Raising OKC Kids – Conversations with MetroFamily

The arts, specifically movement and music, can be so therapeutic and helpful to kids experiencing physical challenges and disabilities. Listen in as Aspiring Attitudes dance studio founder and director, Shannon Writes, as well as board member and long-time volunteer, Sherry Bradshaw, tell us about their unique program to provide dance lessons to all kids, regardless of what challenges or limitatio...

Pediatric urologist Dr. Steven Hodges joins us to talk about bedwetting. Dr. Hodges explains why bedwetting is, and should be treated as, a reflex, not a behavior within a child's control, and can pop up at any age from preschool to the teenage years. He gives us tips on non-shaming scripts for our kids, methods to steer clear of, new techniques to try and when to contact a professional.

Did you know 9 is the average age kids begin to think about alcohol?! Terrence Spain with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shares tips on talking with kids about substance use throughout childhood, what parents need to know about the prevalence of vaping and marijuana in our state and how to support children whose parents are dealing with substance abuse. Plus,...

Jenna Worthen, founder and CEO of the James Martin Company and founder of @ MomWhoWorks  online community, joins us to provide an empowering, refreshing take on how women can redefine what it means to be a working mom in a world without working dads. She shares tips for moms to advocate for themselves in the workplace, creative ways business owners can support working moms, why this is the perfect...

Titania Jordan with Bark Technologies joins us to share strategies to keep kids safe online. Renowned thought leader, author of Parenting in a Tech World and mom, Titania addresses how to effectively monitor kids online, conversations to have across ages and stages about online safety and the realities of cyberbullying.

Lisa Kelley with nonprofit organization Arc of Oklahoma and Rep. Ellyn Hefner with Oklahoma’s District 87 share an update on the challenges facing parents who have children with disabilities here in Oklahoma and how the community can help. They discuss their own journeys as mothers seeking support for their children with disabilities, how the state is making progress and their vision for additiona...

If you’re feeling especially stressed or overwhelmed as a parent, you’re not alone. Katrina Leggins, LCSW, attributes the ongoing uncertainties in our world today to higher parent stress, and she joins us to advise parents on how to identify stress and anxiety, improve our self-talk, give ourselves time to rest and prioritize self-care.

Anne Bogie with Oklahoma Project Woman joins us to share how the nonprofit organization provides access to breast healthcare through partnerships with institutions around Oklahoma. Since the organization's founding in 1998, they have helped more than 69,000 individuals receive free mammograms and more than 900 walk through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with all costs covered. Learn more ab...

Local mom and longtime healthcare professional Farah Antoine-Maybery founded nonprofit For the Village in 2020 to enhance birth outcomes for mothers and babies in the Black community by training and supporting Black birthworkers. Farah addresses how and why systemic racism continues to impact the healthcare industry and how the nonprofit is working to combat statistics that in the U.S. Black babie...

It's American Heart Month -- and the American Heart Association, along with Damar Hamlin, is challenging Oklahomas to get trained in CPR. Steven Embree joins us to share where Oklahomans can receive training (including at Science Museum Oklahoma!). Plus, learn the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attacks (and how to respond), why women are much less likely to receive bystander CPR when...

How should parents handle their child's first crush? How do we help kids navigate dating in a high-tech world that's so different from when we were kids? What do safe, healthy friendships look like in today's world? Brittany Keck with Thrive joins us to answer how parents can teach their kids about safe relationships at every age and stage.

It’s hard enough to get kids an appointment to see their doctor during cold and flu season, and on top of that, there’s the shortage of infant and children’s fever reducer and antibiotics. Grace Mitchell, CPNP, of Saving Grace Pediatrics shares how they are meeting parents where they are to provide support and provides tips to combat the medication shortage.

Whether you are searching for full-time childcare or part-time preschool programs, finding the right early childhood care and education can be a big stress for families in Oklahoma. Join us as we hear from Carri Hicks, senator for Oklahoma District 40 and CEO of Rainbow Fleet, a nonprofit that serves children, families, childcare professionals and communities in central Oklahoma on how they are he...

Did you know the Metropolitan Library System offers take-home family activity kits, a Makerspace Studio with the latest in STEM equipment and tailored reading lists based on your or your child's interests, all FREE to you?! Listen in as Angel Suhrstedt shares in-person and virtual opportunities to learn and grow as a family with the Metropolitan Library System this year as the organization continu...

Resilience expert, author, speaker, mom and multi-award-winning education and psychology instructor Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe joins us to share how to fight today's culture of perfectionism and instead teach our kids to strive for B+s. Author of the book Calm Within The Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency , Dr. Robyne discusses how families can reframe focuses on outcomes and assessments to fost...

Educator, literacy advocate, mother and author Maya Payne Smart joins us to empower parents to inspire our kids to love reading. Her new book, READING FOR OUR LIVES: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six, explores our country’s literacy crisis and explains how parents can proactively give their children early advantages in both reading and life. Smart details strategies for parents with kids fr...

Dr. Helen Hadani and Rachael Katz are authors of the book The Emotionally Intelligent Child, and they join us to talk about strategies for raising self-aware, cooperative and well-balanced kids. We discuss how to build emotional intelligence in ourselves as parents and how to model and teach it to our kids by first better understanding their developmental stages and capabilities. Plus, we gain str...

Mental health has been a trending topic lately, especially as it relates to our new “work/life balance.” Join us as Michael Dickerson, founder of the  Dickerson Consulting Group  and the podcast  The Spillover Effect , talks to us about stigmas around mental health in the workplace, stigmas around mental health in POC communities, stressors and support available for working moms and above all how...

Erin Engelke and Heather Gaglio with local nonprofit Calm Waters Center for Children and Families join us to provide tips, coping strategies and affirmation for families and children experiencing grief during the holiday season. They share effective strategies to acknowledge and help children express their feelings, remember loved ones who have died and support those around us who are grieving.

Local mom and executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs Rachel Holt joins us to talk about what giving back means to her both professionally and personally. She shares recent milestones for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs in expanding prevention services for youth and families as well as expanding therapeutic care for young people requiring secure care treatment. Rachel...

Cléo Nash, the Executive Director of the Independent Shopkeepers Association, as well as Paige Beal, owner of Tulips Home & Gift in Norman, join us to talk about the whirlwind of the pandemic and how local retail is recovering – and even thriving in 2022. Small business is no small feat; according to the US Small Business Association, there are currently 27.9 million small businesses in the US, m...

Did you know shared family meals have a positive impact on our kids mental health, in addition to their physical health? Therapist, author and psychology professor Dr. Anne Fishel shares why family mealtimes are so important as well as how busy families can set reasonable expectations for shared meals. Listen in for easy how-tos to schedule time together, make meal planning and prep easier, encour...

Madison Whitekiller, who holds the title of 2022 Miss Indian Oklahoma, joins us to talk about her platform: guiding Native American youth to discover success through STEM. She discusses her own journey to a STEM field, advice for parents on helping children discover the fun of STEM and the power of representation when kids see people who look like them succeeding in a field they love. Whitekiller...

Local mom and chief of pediatric infectious disease for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health, Dr. Donna Tyungu joins us to discuss the rapidly rising number of children with RSV in the metro. Dr. Tyungu shares the signs and symptoms of RSV parents should be watching for, what age children are most prone to complications from RSV and when parents should call their pediatrician. Most importantl...

This month we are joined by a representative from The Boeing Company to talk about how just a spark of an interest can turn into a life-long passion. Fueling STEAM opportunities for all ages within Oklahoma, Boeing is a leader in innovation and discovery. Listen in to learn how to foster your child's natural skill-set in aeronautics!