Discerning Parenting

"I yelled at my kids again and I felt so guilty. I wish my kids could listen without me having to yell." These are among the most common parenting struggles I hear. I'm happy to have with us today Dr. Amy Webb, founder of Thoughtful Parent and a Ph. D. in human development and family science, and we'll talk about this huge question - How can we discipline our kids without yelli...

When do we start introducing kids to the concept of money? And if your child is asking for a lot of toys, how do we teach them that we limit our budget for toys while at the same time teaching them a healthy money mindset? Today we're lucky to have Dr. Marnie Moya Prudencio, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, and author of How to Be a Money Smart Parent and Raise a Money Smart Kid. We'll...

If you're worried about your child's development or behavior, there's an easily accessible strategy that can help you starting today.  No, this is not a magic pill. It is not a false claim, but it is backed by research and is an easily accessible strategy.  Parent LED intervention, whether it's speech and language delay or developmental delay, or maybe your child has received a...

From the joy of watching your baby's first steps to the challenges of navigating the school years and everything in between, parenting is an ever-evolving journey.  That's why today I'm excited to announce that we're launching the Discerning Parent's Club. This will be a trusted resource by your side, guiding you through the maze of parenting challenges, and providing you...

Have you received advice that if your child misbehaves, you should give your child a timeout? But the moment you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, you see an entire slew of experts telling you that timeouts are bad for kids . All this is adding to parental guilt because it feels like whatever we do, we're bound to get it wrong. Whether we do timeouts or not, there's somebody telling us...

You are exhausted because your baby won't sleep. Then you see all the advice that says you should ignore your baby's cries because if you ignore them long enough, they'll fall asleep. But your mama heart just can't leave your baby screaming and crying all alone in the crib. Then, you hear these voices telling you, "You are such a pushover. That baby has you wrapped around...

Are you wondering what it's like to be a parent of twins and if you have twins yourself, what are tips that can help us during those times when there are many demands on us as parents?  Sometimes it can be hard to imagine what it's like to have twins because even managing one child or multiple children of different ages can already be a challenge. What about two kids at the same age, esp...

Have you been thinking of enrolling your child in a reading program? Or maybe there are advertisements for reading programs popping up on your Facebook feed, or maybe you're thinking you're worrying about whether your child is going to be ready for school, so you are looking for a program where you can enroll your child so that they will learn to read. How do you choose one that is right...

How do we help our kids be ready to learn to read? This is a question that people rarely ask. People almost never talk about reading readiness. But if you're having questions like "Should my child already be having reading lessons" or " I get frustrated when trying to teach my child to read" ,  then these are common questions and to help us answer this, we're going to...

Are you struggling to teach your child to read? Do you feel like you've tried everything but your child still can't seem to grasp it, and you're already feeling frustrated and you're wondering if you're failing?   As a parent, I wanted to know you are not failing. Instead, listen to this episode with Reading Intervention specialist teacher Tasha Mendoza. We'll discuss...

Are you worried about when and how your child will learn to read? Maybe you have a toddler or a three-year-old, and you wonder what you should be doing so your child is ready for reading. There’s also a lot of pressure about learning to read, especially when people compare one child with another. Maybe in one classroom there may be some kids who are already reading whole words, while others are ba...

The sink is piled high with dishes. You can't see the living room sofa anymore because it's covered by dirty laundry. Toys are scattered all over the floor and you've tripped on a toy at some point. You're feeling stressed just looking at the clutter. I know what that feels like because I've never been a naturally organized person. That's why today, I'm happy to...

How do I get my child to stop kicking or hitting? How can I get my child to stop whining? How do I get my kids to listen to me when I get them to do something? As a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, these are among the most common questions I get.  In this 2-part series, you'll discover the 6 steps to calmer and more joyful parenting.  Be sure to grab hold of these wonderful resource...

At any one time, we're always bombarded with conflicting advice about parenting. On one hand, we hear things like, "Your child shouldn't hear the word no!" Or, "You shouldn't give any consequences!" On the other hand, we hear, "Unless you spank your kids, they'll grow up to be spoiled and naughty!" No wonder, as parents, it can feel like whatever w...

Is my child's development on track? My 18-month-old can't say any words yet, not even mama. Is this normal? These are among the most common questions I get. If you have an 18-month-old, you may be wondering about this too.  In this episode, we talk about what 18-month-old toddlers should be able to do. We based this on the 2022 updated developmental milestones. Be sure to grab hold of th...

When we think of what a two-year-old should know, many parents worry about whether or not their kids have memorized the alphabet, or whether they can count up to 20.  If this is stressing you out, I have good news for you. Academic skills like letters and numbers are not a priority for this age!  In this episode, we talk about what 2-year-olds should be learning. We based this on the list of devel...

What should my three-year-old be able to do? As a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, this is one of the most common questions I get.  You'll love this podcast episode, where we discover what skills we look for in three-year-old kids. This is based on the list of developmental milestones updated in 2022.  Don't miss out on these awesome resources: our FREE Discerning Parenting Too...

Adverse childhood experiences include experiences such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or violence. Children who experience ACEs may struggle with their emotions, cognitive development, behavior, and physical health. These effects can be long-lasting, and it's essential to recognize the impact of ACEs on us as parents and our children. To learn more ab...

"I'm exhausted. I feel completely burned out." "I haven't had a break in so long. I'm doing everything for my family. And with all that I'm doing, I still get criticized and it's never enough." "I am very, very tired. I don't know what to do or whom to talk to." I hear statements like these all the time from moms. That's why in this...

How can I get my child ready for kindergarten? Should I be doing flash cards with my two-year-old? My three-year-old and I end up fighting when I try to get her to do worksheets! As a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, these are just some of the questions I often get. Many parents are worried that their kids might not have the skills they need to keep up in school. I talk about preschool r...

As busy moms, we really Don't. Have. Time. for an exercise routine! But at the back of our minds, we know that we need to stay healthy. This episode's guest is Dr. Rachel Pope, a doctor of physical therapy, runner, and mom of three. She specializes in helping moms get back into shape after having a baby. And this doesn't just mean in the first few months after giving birth! Even if...

"I'm about to start solid food for my baby - what food should I give?" There's a lot of stress and confusion about this. "I'm trying to do baby-led weaning, but my baby kept gagging so I stopped. I fed my baby a puree. I feel so guilty. I'm a bad mom." And then these guilt-ridden moms receive advice like, "It's good if baby gags! Ignore your mom in...

Is your child ready to be potty trained? Do we even need to wait for readiness, or can anyone really potty train at any time and have it over and done with in 30 days or less? Here, you’ll hear from trusted developmental pediatricians Dr. Janys Lim from Ontario, Canada, and Dr. Jack Herrin from Manila, Philippines.  We'll tackle questions such as: Is there one right way to potty train (like m...

Do your toddler’s kicks or hits have you questioning if it’s more than just the "terrible two's"? One of the most common questions I get asked is “When should I worry about my toddler's aggressive behavior?” And if that's your question, we've got you covered today because I've invited two trusted developmental and behavioral pediatricians to join us. BY THE TIME...

Have you ever followed what you thought was good parenting and common sense, only to see later on an Instagram post saying it's wrong? And then felt worried or guilty about it? Every day, I hear questions from concerned parents who are lost in the noise just like you. From sleep schedules to baby-led weaning to programs that promise a potty-trained tot in just 3 days - I've met many moms...