Legit Parenting

Send us Fan Mail Your kid’s phone is not just a tool. It is a behavior-shaping machine built to hold attention, harvest data, and keep the scroll going long past “just a few minutes.” We take a clear-eyed look at how today’s culture collides with child and teen brain development, and why so many families feel like the rules that worked a decade ago suddenly do not work at all. Craig connects the d...

Send us Fan Mail A 10-second post can go viral and still vanish from your memory. A well-told story can stick for decades and it can shape the way your child sees themselves. We sit down with professional storyteller and Moth host Corey Rosen to talk about how family storytelling builds connection, empathy, and the kind of resilience kids can lean on when life gets messy.  Corey shares improv-base...

Send us Fan Mail We contrast the emotional highs of the Winter Olympics with the realities of youth sports in America and lay out a saner, joy-first path for families. From Norway’s fun-centered playbook to U.S. pressure, costs, and injuries, we share stories that restore perspective and practical steps that protect your kid’s love of sport.

Send us Fan Mail What if the moments that make us cry at sports aren’t about the scoreboard at all, but about who we become when the clock is still running? We dive into a week of winter sports that felt like a lifetime: the stark courage of a legend risking one more run, a young skier laying down his poles to grieve, and a master technician turning anxiety into a gold-medal rhythm.

Send us Fan Mail Ever wish there were a clearer line between typical teen chaos and true cause for concern? We dive into the messy middle with a brain-based roadmap parents can actually use, breaking down how impulse control, temperament, and empathy shape risk long before a crisis knocks on the door.  Online and offline risks collide in today’s world, so we take a hard look at obsessive content,...

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 of a series where we ask, Is My Child Okay?  We look at whether kids are actually okay by pairing brain development with today’s digital environment. Though progress markers offer hope we level with you about risk, influence, and what “normal” really looks like in today's changing world.  Please share with a friend. Remember, you just have to be good enough as a parent...

Send us Fan Mail What if the smallest pause could change the story you tell about your life?   n this episode, Craig shares three powerful moments where beauty emerged from unexpected places: spontaneous phone calls to celebrate struggling students, a tattered 9/11 flag that united the world at the 2002 Olympics, and carrying meaning through loss.    These stories reveal that our most broken place...

Send us Fan Mail The Ripple of a Child's Kindness: How Riley's Gentle Ways Continue to Shake the World In this deeply moving episode, Craig sits down with Ziggy and Megan Gutensberger, founders of Riley's Ark, to share the profound story of their daughter Riley - a 12-year-old girl whose gentle acts of kindness created ripples that continue long after a tragic accident took her life...

Send us Fan Mail Remember when your imagination had no limits? When a cardboard box became a spaceship and a backyard was an unexplored jungle? As we grow up, that magical part of our brain often takes a backseat to our logical, organized prefrontal cortex—but what if reconnecting with play could make us better parents and happier people? In this fascinating conversation, we're joined by Jeff...

Send us Fan Mail In a World of Noise, Beauty Still Speaks "The universe provides us lures to beauty... if we pause long enough to notice." When was the last time something moved you to tears? Not from sadness, but from experiencing the pure, unexpected beauty we are surrounded by?  Raised in Missouri, I saw my sensitivity as a weakness. Embarrassed by a deep empathy and tears that came e...

Send us Fan Mail The modern digital world has influenced childhood in ways we could have never imagined. The days are gone when our biggest parental worry is a skinned knee or missed curfew. Today, our kids navigate a virtual world filled with sophisticated predators, AI-powered deception, and platforms designed to exploit their developing brains. Craig Knippenberg has spent decades helping famili...

Send us Fan Mail Craig shares the deeply personal story of his 98-year-old mother's final days and the powerful lessons her passing taught him about the true essence of parenting legacy. Through tender moments of feeding his mother her favorite St. Louis treats and witnessing what remained in her mind despite dementia, Craig reflects on how parents' love and values soak into children ove...

