The Parent Empowerance Podcast

How do we teach our kids that their behavior isn't okay without making them feel like they're bad? Discipline doesn't have to involve shame, guilt, or humiliation to help children learn responsibility and make better choices. In this episode, we're talking about how to set boundaries, teach social and emotional skills, and help young children learn from their mistakes without making them question...

If you have a child who seems to be constantly moving—running, climbing, jumping, touching everything, or just generally keeping you on your toes—you may have wondered, “Is this just their personality, or is something else going on?” And that distinction matters. Because some children are naturally more active as part of their temperament, while other children may be struggling with attention, imp...

This week on the podcast I welcomed Kelly Routkevitch, a pediatric sleep and development specialist and mom of 3. We talk all things sleep for infants and babies. This included discussing: Kelly’s passion for normalizing infant & baby sleep & how she works with families What normal infant sleep looks like Cosleeping - the stigma around it and how to do it safely (safe sleep seven) Floor be...

Your child isn’t “too emotional.” They’re still learning what to do with all those big feelings. In this episode, we’re talking about what normal emotional development looks like from birth to 5—and why a young child’s ability to feel and express emotions develops long before their ability to manage those emotions independently. We also cover ways you can support your child’s emotional development...

Healthy parent-child relationships aren't relationships without conflict. They're relationships where conflict is followed by reconnection. In this episode, I’m talking about why repair and reconnection is so important within the parent-child relationship and how to do it with your young children. This included: Reviewing research and providing examples on: Understanding conflict WITH connection R...

Death is one of those topics we may not feel prepared to talk about with our young children—but eventually, they encounter it. In this episode, I’m talking about what young children actually understand about death, how to use honest and developmentally appropriate language, what grief can look like in toddlers and preschoolers, and how we can support children through loss without trying to make th...

This week on the podcast I welcomed Effie Pomaki, a pediatric Occupational Therapist and founder of Uplifted Parenting. We talk all things sensory integration and regulation for young children. This included discussing: Effie’s passion for helping parents with their kids’ sensory, regulation, & big feelings What sensory integration is, the 8 senses, what sensory seeking/avoidant/sensitive are...

What looks like “bad behavior” in babies and toddlers is often just big feelings, big desires, and very little self-regulation colliding. The goal isn't simply to make the behavior stop—it’s to set boundaries while helping your child build the skills they’re still developing. This episode focused on what behaviors are normal around the first birthday and in early toddlerhood and what strategies yo...

You want to keep your child safe—but sometimes it’s hard to know when to step in and when to let them figure it out. This episode focused on why safe risky play matters and how you can support your child’s confidence and independence without hovering. This included: Reviewing research and providing examples on: The core developmental benefits What this can look like in young children Describing st...

Parents often describe the transition from one child to two as harder than becoming a parent in the first place. This transition can be difficult because your family system is changing, your demands are increasing, your sleep is getting disrupted, and your relationships are reorganizing - not because you’re doing it wrong. This episode focused on why and how to prepare your child and family for ad...

Back to school is here! And the best way to prepare your child isn't teaching them to be independent or making them excited about school. It's helping them build familiarity, predictability, and relationships with the new caregiver/environment while giving them space to have feelings about the change. This episode focused on why and how to prepare your child for starting or returning to preschool,...

This week on the podcast I welcomed Kathy O’Bryan, a pediatric Registered Dietitian, mom, and host of the Food for Tot podcast. We talk all things feeding your baby and toddler. This included discussing: Most common issues for babies and toddlers that Kathy works on with families What she prioritizes food-wise and meal routine-wise with your child How children use/identify hunger/fullness cues and...

People talk about temperament all the time, but not everyone knows what it actually means for THEIR child. This episode focused on defining what temperament is and explaining the traits that make it up. This included: Reviewing research and providing examples on: What temperament is What the old “types” were The 5 main temperament traits The difference between temperament and cholic The importance...

Everyone says “terrible twos” but as a parent, age 3 can actually be much harder. One of the biggest shifts between 2 and 3 is that children become much more capable without becoming much more regulated. That’s often why parenting can feel more difficult. This episode focused on the developmental differences between age 2 and age 3 and how to best support this as a parent. This included: Reviewing...

This week on the podcast I welcomed my next guest - Tori Helfrich, a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and Lactation Consultant. We talk all things lactation/weaning and supporting your child’s language. This included discussing: Common issues Tori sees working with families as a lactation consultant What it means to be a pediatric SLP and lactation consultant The difference between receptive...

The prenatal environment is SO important not only for the main reasons most people are aware of - physical growth and health of the baby - but it is one of the earliest developmental environments children experience. It has long-term impacts on your child’s birth outcomes and development, especially their behavior, stress response, nervous system, health, and cognitive ability. This episode focuse...

Despite what we see online, rotating toys every 2 weeks is not actually as important as social media makes us think it is. BUT the physical environment in your home DOES matter for your child’s development. Research has consistently found that how a child’s physical environment is arranged influences attention, play quality, self-regulation, independence, language development, and physical activit...

This week on the podcast I welcomed my next guest - Maddie Garcia, a pediatric Occupational Therapist. We talk all things sensory integration, pediatric OT, and how to support your child’s regulatory abilities and sensory needs. This included discussing: What it means to be a pediatric OT (who, where, what, how) The 8 senses and what sensory processing is The differences between sensory seeking, u...

Parents (and society!) often expect toddlers or preschoolers to share, but that’s actually not developmentally appropriate until closer to 5 or 6! And expecting them to do it too early can create bigger power struggles and tantrums because their brains just aren’t ready for sharing toys/snacks/activities yet. This episode focused on what IS developmentally appropriate, and how to build the skills...

Sibling relationships are the longest relationship your children will have across their lives. But these often come with a lot of conflict, especially in early childhood. This episode focuses on understanding the benefit (and risks) of sibling relationships for development, the importance of supporting the bond, and how to navigate conflict between your children. This included: Reviewing research...

Parents are usually quick to say “say sorry” or “give them a hug” when their kid hits/bites/throws/doesn’t share with another child, but these often become ingenuine actions for your child to get out of trouble. This is where empathy comes in! In order to encourage your child’s empathy development, you want to get them thinking! This episode focuses on the importance of empathy for young children...

Getting your young children (especially toddlers) out of the house can feel like a monumental task some days. Frustration and impatience are completely normal with the frequent delay tactics or power struggles that come with getting your kids dressed (and getting them to keep their clothes on), doing their hair, eating breakfast, getting shoes on, all the daily tasks. This episode focuses on under...

This week on the podcast I welcomed my first guest - LE Wolfram, a former kindergarten teacher of 7 years and home school mama of 2. We talk all things kindergarten readiness and the decision to home school. This included: Kindergarten readiness: Why this is important How behavior/regulation plays a role The importance of soft skills and social-emotional learning Realistic expectations from a kind...

You are your child’s safe place, you’re their home and their comfort. This attachment you form with your child plays one of the biggest roles not only in your relationship with them, but in their development and future relationships as well. This episode focuses on what attachment is and how it influences your child’s development. This included: Reviewing research on: What attachment is The four t...

Leaving your child is never easy! And deciding where to take your child and who to leave them with is one of the biggest (and toughest) decisions parents make in early childhood. This episode focuses on strengths and limitations to each care type, as well as strategies for choosing one. This included: Reviewing research on: Why the quality of care matters more than the type of care The strengths a...