Phases - A Parenting podcast with Dr Courtney

Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, discuss the reasons why it's important for parents to build in time for each other in the thick of parenting. They talk about: Why relationships often take a back seat when parenting. Why your relationship matters for your child's development. Signs your relationship may need some attention. Easy, practical ways to stay connected to each other.  Action...

In this Q&A episode, Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, will tackle your biggest parenting challenges at home. We cover: Tips for raising resilient and well rounded kids.  How to navigate sensory overwhelm. Managing challenging behavior with toddlers. Parenting advice for the newborn phase. How to set your child up for success when switching between 'fun' and 'less-fun' activities....

In this episode, Dr. Courtney and her husband, Scott, unpack common behaviors that kids may show at all developmental phases and determine what is "normal" and what's not. We talk about the ways that parents often misinterpret these behaviors, how to reframe your expectations and when to get support if needed. Topics discussed include:  Is it normal when your little kids don't listen to you?  Is i...

Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, share their top tips that make traveling with kids a breeze. Whether you're going on an overseas trip or staying close to home, these tips will help to make summer travel easier and more fun for your family.  Why summer travel can go wrong, but also why it's still amazing and we do it anyway! How to prep and plan with your kids even before the vacation...

Dr. Courtney and her husband, Scott, talk about six incredible tools that you can make for your kids in minutes. These tips are not your standard AI slop. They are all created with your unique family's needs in mind - either to use your child's imagination and creativity, to promote structure or communication in your family, or to enhance your child's confidence. We discuss prompts that you can ea...

Dr. Courtney and her husband, Scott, discuss how to create a summer that is both intentional and fun for your family. They discuss: Why summer can be so disregulating for families.  How to structure your summer to provide a sense of balance and joy.  The reason why siblings fight more during the summer and what to do about it.  Juggling work and having kids at home.  Becoming intentional about you...

Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, talk all things family game night. They discuss: How games are legitimate learning tools to foster cognitive, academic, executive functioning and social skills.  The sense of structure and routine for your family that game nights provide, all while building connection.  Game ideas for all different phases of development - preschool through adolescence....

We're discussing the October 2025 article by The Cut, titled "Do Deeply Feeling Kids Really Exist?" This article challenges Dr. Becky Kennedy's concept of a 'Deeply Feeling Kid,' citing that many parents who subscribed to this community ended up missing that their child was neurodivergent. We get into: What is a Deeply Feeling Kid?  The concept of a Highly Sensitive Child, which was first introduc...

In this episode, Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott Tolinski, talk about the secret to raising confident kids. Topics covered include: The research on confidence among kids and teens. What is confidence and where does it come from. Red flags to look out for as a parent that might indicate low self-confidence.  How your can help as a parent to improve your child's confidence. Have a quest...

In today's episode, Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband Scott tackle what it means to be a 'Good Enough' parent. Topics covered include: Why many parents are feeling so drained right now. Research on 'Good Enough' parenting from Donald Winnicott.  What Good Enough parenting actually looks like.  15-Minute parenting resets for the busy season of the end of the school year. Effective parenting hac...

Dr. Courtney Tolinski is answering your top questions about parenting and child development. Topics covered in this episode include: How to talk to your child about their neurodivergent brain, including whether you should use "labels" and your own experiences to help them understand.  Navigating what to do when your child and their friend (or siblings) have a conflict at your house.  Helping presc...

Have a question for the Courtney? Submit it at: phases.fm/questions Q&A episodes are coming! Dr. Courtney and Scott talk about the surprising ways that anxiety might show up in your child. They discuss: What anxiety looks like in kids (and how it's different from adults). The worry cycle that kids often get stuck in and how to recognize it. How parents often respond to worry in ways that may m...

Have a question for the Courtney? Submit it at: phases.fm/questions Q&A episodes are coming! Courtney and Scott talk about what self care actually looks like when you’re parenting and already stretched thin. They talk about why self-care isn’t selfish (it’s how you stay regulated enough to show up), how it changes depending on what phase your kid is in, and how to find small pockets of time wh...

You've noticed the signs. Now what? In part two of this series, Courtney and Scott break down the actual steps you can take when you suspect your child has a learning disability. Who to call first, what to ask for, what evaluations look like, and what rights you have as a parent (more than you probably think). In this episode: Where to start when you suspect a learning disability The difference be...

Something feels off with your kid at school but you're not sure if you're overreacting or if it's something real. In this episode, Courtney and Scott walk through what to look for when your gut is telling you something more is going on. From the early signs at every age to understanding the difference between a developmental delay and a learning disability, this is the conversation most parents ne...

Praise effort, not talent. Research shows how you talk to your kids about failure shapes their entire mindset. Dr. Courtney breaks down 25+ years of Carol Dweck's research and what parents can actually do differently — from preschool through high school. In this episode: What growth vs. fixed mindset really means (and what it doesn't) The 1998 study that changed how we think about praise Why your...

Have a question for the Courtney? Submit it at: phases.fm/questions Q&A episodes are coming! If traditional parenting advice isn't landing with your kid, you're not alone — and you're not doing it wrong. In this episode, Courtney and Scott break down five practical, science-backed strategies for parenting a child with ADHD. These aren't about fixing your child — they're about working with how...

❓ Got a question for the doctor? Submit it at: phases.fm/questions Q&A episodes are coming! In the very first episode of Phases, Dr. Courtney Tolinski, a licensed clinical and educational psychologist with over 15 years working with families, sits down with her husband Scott to share their top 10 parenting tips for 2026. Grounded in child development, emotional regulation, and attachment theo...

Welcome to Phases We're Courtney and Scott — a married couple diving into the messy, beautiful, ever-changing world of raising kids and growing up alongside them. Courtney brings her PhD in educational psychology. Scott brings… questions (and experience co-hosting Syntax.fm ). Together, we're exploring family psychology, human development, and parenting — judgment-free. What to Expect Real convers...