Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

Dr. Leah Clionsky
  • 5.0 (44)
  • Parenting

You’re doing everything you can to be a great parent. You’ve read the books, followed the mommy bloggers, asked your friends—yet somehow, parenting still feels overwhelming. One person says one thing, another says the opposite, and now you’re wondering if you’re ruining your child. It’s not you. It’s the endless, conflicting advice that’s making parenting more stressful than it needs to be. I’m Dr. Leah Clionsky, a licensed parenting psychologist, child development expert, and real-life mom of two. As the owner of Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts, I’ve spent over 15 years helping parents raise emotionally healthy children with evidence-based parenting strategies. And now, I’m bringing that expertise—and my network of trusted parenting experts—straight to you. Welcome to Educated Parent, the podcast that gives you real answers to everyday parenting dilemmas. No guilt. No guesswork. Just expert-backed parenting tips to help you feel confident in raising emotionally healthy, thriving kids. If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and just want to know what actually works, you’re in the right place. It’s time to ditch the stress and step into confident parenting—together. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/thrivingchildcenter PCIT Experts → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/pcit-experts Instagram → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/instagram Want more parenting tips? Join our newsletter for expert advice straight to your inbox! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/newsletter Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/provider-newsletter

  1. 19h ago

    How to Back Down When You’re the One Escalating the Conflict

    Have you ever snapped at your child, gotten upset with their reaction, and then realized you were the one who started the conflict? Even child psychologists make parenting mistakes, and I recently had one of those moments with my seven-year-old daughter. In this episode of Educated Parent, I'm sharing what happened when my frustration over a missing phone turned into an unnecessary argument. We'll explore how to apologize to your child, why taking responsibility matters, and how better communication with children can help repair a difficult moment. In this episode, we cover: How to recognize when your own frustration is behind your child's behaviorThe difference between holding a fair boundary and making parenting mistakes that escalate conflictHow to apologize to your child without expecting an apology in returnWhy taking responsibility teaches kids how to repair relationshipsThree steps to reset an argument and improve communication with children We can't avoid every disagreement, but we can show our kids how to recover from one. parenting mistakes become opportunities for growth when we practice taking responsibility, model healthy communication with children, and learn how to apologize to your child in a way that rebuilds connection. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!

    How to Back Down When You’re the One Escalating the Conflict

  2. Oct 20

    How to Make Leaving the House Less of a Battle with Daniel Katz, Psy.D.

    Getting your kids out the door shouldn't feel like an Olympic event! But between missing shoes, endless distractions, and constant reminders, even a simple morning routine for kids can turn into a battle. In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist Daniel Katz, Psy.D., to explore why child behavior makes everyday transitions challenging and how communication with children can help. We share morning routine for kids that builds executive functioning skills, encourages independence, and makes getting ready less stressful. In this episode, we cover: Why a morning routine for kids can be so difficult when children are still developing planning and organizational skillsHow understanding child behavior helps parents recognize what's behind delays and resistanceSimple positive parenting techniques that help kids stay focused without constant remindersHow narrating your thoughts strengthens communication with children and teaches kids to think through everyday tasksWhy involving kids in problem-solving can make a morning routine for kids more cooperative The goal isn't to eliminate every distraction or struggle. It's to understand child behavior and use positive parenting techniques that teach skills rather than simply demand cooperation. With better communication with children, getting out the door can become less of a battle and more of a team effort. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here! CONNECT WITH DANIEL KATZ: Website Instagram Facebook TikTok

    How to Make Leaving the House Less of a Battle with Daniel Katz, Psy.D.

  3. Oct 13

    Why Instagram Is the Scariest Place for Parents and How to Know Who to Trust

    Have you ever opened Instagram after your kids go to bed and suddenly found yourself wondering if everything you're doing as a parent is wrong? One reel tells you the phrase you should never say to your child. Another warns that something seemingly harmless could damage your relationship forever. Before you know it, your parenting anxiety is through the roof, the mom guilt has kicked in, and you're second-guessing decisions you felt perfectly fine about 10 minutes ago. In this episode, I'm talking about parenting and social media, specifically why so much parenting content online feels terrifying. As a child psychologist and a parent, I see how fear-based advice affects families, and I've even felt that anxiety myself. So, I'm sharing a framework for separating genuinely helpful information from content that's designed to scare you, sell to you, or convince you there's one magic formula for effective parenting. In this episode, I cover: How parenting anxiety can make us especially vulnerable to advice that promises one simple solutionWhy mom guilt can skyrocket when we're constantly told that one wrong phrase or decision could damage our childrenWhy nuance matters when evaluating advice about effective parenting, and why “always do this” or “never say that” should make you cautiousWhy navigating parenting and social media requires becoming a more cautious consumer, even when the person you're watching seems to understand your exact struggle If Instagram leaves you feeling like you're failing your kids, remember that feeling anxious doesn't mean the content you're consuming is accurate. Good advice should help you understand your child and make thoughtful decisions, not send your parenting anxiety spiraling or pile on more mom guilt. There isn't one perfect phrase or magic formula for effective parenting. Real children, real families, and real relationships are much more nuanced than that. And when it comes to parenting and social media, you are allowed to question what you're seeing, look at who's giving the advice, and decide that some content simply isn't worth consuming. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!

