On The Ground Parenting

Welcome back to Episode 34 of On the Ground Parenting ! After a short break to recalibrate, hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly are back to celebrate the shifting season. In our corner of the world, the snow is receding, the birds are returning, and it is finally time to tap the trees. This session explores how to embrace the rejuvenation of spring without breaking the bank. From creative Easter egg hun...

Welcome to the season finale— Episode 33 —of On the Ground Parenting ! In this very special episode, hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly take a deep dive into a parenting "bible" that has stood the test of time: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. Whether you first encountered this program on a CD in your car or saw summaries taped to a bathroo...

Welcome to Episode 32 of On the Ground Parenting ! In this session, hosts Sandy and Kelly (wishing a speedy recovery to Sam ) shift their focus inward. After several discussions on outward relationships and friendships, the team explores how taking care of ourselves is the first step toward taking care of our relationships with others. Sandy leads Kelly through a guided mindfulness practice known...

In This Episode: Conflict, Resilience, and Tattling Welcome to Episode 31 of On the Ground Parenting ! In this session, hosts Sandy and Kelly (with Sam out sick) pull back the curtain on the more challenging side of relationships. From children facing "B-list" status on the weekend to the sting of teenage exclusion, the team explores how parents can support their kids through the inevitable disapp...

Hey there, and welcome to Episode 30 of On the Ground Parenting ! February's here, and hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly are diving into that "big day" we all know—Valentine's Day. It's the one that can make you either pumped or just plain cringe . Seriously, the marketing machine often pushes this whole "black hole" of over-the-top spending and totally fake expectations. But the team is chatting abou...

Welcome to Episode 29 of On the Ground Parenting ! As we move through the winter and launch into February, hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly are starting a new series titled: What is the Heart of Your Parenting Approach? . This first session dives into the essential qualities of friendship and how our own adult relationships serve as the primary model for our children. The team explores what makes a "...

Welcome to Episode 28 of On the Ground Parenting ! Hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly take a trip down memory lane to discuss the beautiful, exhausting, and often overwhelming reality of bringing a new baby home. Whether you are currently expecting, holding a newborn, or reflecting on your grown children, this episode dives into the "on the ground" truths of those early days. The team shares their pers...

Welcome to Episode 27 of On the Ground Parenting ! In honor of Family Literacy Day on January 27th, hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly are diving into this year's theme: Make Mealtime Family Learning Time . While we often think of literacy as just reading books, the team explores how the kitchen is actually a rich environment for measuring, following instructions, and expanding vocabulary. The hosts ge...

In Episode 26 , the Parent Ed team at Muskoka Family Focus discusses the reality of surviving the daily "dirt" of parenting, whether you are dealing with a screaming infant or a toddler exploring the knife drawer. The hosts emphasize that while the internet is full of information, finding reputable and ethical support is the key to moving from simply reacting to thoughtfully responding to your chi...

Welcome to Episode 25 of On the Ground Parenting and a very happy 2026 ! Hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly launch into the new year not with rigid resolutions, but with deep reflection and specific intentions. This episode provides a roadmap for listeners to navigate the fresh start of a new calendar year by examining what they carry with them and what they choose to leave behind. The team shares a se...

Welcome to Episode 24 of On the Ground Parenting! As we stand on the cusp of a brand new year, hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly gather to bid farewell to 2025 and look ahead to 2026. Instead of rigid resolutions that often lead to a sense of failure, the team explores the power of setting intentions and aspirations that allow for progress without the pressure of perfection. The episode is filled with l...

Welcome to Episode 23 of On the Ground Parenting! Hosts Sandy, Sam, Kelly, and Justin (with a special guest appearance by our engineer, James) dive into the world of indoor and outdoor games. As families prepare for intense periods of togetherness over the holidays, the team explores how to use games to build connection rather than conflict. The conversation begins with a focus on cooperative boar...

Welcome to Episode 22 of On the Ground Parenting! Hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly are joined by special guest Russ Clayton, a recently retired elementary school teacher, children's musician, and community theater performer known during the holiday season as Santa Sings For You! Russ shares his unique journey from children's singer to kindergarten teacher, explaining how early musical performances shap...

