The A-Parently Podcast

Camp is fun...right? Right! Of course, it is! But as our guests, Brooke and Jeff Cheley of Cheley Colorado Camps share, there's so much more going on behind the scenes. With their background in wilderness camping and expeditions, combined with their family's deep commitment to getting kids into the wild outdoors, Brooke and Jeff use camp's inherent exposure to nature and community t...

It can be a parent's nightmare. You're in the grocery store, and a person who looks or acts differently than your family walks into view of your child. And before they even ask their cringingly loud, yet innocent question, you know it's going to be an awkward situation. What if it didn't have to be like that? What if our kids were raised with the mindset that difference was som...

As the world changes, so too do the expectations that we have of the next generation. Automation, AI, robots - all things that we know will soon be a dominant presence in some sectors of the workforce. But AI can't empathize with other humans. Robots can't unlearn and re-learn. Automation won't help someone understand why a friend is hurting.21st century skills (Collaboration, Commu...

Whether or not you believe that your child has a future in starting their own business, the spirit of an entrepreneur is something that every child will benefit from having. In her study of over 70 young and thriving entrepreneurs, Margot Bisnow has cracked the code on what families can do to help a child realize their passion, and turn that into a lifetime of confidence, purpose and happiness. Ma...

Does it ever feel like parenting is a constant struggle between making the intentional and competent choices that parenting experts always tell us about and just telling your child what needs to be done because it's faster? As our lives get busier and busier, making connections and slowing down feels like a gargantuan task with no place to start."It doesn't have to be!" says ou...

The sound of your kids arguing. Your child coming home and telling you that they were bullied. Nails on a chalkboard for parents? Absolutely. ANDWhat if this conflict that your kids are experiencing was one of the biggest life-learning opportunities for them? Dr. Brittany Patterson joins the A-Parently Podcast to share her years of research and experience that has developed her "FIGHT skills&...

We expect a lot out of our kids. Don't we? How many of those expectations do we communicate with them? How honest are we about our intentions behind those expectations? What steps do we have in place to help kids rise to those expectations? Andy Shlensky, owner and director of North Star Camp, joins the A-Parently podcast to help unpack the complexities around how expectations, when communica...

"Me do it!" "Let me do it!"Music to your ears, or nails on a chalkboard? As kids grow, so too does their natural desire for independence and autonomy. As a parent, it's one of the biggest balancing acts we face. When, how much, and how often do we let go? How do we know that they're ready? When it comes to big questions like that, Dr. G will remind you first, "yo...

Guiding a child towards kind, respectful and empathetic behavior certainly sounds like a daunting task - especially if you're working with a teenager! Of course, how we facilitate these conversations is important, but, as it turns out, when we have those conversations is just as critical. Dr. G and Travis are joined by Noah Gallagher from Camp Tel Noar to discuss his approach to helping campe...

Are the kids really alright? Well, how can you expect them to be? A global pandemic, online learning, the climate crisis, need we say more? The good news is that combined with Gen Z's embracing of mental health conversations, we have an ever-growing list of tools and resources to help. Dr. Jen Harstein joins Travis and Dr. G to discuss some of these tools as well as how parents and caregivers...

Gabe Chernov, Owner/Director of Birch Trail Camp, joins Dr. G and Travis to share how the summer camp experience has the unique ability to give kids social-emotional & conflict resolution tools through intentional play, conflict resolution and with the supervision of caring counsellors. Here's the secret - families can continue this growth at home. Tune in to this episode to hear how Gabe...

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson joins the show to share how the simple act of "showing up" in the emotional moments of your child's life gives them a foundation of "safe, seen & soothed" on which their sense of "security" will rest on. With Tina's advice, we can turn our interactions with our kids, especially the more emotional ones, into opportunities that allow...

Steve Baskin from Camp Champions joins the show to share how summer camps (and families!) can raise children who are ready to face this difficult world with grace and resiliency. Tune in to hear how parents can use the everyday practices and rituals of Camp Champions to turn this vital learning into a year-round experience.-Steve has been actively involved with the American Camp Association chairi...

Dr. Brian Primack joins the Podcast to share his insights and best practices when it comes to helping children develop a healthy relationship with social media. Brian shares how his model, "The Social Media Pyramid" gives families a framework for cultivating a fruitful, balanced relationship with social media for their kids (and for themselves!). He offers practical strategies, positive...

Want a confident kid? Send them to camp - AND - use some of these tips from legendary Camp Director, Andy Pritikin of Liberty Lake Day Camp! Andy shares how, by trusting the resiliency and confidence of a child and giving them a push in the right direction, we allow them to find their true passions and overcome the physical and social deconditioning brought on by the pandemic. This episode is full...