    Why Instagram Is the Scariest Place for Parents and How to Know Who to Trust

  4. Oct 6

    How to Find a New School for Your Child: With Julie Blumberg and Dee Dee Halpin

    Realizing your child may need a new school can feel incredibly overwhelming. Where do you even start? How many schools should you consider? And how do you know whether a school that sounds great on paper will actually be the right fit for your child? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Blumberg and Dee Dee Halpin of Houston School Options to break down how to choose a school for your child without getting lost in all the possibilities. We talk about changing schools, what parents should look for during a school search, and why the right school environment can have such a significant impact on a child’s happiness, confidence, and life at home. This is one of those parenting resources that brings together parenting and education in a really practical way. In this episode, we cover: How Julie Blumberg and Dee Dee Halpin recommend beginning your search, including researching schools, talking to other families, and exploring different educational approachesWhy figuring out how to choose a school for your child requires looking beyond what worked for your friend’s child or what people recommend in a Facebook groupWhy changing schools can affect much more than academics, especially when a child’s current environment is affecting confidence, behavior, or happiness at homeWhy applications, testing, interviews, tours, and deadlines can make parenting and education decisions feel like a second jobWhy some of the best parenting resources provide an outside perspective when emotions make it difficult to evaluate your options objectively If you’re considering changing schools, start exploring before you feel like you’re in a crisis. Julie Blumberg and Dee Dee Halpin remind us that learning how to choose a school for your child is about understanding your individual child and family, exploring what’s actually available, and tuning out some of the outside noise. When it comes to parenting and education, having trustworthy parenting resources and a clear process can make an overwhelming decision feel much more manageable. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here! CONNECT WITH JULIE AND DEE DEE: Website Instagram Facebook

    How to Find a New School for Your Child: With Julie Blumberg and Dee Dee Halpin

  5. Sep 29

    How to Prevent Meltdowns on Your Next Family Outing

    Have you ever planned a fun family outing only to spend the entire time dealing with whining, disappointment, tantrums, and meltdowns? You get home exhausted and wonder, “Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?” In this episode of Educated Parent, I’m sharing one of my favorite positive parenting techniques for making family outings go more smoothly: talk about expectations before you leave. So much of challenging child behavior comes from a simple disconnect between what we think is going to happen and what our kids have already imagined will happen. A little communication with children ahead of time can prevent a lot of frustration once you’re actually there. In this episode, I cover: Why unexpected disappointment can help explain how to deal with tantrums before they even beginWhy good communication with children doesn’t mean giving kids everything they wantHow setting expectations in advance is one of the simplest positive parenting techniques for helping kids handle hearing “no”How consistency affects child behavior, including why giving in after you’ve already said no can lead to bigger tantrums next timeWhy understanding how to deal with tantrums also means following through on the expectations you’ve set If you’re wondering how to deal with tantrums without avoiding fun family experiences altogether, start by getting everyone on the same page before you go. Clear communication with children, realistic expectations, and consistent follow-through are positive parenting techniques that can build trust while helping you respond to challenging child behavior with more confidence. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!

    How to Prevent Meltdowns on Your Next Family Outing

  6. Sep 22

    “He’s So OCD” - When Should Parents Be Concerned? with Dr. Chad Brandt

    We hear people say things like, “He’s so OCD” or “I’m so OCD” all the time. But what does OCD actually look like in a child? And how can you tell when your child simply likes things a certain way versus when their behavior might be driven by something more serious? In this episode of Educated Parent, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Chad Brandt, who specializes in treating severe OCD in children and adolescents. Dr. Brandt is trained in the Bergen four-day treatment for OCD and has been providing full-day intensive treatment since 2020. We talk about how ordinary routines and repetitive behavior can differ from OCD, the warning signs parents should pay attention to, and why understanding parenting and child development can help us avoid both over-pathologizing normal behavior and overlooking a child who needs support. It’s exactly the kind of nuanced conversation I want more parenting podcasts to have. In this episode, we cover: What OCD in children actually looks like and how obsessions, compulsions, fear, and interference with daily life fit togetherHow to distinguish normal childhood preferences and repetitive behavior from rituals that are driven by anxiety or fearWhy Dr. Chad Brandt looks at how much time OCD consumes when considering the severity of a child's symptomsHow letting children experience manageable discomfort instead of immediately fixing it connects parenting and child development with building confidence and resilience If you're sorting through repetitive behavior and wondering whether it's simply part of your child's personality or could be OCD in children, this conversation with Dr. Chad Brandt can help you know what to watch for and when to seek an expert evaluation. Among parenting podcasts, I hope Educated Parent can give you the evidence-based information you need to feel more confident navigating parenting and child development when your child is struggling. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: International OCD Foundation Website LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here! CONNECT WITH DR. CHAD BRANDT: Website

