Parenting Solutions for Teen & Pre-Teen Education & Behavior

Ryan Kimball + Mike Tyler Educators and Behavior Improvement Experts
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education for Kids
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Parenting Solutions for Teen & Pre-Teen Education & Behavior Podcast, the podcast dedicated to parents searching for root-cause solutions & educational tools to help their teens thrive.  Hosted by holistic health experts and long-time educators Mike Tyler and Ryan Kimball, who bring over 50 years of combined experience saving teens and improving families, this show explores teen anxiety, stress, and behavior challenges through education, nutrition, and behavior-based solutions—not just diet and supplements.  Our mission is to help people by empowering them with the tools and guidance they need to fill in the gaps in their education, cultivate future studies, and enhance their capacity to envision and create their own prosperous future. Each episode delivers practical tools and holistic insights for family wellness, natural parenting, and emotional healing, so you can feel confident supporting your teen. Whether you’re seeking natural remedies for teenage anxiety, holistic approaches to mental health, or root-cause healing strategies, you’ll find answers and encouragement here. This podcast is for parents who believe in natural solutions, family connection, and holistic wellness to help their teens overcome struggles and reclaim joy.  With over 50 years of combined experience helping teens and families, this podcast is for you if you’re asking: What are the best natural remedies for teen anxiety?How can I help my teenager’s mental health without medication?What holistic solutions work for teenage depression and stress?Are there natural ways to reduce teen anxiety and panic attacks?How do nutrition and diet affect teen mental health?What root-cause approaches can help my struggling teen?How can holistic parenting improve teen behavior and mood?Are there herbal remedies that are safe for teen anxiety?What lifestyle changes reduce stress and improve teen mental health?How does the gut-brain connection affect teenage anxiety and depression?What natural approaches improve teen sleep and focus?How can I support my teen’s emotional health naturally at home?What alternatives to therapy and medication help teens with anxiety?How do family wellness practices impact teen mental health?What are the top holistic tips for raising resilient teenagers?

  1. Jun 7

    26: The Real Problem Behind School Struggles

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! Your child is melting down over today’s assignment and it feels urgent, personal, and unsolvable. But what if the fight, the tears, or the “I hate this class” speech isn’t really about what’s on the page right now? We break down a simple idea with huge consequences: the problem your child is running into is rarely the real problem. Confusion, resistance, and emotional blowups often trace back to an earlier missed step that the student never noticed. Once they miss that moment, they keep pushing forward, and the current lesson starts to feel meaningless. We talk through how overload can even create physical reactions like headaches and nausea, and why trying to brute-force the current chapter (or paying for tutoring on the wrong point) can waste time and money. We unpack why a child’s current school struggle is usually a symptom, not the true cause, and why the fix often starts by going earlier to the first missed step. We share a root-cause way to reduce stress, rebuild confidence, and help kids learn without obsessing over grades. • physical reactions to study overload and too much information • why confusion, boredom, and anger often start earlier than the current lesson • the hidden cost of tutoring the wrong point in the sequence • rejecting labels as solutions and returning to basics like reading skills • how parents can calm arguments by talking purpose and independence • checking definitions, reading level, and textbook quality before pushing harder • turning kids into researchers with libraries and safer online resources • taking pressure off grades to protect curiosity and make learning fun again If you want calmer homework nights, stronger study skills, and a kid who feels capable again, listen now. After you finish, subscribe, share this with a parent or teacher, and leave a review with the biggest “earlier step” you’re going to check first. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    19 min

  2. May 10

    25: Stress, Anxiety and Learning. Finding a Path to Competence & Success

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! Grades can turn school into a daily stress test for both kids and parents. We take a different angle: real education is not about stuffing a head with facts or performing on one big exam, it is about building competence that shows up in life. We talk about why memorising for tests is often the least important reason to learn, and how that belief quietly fuels anxiety, power struggles, and the feeling that your child is being measured instead of supported. We break down a practical, parent-friendly approach to de-stressing education: start by validating what your child already knows, devalue harsh labels and past evaluations, and then build forward with simple steps. We also dig into how reading skills unlock self-directed learning, because once a child can read well, they can chase real interests through books, practice, and mentors instead of waiting for a school system to “deliver” motivation. To make it tangible, we share stories from high performance that mirror what healthy learning looks like: Alysa Liu returning to figure skating for the love of the art, and wrestling legend Cale Sanderson treating competition like a game while staying humble and focused on improvement. The takeaway is clear: when kids are allowed to choose, explore, and adjust their goals, enjoyment and competence grow together. If you want less school anxiety and more confidence at home, listen now, then subscribe, share the episode with a parent who needs it, and leave a review. What would change for your child if competence mattered more than grades? Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    21 min

