The Parent Empowerance Podcast

Amara Bradetich
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Welcome to the Parent Empowerance Podcast, where we make early childhood research relatable and actionable for parents. Your host, Amara Bradetich of Parent Empowerance, has her Master’s and PhD in human development and family science (specializing in child development and behavior), is a former preschool teacher and early childhood intervention specialist, and, most importantly, mom to two littles (a 2 and a half year old daughter Natalie and an 8 month old son Liam). Our mission at Parent Empowerance is to help parents of young children, specifically birth to five, feel informed, empowered, and deeply supported. We do this by translating early childhood research into real-life tools for parents of little ones, while grounding our suggestions, action steps, and advice in both relatable lived experience and proven science. Each episode of this podcast will focus on a different topic within child development and most will have 3 main aspects: Summarizing what research says about that topic, Providing real-life examples, experiences, or applications, and Suggesting action steps you can take to apply the research with your own kids. I center my strategies around the idea that parents are the experts of their own children, and I keep the episodes short (15-20 minutes) so you can actually fit listening to them into your week! I know what it’s like to only have a few precious moments to yourself, and I’m glad to be a part of that.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 14: The importance of empathy in young children: How to support it without just telling them to “say sorry”

    Parents are usually quick to say “say sorry” or “give them a hug” when their kid hits/bites/throws/doesn’t share with another child, but these often become ingenuine actions for your child to get out of trouble. This is where empathy comes in! In order to encourage your child’s empathy development, you want to get them thinking! This episode focuses on the importance of empathy for young children and how to support your child’s development of it. This included: Reviewing research on: The components of empathy The importance of empathy in young children How empathy develops in early childhood Providing examples on: How to support empathy in the moment with young children Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Focusing on warm, responsive caregiving Modeling empathy as an adult Labeling any and all emotions and validating your child’s emotions Asking perspective-taking questions Storytelling and books that support empathy/compassion Practicing with pretend play and cooperative play Coregulation! Encouraging and modeling repair Specific encouragement around empathy/compassion Suggesting books: “Today I Feel Silly” by Jamie Lee Curtis “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld “I am Human” by Susan Verde “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña “How to Raise an Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendi Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! If you need more support, download my parent coaching service guide to learn more about how I can help you and your family: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/serviceguide Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    28 min

  2. May 27

    Episode 13: Getting out the door: Understanding and combatting power struggles during transitions and daily routines with young children

    Getting your young children (especially toddlers) out of the house can feel like a monumental task some days. Frustration and impatience are completely normal with the frequent delay tactics or power struggles that come with getting your kids dressed (and getting them to keep their clothes on), doing their hair, eating breakfast, getting shoes on, all the daily tasks. This episode focuses on understanding why power struggles and difficulties during transitions are a normal part of development, as well as on how to prevent or combat them in the moment. This included: Reviewing research on: Why power struggles are a normal part of development in early childhood How parents can exacerbate transition struggles When transitions may be more difficult Providing examples on: How to prevent power struggles Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Give advanced warnings Have predictable routines Make it visual as much as you can Try to give yourself extra time when you can Make it fun or playful as much as you can Provide options during your morning routine and make sure they are acceptable to you either way Connect first! Get on their level, talk calmly and connect with them first before directing them Practice/act out transitions during calm moments Talk to your preschoolers and older toddlers about expectations and what it tells you when they don’t get ready Stay as calm and regulated as YOU can Suggesting books: “No, David!” by David Shannon “I do it!” by Brian Biggs “Mine!” by Candace Fleming “When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry” by Molly Bang “Froggy Gets Dressed” by Frank Remkiewicz “Time to Go, Maisy!” by Lucy Cousins Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    25 min

  3. May 20

    Episode 12: Kindergarten readiness and the decision to home school with former kindergarten teacher and home school Mama of 2, LE Wolfram

    This week on the podcast I welcomed my first guest - LE Wolfram, a former kindergarten teacher of 7 years and home school mama of 2. We talk all things kindergarten readiness and the decision to home school. This included: Kindergarten readiness: Why this is important How behavior/regulation plays a role The importance of soft skills and social-emotional learning Realistic expectations from a kindergarten teacher Expectations for kindergarteners in our society (the good and bad) Home school decision: Why LE chose to homeschool her son Why parents make this choice in general The pros and cons of homeschooling How to prepare your preschooler for kindergarten LE’s top 5 things for parents to work on with their child Follow LE on Instagram @wildandhoneyb Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    1h 10m