    “He’s So OCD” - When Should Parents Be Concerned? with Dr. Chad Brandt

  7. Sep 15

    Feeling Touched Out? It’s Okay to Set Limits with Your Kids

    Have you ever felt completely touched out by the end of the day, but guilty for wanting your child to just stop touching you? I want you to know that needing physical space doesn't make you a bad parent, and setting limits around your body isn't harmful to your child. In this episode of Educated Parent, I'm talking about why parenting boundaries around physical touch are not only okay, but important for our kids to learn. I'll explain why I don't believe children need unlimited access to our bodies in order to regulate, how setting limits teaches bodily autonomy and consent, and why respectful parenting means that your comfort and safety matter, too. I'm also sharing practical parenting tips you can use when your child climbs on you, pulls your hair, jumps on you, or keeps touching you after you've had enough. In this episode, I cover: Why being touched out is a valid reason to set limits around how and when your child touches youHow parenting boundaries teach your child about bodily autonomy, consent, personal space, and respecting other people's bodiesHow respectful parenting includes modeling that everyone, including parents, gets to decide how their body is touchedMy practical parenting tips for clearly explaining a boundary, offering your child an alternative, following through when they ignore the limit, and praising them when they respect itHow setting limits when you're touched out can help your child learn other ways to regulate instead of always relying on another person's bodyWhy practicing parenting boundaries at home can help kids understand personal space and physical safety with friends, teachers, and other people You don't have to sacrifice your own physical comfort to be a loving parent. These parenting tips are about using respectful parenting to teach your child that their body matters, other people's bodies matter, and everyone deserves to have their boundaries respected. So if you're feeling touched out, remember that setting clear parenting boundaries can be good for you, good for your child, and good for your relationship. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!

    Feeling Touched Out? It’s Okay to Set Limits with Your Kids

  8. Sep 8

    How To Get Your Kid to Actually Try a Vegetable Tonight (with Jennifer Anderson From Kids Eat in Color)

    Getting your child to eat vegetables can turn dinner into a nightly power struggle. You serve the broccoli, carrots, or cauliflower; your child refuses, and suddenly you're negotiating over every bite. If you've ever wondered how to get kids to eat vegetables without making everyone miserable, registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color has a surprisingly simple approach. In this episode of Educated Parent, I talk with Jennifer about taking the pressure, guilt, and morality out of feeding kids. We discuss why picky eaters often become even more resistant when they sense pressure, what healthy eating for kids can look like without forcing bites, and practical parenting tips that can make dinner feel more relaxed and connected. In this episode, you'll learn: Why learning how to get kids to eat vegetables starts with letting go of the idea that your success as a parent depends on what your child eatsWhy telling picky eaters they "have to try it" can actually make them more resistant to unfamiliar foodsWhy modeling the behavior you want is one of the simplest parenting tips you can try at dinner tonightWhy laughter, jokes, and connection at the dinner table can support a less stressful approach to healthy eating for kids You don't need another complicated dinner strategy or a new way to convince your child to take "just one bite." Jennifer's approach to how to get kids to eat vegetables is about changing the environment instead of controlling the outcome. These parenting tips can help you take the pressure off picky eaters while building a more positive approach to healthy eating for kids - one toothpick, laugh, and low-pressure meal at a time. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Feed Them Well by Jennifer Anderson LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts Calm and Connected Program Instagram Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week. Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here! CONNECT WITH JENNIFER ANDERSON: Website Instagram TikTok

    How To Get Your Kid to Actually Try a Vegetable Tonight (with Jennifer Anderson From Kids Eat in Color)
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5
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

You’re doing everything you can to be a great parent. You’ve read the books, followed the mommy bloggers, asked your friends—yet somehow, parenting still feels overwhelming. One person says one thing, another says the opposite, and now you’re wondering if you’re ruining your child. It’s not you. It’s the endless, conflicting advice that’s making parenting more stressful than it needs to be. I’m Dr. Leah Clionsky, a licensed parenting psychologist, child development expert, and real-life mom of two. As the owner of Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts, I’ve spent over 15 years helping parents raise emotionally healthy children with evidence-based parenting strategies. And now, I’m bringing that expertise—and my network of trusted parenting experts—straight to you. Welcome to Educated Parent, the podcast that gives you real answers to everyday parenting dilemmas. No guilt. No guesswork. Just expert-backed parenting tips to help you feel confident in raising emotionally healthy, thriving kids. If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and just want to know what actually works, you’re in the right place. It’s time to ditch the stress and step into confident parenting—together. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/thrivingchildcenter PCIT Experts → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/pcit-experts Instagram → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/instagram Want more parenting tips? Join our newsletter for expert advice straight to your inbox! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/newsletter Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/provider-newsletter

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