Join hosts Sandy, Sam, Kelly, and Justin for Episode 21 of On the Ground Parenting as they tackle the holiday season's challenge: navigating gift-giving to minimize "toy clutter" and focus on intentional, meaningful exchanges. We share experiences with the chaos and joy that holiday gifts bring: The Struggle with Noise and Space: A common theme is the "havoc" created by well-meaning relatives who...

Welcome back to On the Ground Parenting for Episode 20! Cookie recipes from the show are here on Google Docs to share and make! Hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly continue their holiday discussion, focusing this week on the cherished traditions of holiday baking, cooking, and sharing recipes. They explore how these food-centric activities serve as a powerful way to build connection and meaning during the...

Welcome back to On the Ground Parenting for Episode 19! Hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly conclude their two-part discussion on navigating the stress, expense, and commercialism of the holiday season. The conversation shifts from what traditions to let go of, to what truly brings meaning and value to the family. We talk through the idea that the best gifts are not expensive, but those that make the reci...

Welcome to Episode 18 of On the Ground Parenting ! Hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly kick off the holiday season discussion by tackling the mounting pressure and commercialism surrounding Christmas and other seasonal celebrations. The hosts explore where holiday pressure comes from: often self-imposed or rooted in a parent's own childhood experience. and offer strategies for letting go of traditions t...

Welcome to Episode 17 of On the Ground Parenting ! This week, hosts Sandy , Sam , and Kelly dive into a topic many parents grapple with: profanity , or "four-letter words". The conversation explores the challenges of kids testing out "bad words", handling public outbursts, and the power of connection when navigating big emotions. The hosts share personal, often hilarious, stories: Sam discusses he...

Welcome to Episode 16 , the powerful conclusion of our special series with the acclaimed Adlerian psychologist, Alyson Schafer ! This week, hosts Sandy Inkster and Samantha Ennest-Wallis finalize their deep dive into Family Meetings and the principles of Firm and Friendly parenting. The discussion focuses on key strategies for managing a relationship with a busy, growing child or young adult. Alys...

Welcome to Episode 15 of On the Ground Parenting , and the third part of our special series with international best-selling author and Adlerian psychologist, Alyson Schafer ! This week, hosts Sandy and Sam dive deep into one of the core concepts of Adlerian parenting: the Family Meeting . Alyson stresses that the family meeting is a necessary platform for family democracy . It's a structured way t...

Welcome to Episode 14 of On the Ground Parenting , the second part of our special series with international best-selling author and Adlerian psychologist, Alyson Schafer ! The conversation picks up where it left off, reinforcing that our children offer us an opportunity for personal growth . Alyson continues to offer insight into the Adlerian framework , challenging the idea that more parenting in...

Welcome to Episode 13 of On the Ground Parenting and the first part of our multi-episode run with our special guest, Alyson Schafer! Alyson is a celebrated family counselor, international author, and expert in Adlerian psychology. The hosts, Sandy Inkster and Samantha Ennest-Wallis, explore the core of effective parenting, challenging the notion that there's "no manual for raising kids".     Alyso...

Welcome to Episode 12 of On the Ground Parenting. This week, host Sandy, Sam and special guest Justin consider the phrase "There's no manual for raising kids". The conversation focuses on different parenting approaches and the essential human practice of making amends when things go wrong. The hosts explore various parenting styles—like authoritarian ("brick wall"), permissive ("jellyfish"), and a...

Welcome to Episode 11 of On the Ground Parenting . This week, host Sandy Inkster and co-host Samantha Ennest-Wallis welcome their first-ever guest, Ken Cole, to discuss the parallels between the autumn season and the parenting journey. Ken, also known in the community as the "Leaf Man," connects the spectacular transitions of fall colors to the "huge" transitions parents face as their children gro...

Sandy, Sam, and exciting guest host Justin explore the joys and challenges of seasonal family gatherings like Thanksgiving. The conversation opens with reflections on the September transition and the different ways each family approaches holiday gatherings, noting that the goal is always "togetherness". The discussion delves into the pressures that can arise during these events, from balancing mul...