  4. May 13

    Episode 11: Being a secure base: What attachment is and how to form a secure one with your child

    You are your child’s safe place, you’re their home and their comfort. This attachment you form with your child plays one of the biggest roles not only in your relationship with them, but in their development and future relationships as well. This episode focuses on what attachment is and how it influences your child’s development. This included: Reviewing research on: What attachment is The four types: Secure Insecure - avoidant Insecure - ambivalent Insecure - disorganized Why it’s important for parenting How attachment influences your child’s development and future outcomes Providing examples on: What attachment is and isn’t Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Respond consistently with sensitivity and warmth Respond to your baby asap when they cry or make a bid for your attention Respond to your toddler/preschooler as much as you can Co-regulation is key! Engage with your child - sing songs, read books, PLAY Read their signs of overstimulation, overwhelm, distress, etc. and meet their needs REPAIR as soon as you are calm enough to and do it often Promote exploration by being your child’s secure base - don’t push them away if they get clingy in a new place or around new people Suggesting books: “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn “Monkey Puzzle” by Julia Donaldson “In my heart: A book of feelings” by Jo Witek “Raising Securely Attached Kids” by Eli Harwood “Parenting from the Inside Out” by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    29 min

  5. May 6

    Episode 10: The Daycare Dilemma: How to choose a place or person to care for your young child by age and care type

    Leaving your child is never easy! And deciding where to take your child and who to leave them with is one of the biggest (and toughest) decisions parents make in early childhood. This episode focuses on strengths and limitations to each care type, as well as strategies for choosing one. This included: Reviewing research on: Why the quality of care matters more than the type of care The strengths and limitations for: In-home daycare Center daycare Preschool Nanny What to look for by the age of your child Providing examples on: Experiences teaching in preschools, daycares, and working as a nanny Choosing a care type for my own child Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Drop in! Prioritize caregiver interaction, warmth, responsiveness Want a focus on social-emotional learning and play Look for low caregiver-child ratios Want clean environment, toys available on shelves to play with, art and decorations at child level Want good interaction quality, emotional safety, consistency It helps to talk to other parents online, drop in more than once, read reviews Bring your children with you to tour places or have them present when interviewing nannies Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Work with me! Find my parent coaching service guide at the link on my Instagram, fill out the Inquiry page, or DM me with questions or concerns! I include preschool/daycare vetting as a part of my coaching services. Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    28 min

  6. Apr 29

    Episode 9: Positive, age-appropriate “discipline” and behavior management for toddlers and preschoolers

    “Is this okay?” “I get impatient with my children and don’t know what to do.” “My child has been biting their sibling every day and I can’t get them to stop.” All of these are completely normal questions I’ve gotten from parents about handling their children’s behavior. It can be so difficult to know what to do in the moment or how to implement behavior management strategies. That’s where I come in! This episode focuses on what positive, age-appropriate discipline looks like in early childhood. This included: Reviewing research on: The impacts of common discipline and behavior management strategies (time out, spanking, redirection, offering choices) How biting/hitting/throwing is normal for young kids The importance of repair and connection during conflict or “discipline” Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Do not focus on control, focus on guidance and connection! During behaviors/conflict: Connect first Validate emotions and be their calm Clear limits with redirection Take a break and ask for help - keep your child safe Especially for toddlers: Ignore and redirect Use your attention to reinforce behaviors Remove or block and redirect Repair asap Model how you regulate and repair Label your emotions and how they feel/look Explain how parents also have meltdowns It’s ALWAYS okay to start over (whether it’s because of you or your kids) After Use storytelling or pretend play to process experiences and emotions Teach children tools to handle their behavior Prevention Use play, singing, changing location to change energy or end power struggles Give yourself more time or change how you approach parts of your routine that often cause you impatience or frustration Offer choices to give control Maintain a routine and use visual schedule to help Create boundaries/limits that prevent power struggles Suggesting books: It’s ok: Being Kind to yourself when things feel hard by Wendy O’Leary Breathing makes it better by Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary Roaring Mad Riley by Allison Szczecinski That’s My Truck by Dr. Becky Kennedy The whole brain child by Dan Siegel and Tine Payne-Bryson Parenting from the Inside Out by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    41 min

