Project Parenthood

815. Why do kids sometimes get defensive, shut down, or lash out after they’ve made a mistake, broken a rule or hurt someone’s feelings? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explains how to compassionately help children notice their impact without shame, while helping them take meaningful steps toward repairing relationship ruptures through the action-based making of amends.  Sources: McCloud, C. (201...

814. Is making sure your child isn’t a doormat feel fraught with worry about them being “too aggressive”? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor guides parents through the foundational skills of respectful self-advocacy and how to cultivate them in your child, helping your child move through social challenges with more self-understanding and ease. Related Project Parenthood Episodes: Navigating the "cri...

Have you ever felt embarrassed because your child forgot to say "thank you"? This week, Dr. Nanika Coor answers a listener email and gives you 8 tips for helping your child develop gratitude. (Originally published November 21, 2021.) Project Parenthood is hosted by Dr. Nanika Coor. Find a transcript here.  Have a parenting question? Email Dr. Coor at parenthood@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voi...

813. Does your child’s screen use spark tension when you get together with extended family? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor unpacks why family gatherings can amplify digital-device disagreements and how understanding your child’s needs can help you set boundaries with more clarity and calm. Learn how to protect your child’s unique needs and stay connected when opinions collide. Related Project Pa...

812. In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explains how unresolved relational trauma can fuel a parent's reactive anger, and how understanding your own nervous system can help you respond to your child in more connected, calm, and intentional ways. Sources: https://cptsdfoundation.org/what-is-complex-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-cptsd/   Related Project Parenthood Episodes: How to Manage Your Anger a...

811. When your ADHD child is struggling, do you worry they’re acting out on purpose? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor unpacks the concept of executive function deficits in young people, and how shifting your perspective from "won't" to "can't" can help you respond to big emotions and challenging routines with more compassion and connection. Related Project Parenthood Episodes: Should you punish yo...

Do your mornings feel like chaos on repeat? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor guides parents through creating calmer, more connected morning routines - even when executive function challenges, sibling conflict, and real-life pressures make smooth starts feel impossible. Learn practical tools for cooperation, compassion, and ease before your day even gets going. Related Project Parenthood Episodes:...

809. Why does the urge to intervene feel so overwhelming? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor unpacks the anxiety and external pressures that fuel your need to "fix" your child's life - and how noticing your own internal experience can help you respond with respectful, connected, and liberating presence instead. Find a transcript here. Have a parenting question? Email Dr. Coor at parenthood@quickandd...

808. Why does asking about your child's day often result in a frustrating "Fine" or "Nothing"? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor unpacks why kids of all ages sometimes don’t share much, what can lie beneath parent-child conversational disconnection, and how to build micro-rituals that foster more collaborative and connected communication. Find a transcript here. Have a parenting question? Email Dr....

807. Have you ever worried that your child’s “laziness” means they’ll never reach their potential? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explores how internalized messages shape the way you understand motivation, and how you can replace frustration with curiosity and compassion, helping you and your child  thrive with more connection and self-trust. Sources: Laziness Does Not Exist By Devon Price Relat...

806. Why does playing with your child sometimes feel more draining than delightful? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor unpacks why shared play can stir up old wounds from your own upbringing—and how noticing those tender spots can help you respond with more connection, presence, and ease, even when it feels hard.  Sources: Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture...

805. Have you ever worried that wanting your child to be “great” might actually come from oppressive messages you’ve absorbed? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explores how internalized ideas of excellence can show up in parenting, especially for BIPOC folks and parents raising marginalized kids—and offers compassionate reframes to help you nurture your child’s worth and liberation.  Find a transc...

804. Does your PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) kiddo lash out at their siblings leaving you feeling helpless and stressed? In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explains what’s really happening beneath the surface of PDA meltdowns and why they often target siblings. She shares internal practices to steady yourself, external strategies to protect kids, and compassionate ways to reframe these intense...

802. In this episode Dr. Nanika Coor explores how parents can balance safety and independence as tweens begin traveling to and from school on their own. Learn why this milestone can feel so stressful, what factors influence a child’s readiness, and how to prepare together without resorting to fear or control.  Find a transcript here. Have a parenting question? Email Dr. Coor at parenthood@quickand...

802. In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor and psychologist Dr. Kahlila Robinson tackle the challenging topic of self-regulation for kids. They offer compassionate advice for parents on how to shift from seeing a child's emotional outburst as "misbehavior" to seeing it as a sign they're struggling, and discuss how to use repair moments to strengthen your relationship. Find a full transcript here. Have...

801. In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor guides parents navigate back-to-school stressors with the Heard, Hugged, Helped framework. This episode offers parents a roadmap for decoding their child's needs to respond skillfully, not react regretfully. Discover how to use co-regulation and conscious choices to build trust and connection during tough transitions. Find a full transcript here. Have a parent...

Dr. Nanika Coor welcomes Dr. Khadijah Cyril, a licensed psychologist specializing in children's mental health, to Project Parenthood. Dr. Cyril shares insights on racial and cultural identity development, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive self-image in children. The conversation covers methodologies like cognitive behavioral therapy, stages of racial identity development from Dr....

In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor guides parents through a common and confusing challenge: when kids seem to reject emotional intimacy and vulnerability. Learn about the cultural and social factors that contribute to this "aversion to mushy feelings" and get a "toolkit" of five practical, compassionate strategies. Find out how to model healthy emotional expression, use language that externalizes fe...

In this episode, Dr. Coor offers guidance for parents raising boys to reject toxic masculinity. Learn how to challenge limiting stereotypes, foster emotional openness, model healthy behavior, and navigate external pressures so you can raise sons who embrace authentic and compassionate expressions of masculinity. Find a full transcript here. Have a parenting question? Email Dr. Coor at parenthood@q...

In this episode of Project Parenthood, Dr. Nanika Coor explains how strong social connections—to ourselves, our families, and our communities—act as a protective shield for our mental health. Learn practical ways to boost your family's resilience and well-being, especially if you're part of a marginalized community. Find a full transcript here. Have a parenting question? Email Dr. Coor at parentho...

In this episode Dr. Nanika Coor celebrates Disability Pride Month, diving into what it can truly mean for your family. Discover practical ways to unlearn old narratives about disability, embrace every unique mind and body, and become a co-conspirator in building a truly inclusive world starting at home. This episode will help you foster deeper connection, understanding, and liberation for all. Sou...

Dr. Nanika Coor returns to Project Parenthood with new episodes! Get ready for a deepened commitment to conversations that matter, centered on building a supportive community, promoting collective healing, and embracing liberation in parenting. Transcript: https://project-parenthood.simplecast.com/episodes/dr-cooris-back-parenting-for-collective-healing-and-liberation/transcript Have a parenting q...

In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explores common communication roadblocks that parents often fall prey to and offers tips for building stronger connections with your children by listening more deeply.  This in an encore of an episode that originally aired on January 8, 2024, and hosted by Dr. Nanika Coor. Transcript: https://project-parenthood.simplecast.com/episodes/ditch-roadblocks-build-connect...

When your child fully understands their own diagnoses it not only means they can more easily explain their challenges to friends and family, but it also empowers them to ask for what they need at school. Today I’m talking about helping your child build those self-advocacy skills while they're young so they have lots of opportunities to practice and gain self-confidence in asking for support once t...

Feeling disconnected from your child after a fight? You're not alone! In this episode, Dr. Nanika Coor explores why repairing those ruptures is key, tackles the hidden hurdles parents face, and offers a step-by-step guide to reconnect and build a stronger bond with your child.  This in an encore of an episode that originally aired on April 15, 2024, and hosted by Dr. Nanika Coor. Transcript: https...