Send us Fan Mail When children struggle academically, the path forward can feel overwhelming for parents. This episode delves deep into the world of neuroexceptional students – those with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other learning differences – with education specialist Abby Belasco, founder of Can Do Learners. Abby's journey from a struggling student with learn...

Send us Fan Mail Trust has transformed for today's teenagers, with location sharing apps becoming a prerequisite for dating and relationship privacy increasingly sacrificed in the name of security. • Location tracking apps like Life360 and Find My iPhone are now considered the first step in teen dating relationships • Parents began the surveillance trend with driving monitors and smartphone t...

Send us Fan Mail Teachers are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress with mental health at a 50-year low and only 42% feeling their job is worth it, yet they continue showing up for students despite declining academic achievement nationwide. • America's Education Report Card shows most 4th and 8th graders still performing below pre-pandemic levels in reading and math • COVID severely imp...

Send us Fan Mail Games create powerful connections with children and teens, allowing them to open up about emotions in ways direct conversation often can't achieve. They offer a natural setting for learning crucial life skills while having fun. • Board games, card games, and active games all provide opportunities for emotional growth • Children are more relaxed and open during play, making it...

Send us Fan Mail Danish families are consistently ranked as the happiest in the world, but is it their parenting philosophy or something else? We unpack the reality behind Danish parenting success  and  discover what American parents can actually learn from the Danish way, even without the safety net. A fresh look at what it probably takes to raise the happiest kids in today's world

Send us Fan Mail In this touching two-part series, Craig shares the impactful and profound life lessons he has learned from his 98 year old mom. Craig shares a heart felt tribute that reflects on the small yet meaningful moments that shaped his childhood and the wisdom his mother imparted on him through both her words and actions. From teaching the importance of family dinners and structure, to de...

Send us Fan Mail In this touching two-part series, Craig shares the impactful and profound life lessons he has learned from his 98 year old mom. Craig shares a heart felt tribute that reflects on the small yet meaningful moments that shaped his childhood and the wisdom his mother imparted on him through both her words and actions. From teaching the importance of family dinners and structure, to de...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to college admissions, we challenge the conventional wisdom that prestigious universities are the golden ticket to success and happiness. Reflecting on scandals like Rick Singer's deceitful manipulation of the system, we examine the intense pressure and ethical dilemmas that students and families face. The episode also touches upon the booming industry of colleg...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt a pang of anxiety as your teenager prepares to transition into college life? You're not alone. This episode of Legit Parenting takes you on a heartfelt journey through the emotional rollercoaster parents experience as their children step into independence. We unravel the complexities of modern parenting, where smaller family sizes and constant connectivity...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the transformative power of independence in childhood as we sit down with Dr. Camilo Ortiz, a leading expert in clinical psychology. Dr. Ortiz shares his innovative independence therapy, which is revolutionizing the way we address child anxiety by integrating meaningful, self-guided experiences reminiscent of past generations. He offers a refreshing, client-centered appro...

Send us Fan Mail Our special guest, Mary Judy, brings her vast experience as an advocate for neurodiverse families to the table. Mary Judy shares her compelling journey and the challenges her son faced despite his academic success. She discusses the importance of creating individualized support teams for those who may not outwardly appear neurodiverse but still require assistance. Mary Judy's...

Send us Fan Mail We're thrilled to have Karleen Savage author of The Confident Teen Blueprint, and a veteran in parenting and conflict resolution, share her wisdom on establishing core principles like unconditional love, respect, and consistency. Karleen emphasizes the importance of parents understanding their own beliefs to raise confident and respectful children. We also introduce the &quot...

Send us Fan Mail What if understanding your child's brain could transform your parenting approach? Join us in this episode of Legit Parenting as seasoned child and family therapist Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div and special guest Dr. Robin McEvoy, a developmental neuropsychologist, joins us to shed light on the identification and management of learning disabilities and developmental challenge...