  7. Apr 22

    Episode 8: Balancing Bluey and Boredom: The impact of screens on young children and how to set boundaries around technology

    Screens can be such a useful parenting tool, but they are frequently used too often, to the detriment of your child’s behavior and language development. This episode focuses on the impacts of screen time on children under the age of 5, the recommended screen time and how to implement this with your child, as well as how to set and maintain boundaries around screen time. This included: Reviewing research on: How screen time impacts child development Recommended limits and why they are important How screens affect dopamine and why they are so addictive for children Providing examples on: How screen time leads to language delays in children How I have set and maintained boundaries around screens with my own children Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Limit screen time to 45 minutes to 1 hour per day MOST days of the week after 2 years old - and none before 2! Try to stick to educational programming or less addictive shows Set up play during nap or bedtime to encourage independent play  Pay it forward - sit and play for 5-10 minutes before you need time for something Save screen time for when you need it most Limit screens an hour before bed Give multiple warnings before ending screen time and have a redirection planned Don’t introduce screens outside of the home for as long as possible Set boundaries, BE CONSISTENT and INTENTIONAL with screen use Encourage creativity through boredom Pay attention to background noise Suggesting books: Bearenstein Bears Too Much TV Polly and Screentime Overload by Besty Childs Howard Screen Time is Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick The Couch Potato by Jory John Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    24 min

  8. Apr 15

    Episode 7: Intergenerational Trauma: How trauma experienced by one generation affects the ones after it

    Not all of your reactions or responses to your child are you. Sometimes they stem from deeper rooted trauma or stress passed down from your parents or grandparents. Sometimes they pop up from a past experience you had. This episode focuses on what intergenerational trauma is, how it affects your parenting and your child, and what to do to buffer some of these effects. This included: Reviewing research on: What intergenerational trauma is and how it affects people across generations Defining adverse childhood experiences and how they affect children and parents How attachment is transmitted across generations and the role it plays in your child’s development Providing examples on: Historical examples of collective experiences of intergenerational trauma How past experiences influenced my emotional reaction to my toddler at nap time and what I did to fix this Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Reflect/journal/process how you need to about your own experiences with trauma/ACEs/parenting and how it has impacted you Focus on improving one aspect of your parenting at a time - don’t put too much pressure on yourself Educate yourself on ways trauma can impact yourself and your family and on strategies to help with this! Teach your child empathy! Teach your child about how hard things can happen and what to do in times of need (go to a trusted adult, find comfort from a caregiver, help others) Learn how to repair and model that for your child - normalize taking a few minutes to regulate your nervous system/emotions and then reconnect and repair with your child/partner/pet Suggesting books: “We are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom “A Terrible Thing Happened” by Margaret Holmes “Big Bear was Not the Same” by Joanna Rowland “Parenting from the Inside Out” by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell “It Didn’t Start with You” by Mark Wolynn “The Deepest Well” by Nadine Burke Harris “How to Raise an Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendi Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

    41 min
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About

Welcome to the Parent Empowerance Podcast, where we make early childhood research relatable and actionable for parents. Your host, Amara Bradetich of Parent Empowerance, has her Master’s and PhD in human development and family science (specializing in child development and behavior), is a former preschool teacher and early childhood intervention specialist, and, most importantly, mom to two littles (a 2 and a half year old daughter Natalie and an 8 month old son Liam). Our mission at Parent Empowerance is to help parents of young children, specifically birth to five, feel informed, empowered, and deeply supported. We do this by translating early childhood research into real-life tools for parents of little ones, while grounding our suggestions, action steps, and advice in both relatable lived experience and proven science. Each episode of this podcast will focus on a different topic within child development and most will have 3 main aspects: Summarizing what research says about that topic, Providing real-life examples, experiences, or applications, and Suggesting action steps you can take to apply the research with your own kids. I center my strategies around the idea that parents are the experts of their own children, and I keep the episodes short (15-20 minutes) so you can actually fit listening to them into your week! I know what it’s like to only have a few precious moments to yourself, and I’m glad to be a part of that.

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