  3. Apr 12

    24: Mike's Personal Education Story: Beavers In English Class And Other Learning Adventures

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! A single misheard word in fifth grade quietly derails Mike’s understanding for years, until a later breakthrough makes the whole pattern obvious. We connect that moment to a repeatable set of study tools that help kids, teens, and adults rebuild fundamentals and learn with confidence.  • Mike’s “beavers” misunderstanding and how one word blanks a whole lesson  • Why students hide confusion and then forget the exact cause  • Discovering study technology and committing to educator training  • The value of children’s dictionary and grammar basics for every age  • Key distinctions in language that improve vocabulary and comprehension  • The look, learn, practice method and why drills matter  • Backing up to phonics and easier readers when needed  • From junior high boredom to risky choices and the path back  • What parents can do to support real understanding  If you have any questions, of course, always reach out to us. Check out the show notes for links to books that Mike mentioned and in ways to get in touch with us. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    21 min

  4. Mar 22

    23: How To Help A Teen Find Purpose By Mastering The Basics

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! A teen can be polite, non-rebellious, and still be drifting toward a dead stop. No goals, no interest in college or trade school, no desire to work, and no clear sense of purpose. We dig into a surprising root cause that hides in plain sight: they may have never experienced real mastery, especially the kind that comes from reading with full understanding. When learning has always felt confusing, motivation doesn’t magically appear.  We walk through a real example of an 18-year-old high school graduate who had a diploma but couldn’t confidently read and study on his own. Instead of pushing lectures about responsibility, we start with something simple and measurable: reading out loud and finding exactly where comprehension breaks. We explain why grades and test scores can be noise, why “reading” really means understanding every word on the page, and why backing up to an easier level is not babying someone but rebuilding the missing steps. That first real win at understanding can flip a switch, turning “I can’t” into “What else can I learn?”  From there, we talk about how parents can reduce shame, validate what their teen already knows, and use self-determinism to help them choose a path that fits their interests, whether that’s construction, mechanics, sports, animals, or something else entirely. If you’re looking for practical parenting tools, teen motivation strategies, reading comprehension help, and study skills that actually work, this conversation gives you a clear starting point you can apply right away. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest learning barrier you want us to tackle next. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    20 min

  5. Mar 8

    22: Teach Children To Observe, Decide, And Act For A Happier Life

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! What if the fastest way to help your child thrive is to slow everything down? We walk through a simple framework—observe, decide, act—that turns everyday hiccups into quiet masterclasses in judgment, confidence, and real-life skills. Instead of punishing mistakes or rushing to fix them, we show how to coach calm attention, invite better choices, and support follow-through so kids feel capable and proud of what they can do. We start with a clear definition of ability that goes beyond talent: the capacity to notice what matters, choose a next step, and take clean action. You’ll hear a step-by-step breakdown of the “broken glass” moment most families know too well, and how to transform it from stress into skill-building. Then we widen the lens. With concrete prompts you can use at the table, in the park, or at a ballgame, we train kids to read environments, people, and consequences—without turning life into a quiz. You’ll learn why observation is the unsung foundation of good decisions and how to protect that step from hurry, heat, and hovering. We also dig into individual motivation. Every child’s interests differ, so we explain how to spot sparks, rotate experiences, and stack small wins where curiosity lives. For preteens and teens, we replace blanket bans on “bad influences” with sharper questions that build independent judgment: How does this friend act under pressure? Do they respect their family? Do they seem genuinely happy? These grounded reads help young people choose their circle with eyes open. Finally, we share practical tools and free guides that sharpen what to look for, much like a pro sees details on a roof others miss. If you’re ready to swap lectures for lasting ability—to help your child look wider, decide wiser, and act with less drama—press play. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a calmer plan, and leave a review with one moment you’ll handle differently next time. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    21 min

