they are not great at it themselves! Listen as guest and financial educator, Jonathan Greene discusses all aspects of financial literacy for children, including setting financial goals, establishing the difference between wants...

Join Jessi and Erin this month for a two part series on Families and Finances. For Part 2 of the series, Financial Educator, Jonathan Greene is back! This time guiding parents on how to successfully build a financial future for their children. Jonathan touches on the many ways parents can save for their child's post High School plans and how saving for their own retirement is a crucial part of pro...

Right on time for all of those new devices hitting your households this holiday season, Erin and Jessi are joined by  Children's Librarian and Digital Literacy Specialist, Ms. Elaine Perez, to speak about understanding media literacy, navigating screen time and overall online wellbeing. Elaine, studied media literacy at the Erickson Institute in Chicago.  Episode #7, December 2023 For more resourc...

It's almost holiday gift giving season, so Erin and Jessi invited the Toy Association's Anna Yudina back to share tips for choosing the best STEAM toys! They are also joined by Miss Elizabeth, the Patchogue-Medford Library's STEAM librarian, to learn why introducing STEAM concepts to children through play and toys is so important.  Episode #6, November 2023 For more resources on this topic, check...

Erin and Jessi are focused on fun this month by learning about the 6 developmental benefits of play! To help educate them, they are joined by the Toy Association's Anna Yudina, who is spearheading the organization's "Genius of Play" initiative, which aims to raise awareness of the crucial part play has in child development. We're also hearing from the Patchogue-Medford Library's own Miss Mary who...

Erin and Jessi talk to representatives from Safe Harbour, a nonprofit community organization dedicated to keeping children safe from online exploitation and trafficking.  Episode #4, September 2023 For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Adventures in Parenting Episode #4 Resource Guide.

Erin and Jessi listen and learn from Trish Graham, Founder and President of Patchogue-Medford's SEPTA (Special Education Parent & Teacher Association) and PML's own Special Needs Coordinator, Joyce Thompson-Haas.  Episode #3, August 2023 For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Adventures in Parenting Episode #3 Resource Guide.

Erin and Jessi talk with local Hometown Explorer and PML Librarian, Miss Alyson to learn about the (mostly) free and local boredom buster spots to take your family this summer.  Episode #2, July 2023 For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide:  Adventures in Parenting Episode #2 Resource Guide