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

Dr. Leah Clionsky
  • 5.0 (43)
  • 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. A Pep Talk: Letting Go of the Pressure to Create Holiday Magic

    1D AGO

    A Pep Talk: Letting Go of the Pressure to Create Holiday Magic

    A pep talk for parents who feel intense pressure to create perfect holiday magic, even when things are falling apart behind the scenes. If the expectations around the holidays are making you doubt yourself, a pep talk is here to support confident parenting and remind you that real connection matters more than perfection. In this solo episode, I share a very honest parenting story from early motherhood where my attempt at creating holiday magic completely unraveled. I use that experience to offer perspective, reassurance, and positive parenting tips for parents who feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or worried that they are not doing enough. This episode is both a pep talk and a reminder that confident parenting does not require everything to go according to plan. In this episode, I talk about • Why the pressure to create holiday magic often makes parenting feel harder and more stressful • How a pep talk can help reset your mindset when a holiday moment goes wrong • What kids actually remember when parents feel pressure around holiday magic • How letting go of perfection supports confident parenting during the holidays • Simple positive parenting tips that help parents recover when plans fall apart • Why confident parenting is built in small moments, not perfect ones If you are craving reassurance, perspective, and positive parenting tips during a season full of expectations, this episode is for you. Press play for a pep talk that helps you release the pressure of holiday magic and lean into confident parenting instead. 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!

    12 min
  2. Preparing for Holiday Gatherings with Confident Parenting Techniques

    DEC 16

    Preparing for Holiday Gatherings with Confident Parenting Techniques

    Holiday gatherings can feel joyful and overwhelming at the same time, and this episode will help you walk in with clarity, calm, and a strong foundation of confident parenting. When kids are navigating new environments, loud relatives, unpredictable routines, and big emotions, they need support with child emotion regulation. With the right positive parenting tips, your entire experience at holiday gatherings can feel smoother and more connected. In this conversation, I share the approach I use in my own home to prepare my kids for holiday gatherings. You will learn how to strengthen child emotion regulation, how to stay anchored in confident parenting, and how to use simple positive parenting tips to reduce stress for everyone involved. These strategies help you anticipate challenges, understand what your child needs, and protect your own emotional well-being so you can truly enjoy these moments. Here is what we will cover • How to prepare your child before holiday gatherings so they enter with stronger child emotion regulation and fewer unexpected reactions • What to say to relatives who do not understand your positive parenting tips, and how those conversations strengthen your confident parenting • How to build a calm-down kit that supports child emotion regulation even in unfamiliar settings • What to do when you feel like the overwhelmed parent, and how reconnecting to confident parenting helps you regulate in the moment • How practicing positive parenting tips ahead of time makes holiday gatherings more peaceful for the whole family You deserve to approach this season with steady confidence. Your child deserves the gift of child emotion regulation in environments that challenge them. These positive parenting tips will help you step into your holiday gatherings with more peace and more confident parenting. Watch the Full Episode Here 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!

    18 min
  3. Teaching Kids Emotions and Identifying Feelings for Fewer Blow Ups

    DEC 9

    Teaching Kids Emotions and Identifying Feelings for Fewer Blow Ups

    If you have ever wondered why big feelings seem to explode out of nowhere, this episode on emotional literacy is going to feel like a deep breath. I share a very real moment where I lost my cool with my kids and how understanding emotional literacy and identifying feelings could have prevented that blow-up. When we are teaching kids emotions early and model this ourselves, we reduce the overwhelm that leads to those out-of-control moments and help our kids grow into calmer, more grounded humans. In this episode, I walk you through how I use emotional literacy in my own parenting and why it is the most powerful antidote for any overwhelmed parent. We also talk about how to stop yelling by understanding what is happening inside your own brain and body, and how identifying feelings is the foundation of teaching kids emotions that truly stick. In this episode, we explore: • The moment I knew I needed better emotional literacy and how that changed the way I respond to stress • Why teaching kids emotions matters long before you expect it to work, and how it prevents future blow-ups • The real reason an overwhelmed parent snaps and what identifying feelings can reveal about what is happening underneath • A simple framework for how to stop yelling by using compassion and connection instead of pressure and perfectionism • Why emotional literacy grows stronger when we model our own mistakes and repair afterward Listen to this episode to learn how to build emotional literacy, support your child in identifying feelings, and reduce the overwhelm that leads to yelling. This is where calmer homes and fewer emotional blow-ups begin. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Read the full show notes HERE! LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center: https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/thrivingchildcenter PCIT Experts: https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/pcit-experts Calm and Connected Program: https://thrivingchildcenter.com/calm-and-connected-program-for-parents Instagram: https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/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: 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