  6. Mar 1

    21: Why Kids Struggle In School & How to Fix It

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! When a child brings home A’s but skips class, or melts down when math comes out, something deeper is going on. We dig into why two very different patterns—low grades and high‑risk behavior—can spring from the same broken learning process, and how a simple framework helps parents turn confusion into capability. We start by redefining what “struggling in school” really means. Mike draws on 35 years of working with kids and families to show how memorization without meaning pushes students in two directions: shutdown and shame, or boredom and boundary‑testing. From there, we introduce the Look, Learn, Practice model. Kids need direct observation to anchor ideas in the real world, plain language to clear up tricky terms, and steady hands‑on practice to turn facts into usable skill. Think neighborhood cultural visits for social studies, small rockets for science, and daily reps that build mastery instead of racing through units. Then we shift to purpose. Grades alone rarely satisfy a teen who can sense they’re not growing. We walk through simple questions that link school to a future they actually want—career dreams, creative goals, or skills that make them more independent. With a shared aim, projects become obvious and engaging: portfolios, repairs, experiments, and performances that prove progress. Along the way, we offer practical steps any parent can apply now—field trips over worksheets, living glossaries, short daily practice, and visible milestones—while honoring each child’s unique interests rather than forcing a one‑size path. We share a simple framework—Look, Learn, Practice—and show how purpose, clear words, and real practice restore motivation and skill. • defining struggle as both poor grades and hidden behavior issues • one root cause behind shutdown and thrill‑seeking • Look, Learn, Practice framework and why observation matters • clearing vocabulary as the gateway to understanding • restoring practice time to build mastery and confidence • connecting schoolwork to a teen’s personal purpose • practical ways parents can add fieldwork, glossaries, and reps • tailoring support to each child’s interests and goals By the end, you’ll have a clear way to spot the real barriers, language to use at home, and tools to rebuild momentum without power struggles. If this episode helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more families can find these strategies. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    17 min

  7. Feb 22

    20: Rethinking Labels In Education

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! Ever feel like a label replaced a lesson? We take a hard look at “arbitraries”—opinions and judgments dropped into the learning process without reason—and show how they quietly turn real educational problems into medicalized stories. From glossy assessments to trending diagnoses, we trace how false solutions enter classrooms, reshape expectations, and nudge parents toward treatments that do not teach. We share candid stories about grades, testing, and the shock of discovering that high scores don’t always equal real-world competence. Along the way, we break down the difference between ability and familiarity: why the farm kid and the city kid approach the same subject with different speed, and how that variation calls for sequenced instruction, not a diagnosis. You’ll hear how to spot the exact missing step—A, B, or C—that’s blocking progress, and why returning to the last point of certainty is the most humane and effective fix. Health matters, but it’s not a curriculum. We talk about nutrition and supplements as support, not substitutes, and refocus on the keystone of academic success: reading mastery. When students truly understand how sentences and paragraphs work, every subject becomes more accessible—social studies, science, even math word problems. By the end, you’ll have a clear, practical framework to replace labels with learning: map the sequence, find the gap, teach the step, confirm mastery, and only then move forward. Through stories and simple frameworks, we show parents and teachers how to find the exact missing step and rebuild competence with sequence, practice, and reading mastery. • defining arbitraries and why they mislead • how commercial assessments insert false solutions • personal stories of grades vs real-world skill • the harm of labels like “math disorder” • replacing diagnoses with step-by-step teaching • when health helps and when it distracts • reading structure as the keystone to all subjects • a practical way to trace back to the missed step If you’re a parent, teacher, or student tired of quick diagnoses and ready for durable skills, this conversation offers tools you can use today. Subscribe for more grounded strategies, share this with someone who needs a reset, and leave a review with the step you plan to revisit first. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    22 min

