I Want to Know More - Parenting Montana

Explore why you should teach your child to identify and name feelings, its importance, and find examples of how you can teach this skill, while growing your own ability as well.

The teenage years are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts on the brain such as marijuana use. It is during the teen years that dramatic growth and change occur in the brain, and marijuana use in this time can result in negative changes to brain development and function. This podcast talks about the consequences of marijuana use, the impact of marijuana on the developing teenage brain, and...

Laws about the use of marijuana can be confusing, change over time, differ by type of use -- such as medical or adult-use, and vary by state. While many states allow for medical use of marijuana and an increasing number of states also have legalized marijuana for adult use, marijuana use remains illegal at the federal level, and adult-use marijuana is illegal for individuals who are under the age...

Children, adolescents, and young adults are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of marijuana due to their developing brains. Marijuana can impact a teen’s present life by increasing their risk for dropping out of high school, and it can affect their future because of the impact marijuana has on a developing brain that can be significant and long lasting. Preventing your teen from usin...

If you are worried that your child/teen may be using marijuana or other drugs, don’t panic. You are not alone. Whether you are concerned about the misuse of prescription pain medication, marijuana use, or other drug use, there are many resources and help available. This podcast explores the signs and symptoms of substance use, ways to talk with your child/teen about concerns, and options you have...

Children may have experiences that disrupt their sense of safety and security. These negative experiences in childhood are sometimes referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or child trauma. Research suggests more than two-thirds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event by age 16. Examples of these experiences can include events that happen once, like the loss of a l...

All infants cry. Crying is an infant’s primary form of communicating with you. Through crying, infants are learning how to get their needs met. Each time you are responsive to your infant’s cries and needs, showing them love and care, they feel understood and learn about the two-way nature of communication. It is natural for a parent or someone in a parenting role to think that something is wrong...

The decision to become a family who fosters a child is a big, life changing choice, and preparing for a child in foster care can be exciting and a little stressful as well. This podcast provides guidance, tips, and suggestions to prepare your mind, your heart, your space, and important others in your life for this exciting time.   When the day comes that you receive a call from a child p...

Have you been thinking about becoming a foster parent? With over 437,000 U.S. children and youth in foster care right now, there is definitely a need for foster parents. But, how do you know if foster parenting is right for you? Deciding to become a foster parent is a big decision that takes thoughtful consideration. This podcast provides reflective questions to help you decide if becoming a foste...

This podcast provides guidance, tips, and suggestions about how to navigate the first 24 hours, the first week, and the first six weeks of having a child in foster care join your family. When you receive that call from the child protection specialist asking to place a child in need of foster care with your family, you are probably experiencing a range of emotions - excited, nervous, and a little s...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, it is likely that at some point in your child’s life you will need child care for your child, and selecting a child care provider is a major decision. This podcast walks you through some of the important considerations you may want to ask yourself as you choose the right provider for your child. There is also some guidance for preparing your child for th...

Every child tests limits and breaks rules. And as frustrating as it can be for a parent who is working so hard to teach their children and set boundaries, testing those boundaries is a normal part of your child’s development and necessary for their learning. As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you have the opportunity to transform your child’s choices into teachable moments. It is importan...

Underage drinking laws can be confusing, change over time, and vary by state. Parents, or those in a parenting role, and teens are often unclear about the laws and have misconceptions about the consequences of breaking the laws. As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you make a lot of decisions about what is acceptable or not acceptable for your child/teen regarding alcohol use. Knowing the u...

There are many different approaches parents can take when it comes to discipline. This podcast leads parents through an approach to guide and discipline in a way that allows for teachable moments that support your child’s development. Parents can build their child’s social and emotional skills through their interactions during and after an inappropriate  behavior. When parents realize that th...

The teenage years are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts on the brain such as alcohol use. It is during the teen years that dramatic growth and change occur in the brain, and drinking alcohol in this time can result in negative changes to brain development and function. This podcast talks about the consequences of underage drinking, the impact of alcohol on the developing teenage brain, a...

If you are worried that your child/teen may be drinking alcohol, don’t panic. You are not alone. In this podcast we explore the signs and symptoms of teen alcohol use, ways to talk with your child/teen about concerns, and options you have for getting your child/teen help. The earlier you intervene, the easier it is to get your child/teen back on track! There are many resources and options for help...

Individuals under the age of 21 are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol and experience disproportionate harm from alcohol use. Although alcohol impacts adults as well, the negative impacts of alcohol on a developing brain are significant and long lasting. Delaying the initiation of drinking alcohol until the age of 21 greatly minimizes the negative and long-term impact of a...

As much heartburn and worry as it may cause parents, risk taking is a normal part of child development. The good news is that as a parent or someone in a parenting role, you can greatly influence the choices your child makes and the types of risks they decide to take. ParentingMontana.org and this podcast remind parents of the many ways you can increase the likelihood that your child will engage i...

Parents and those in a parenting role want to be sure their children are advancing and growing in all the appropriate ways. Aside from the basic things that you can find in parenting books, from other parents, and in the pamphlets they sent home with you from the hospital when your child was born, another way to assess your child’s development is through a developmental  screening. Developmen...

The negative impacts of substance use in children and the resulting adverse effects are indisputable. Research suggests when parents or those in a parenting role play an active part in their child’s life, children are less likely to experience problems managing stress or misusing substances later in life. This podcast provides information about child development at specific ages and offers parents...

Healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development is important for young people to lead meaningful, productive, and engaged lives. In childhood, social and emotional skills support success in school and improve wellbeing. In adulthood, these skills will facilitate improved work performance and higher pay as well as wellbeing. As children develop, so do their social and emotional skills. Social...

As a parent, or someone in a parenting role, you are the most important influence in your child’s life and you play an essential role in your child’s success. Intentional parenting is an approach where you use strategies to build a healthy parent-child relationship. It is an approach to developing safe, stable, and nurturing parent-child relationships. The intentional parenting approach relies on...

This podcast provides guidance on what to do when there is high conflict between you and other important people in your child’s life. Conflict can happen within families, between spouses, and among siblings. Conflict can also occur with extended family and with other important people in your child’s life. Conflict is normal and expected. However, when conflict escalates, is persistent, and remains...

In creating a supportive network for your child, it is likely that at some point you will encounter important people who have different ideas about parenting your child. Different ideas about parenting can occur between you and your spouse or partner, your child’s grandparents and other relatives, a step parent, your child’s teacher, or any other important person in your child’s life. Having these...

The key to many parenting challenges is finding ways to communicate with your child where both your needs and your child’s needs are met. While this may sound simple, in the heat of the moment it can be tricky to identify and differentiate your needs and wants and your child’s. This podcast delves into how intentional communication helps both you and your child learn to create space to listen to e...