  8. Feb 15

    19: Rethinking ADHD And Dyslexia Through The Simple Power Of Words

    CLICK HERE to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets! A fast-food billboard shouldn’t be a study lesson, but “Welcome to delicious” says a lot about how language really works—and why so many teens feel lost when textbooks, teachers, and everyday speech don’t match. We dig into that gap with Mike, exploring how creative phrasing can be both inspiring and misleading, and we show parents how to turn confusion into confidence without leaning on empty labels. We walk through what changed in modern education: less practice, softer texts, and a quick slide into diagnoses that don’t teach skills. Instead of treating ADHD and dyslexia as endpoints, we focus on building blocks that work in the real world—alphabet fluency forward and backward, common letter blends and their sounds, parts of speech with purpose, and short, daily drills that speed up dictionary use and sharpen comprehension. You’ll hear a surprising moment from an engineer who struggled with the alphabet sequence and what happened when that simple gear finally clicked. Most of all, we make the case that parents are the key. You don’t need a linguistics degree to help your child. Start by proving they can learn—tie shoes, layer a jacket, adjust and retry—and connect those wins to language. Then run a tight routine: look at real examples, learn with trustworthy references, and practice in small, repeatable steps. As skills grow, we add source evaluation so teens can navigate the internet’s noise with a clear head and a stronger voice. We unpack how flexible language—like a billboard that says “Welcome to delicious”—can both inspire and confuse learners, and why labels such as ADHD or dyslexia don’t replace real teaching. We lay out simple tools parents can use to build their child’s confidence through sequence, practice, and purpose. • creative language versus dictionary rules • why labels don’t teach or solve problems • what changed in modern education and curricula • the value of sequence and simple drills • parents becoming effective language guides • everyday wins that prove a child can learn • the look, learn, practice routine • evaluating sources and using dictionaries well If you’re ready to swap labels for tools and turn study time into real progress, this conversation is your map. Subscribe, share with a parent who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more families find practical, judgment-free support. Click Here to get your FREE Parents Survival Guide and Good Choices Downloads and Booklets!   © 2024-2026 The Competence Institute. All Rights Reserved. The Competence Institute is a non-profit educational organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, nationality or ethnic origin in administering student admissions or any of its policies, programs or activities. COMPETENCE INSTITUTE is a trademark and service mark owned by The Competence Institute, a division of Team Tyler USA.  Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics Open Book Design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.  Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Parenting Solutions for Teen & Pre-Teen Education & Behavior Podcast, the podcast dedicated to parents searching for root-cause solutions & educational tools to help their teens thrive.  Hosted by holistic health experts and long-time educators Mike Tyler and Ryan Kimball, who bring over 50 years of combined experience saving teens and improving families, this show explores teen anxiety, stress, and behavior challenges through education, nutrition, and behavior-based solutions—not just diet and supplements.  Our mission is to help people by empowering them with the tools and guidance they need to fill in the gaps in their education, cultivate future studies, and enhance their capacity to envision and create their own prosperous future. Each episode delivers practical tools and holistic insights for family wellness, natural parenting, and emotional healing, so you can feel confident supporting your teen. Whether you’re seeking natural remedies for teenage anxiety, holistic approaches to mental health, or root-cause healing strategies, you’ll find answers and encouragement here. This podcast is for parents who believe in natural solutions, family connection, and holistic wellness to help their teens overcome struggles and reclaim joy.  With over 50 years of combined experience helping teens and families, this podcast is for you if you’re asking: What are the best natural remedies for teen anxiety?How can I help my teenager’s mental health without medication?What holistic solutions work for teenage depression and stress?Are there natural ways to reduce teen anxiety and panic attacks?How do nutrition and diet affect teen mental health?What root-cause approaches can help my struggling teen?How can holistic parenting improve teen behavior and mood?Are there herbal remedies that are safe for teen anxiety?What lifestyle changes reduce stress and improve teen mental health?How does the gut-brain connection affect teenage anxiety and depression?What natural approaches improve teen sleep and focus?How can I support my teen’s emotional health naturally at home?What alternatives to therapy and medication help teens with anxiety?How do family wellness practices impact teen mental health?What are the top holistic tips for raising resilient teenagers?

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