    20 min
  4. No One Knows What They’re Doing with a Newborn, and It’s Okay: Prepare for Parenthood with Dr. Kailey Buller

    DEC 2

    No One Knows What They’re Doing with a Newborn, and It’s Okay: Prepare for Parenthood with Dr. Kailey Buller

    If you are trying to prepare for parenthood and already feel like an overwhelmed parent, this episode will help you breathe again. I sit down with Dr. Kailey Buller to talk honestly about what it feels like to bring a newborn home, why even the most educated parents feel unsure, and how simple first-time parenting tips can help you feel more grounded. We cut through the noise of conflicting advice and share the kind of evidence-based parenting guidance that brings clarity back into the chaos. If you want real advice on parenting from a doctor who has delivered hundreds of babies and raised two of her own, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you will learn: • Why feeling like an overwhelmed parent is often a sign that you are trying to prepare for parenthood with care, not a sign that you are failing. • How Dr. Buller uses her experience to offer first-time parenting tips that make room for flexibility instead of perfection. • The surprising ways advice on parenting can go wrong when you take it at face value, and how evidence-based parenting helps you filter out the noise. • What new parents should know about changing medical guidance and how to stay confident while you prepare for parenthood. • How to keep going when you feel unsure, even after reading books, taking classes, or scrolling endlessly for first-time parenting tips. If you have ever felt like an overwhelmed parent, this episode will help you feel understood, supported, and far more capable than you think. Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Kailey Buller’s three powerful pieces of advice on parenting and learn how evidence-based parenting can guide you as you prepare for parenthood. 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! CONNECT WITH KAILEY BULLER: Website Instagram TikTok

    24 min
  5. Traveling With Kids: My Best Strategies After Years of Holiday Trips

    NOV 25

    Traveling With Kids: My Best Strategies After Years of Holiday Trips

    If the thought of traveling with kids over the holidays fills you with dread, you are not alone. In this episode, I share the best strategies I have learned after years of holiday trips with my own children, including how to keep them regulated, how to plan ahead, and why starting with no screens can make the entire trip easier. I walk through the simple positive parenting tips that let you stay calm and connected even when travel throws every unpredictable challenge your way. In this episode, you will learn: • How to use the first hour of traveling with kids to set the tone for calmer holiday trips. • Why starting with no screens helps your child stay regulated and saves the best strategies for when you need them most. • How to create a simple routine for traveling with kids that combines movement, connection, and positive parenting tips. • The small mistakes that make holiday trips harder, and what you can do instead, using the best strategies that have helped my own family. • How to use positive parenting tips to stay patient when traveling with kids feels overwhelming. Whether you are getting on a plane, loading up the car, or heading out on one of many holiday trips, this episode will help you stay grounded and prepared. These are the best strategies I rely on myself, and they work even when your child is tired, overwhelmed, or begging for screens before you have decided it is time. Learn how positive parenting tips, simple planning, and purposeful no-screens time can transform the experience of traveling with kids into something more manageable. Listen to the full episode for real-life tools you can use on your next trip and discover how small shifts can make your holiday trips smoother, calmer, and much more connected. 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!

    13 min
  6. How I Build Healthy Self-Confidence in My Daughter (And How You Can Do It Too)

    NOV 18

    How I Build Healthy Self-Confidence in My Daughter (And How You Can Do It Too)

    How do you actually raise confident kids in a world that constantly tells them they are not enough?  In this episode, I share the real strategies I use at home and in my clinical practice to help children build healthy self-confidence from the inside out. These are the same evidence-based parenting approaches I use to guide parents who want to create calm, capable, and emotionally resilient kids.  You will learn how to model positive self-talk for kids and how to help your daughter see herself as capable, kind, and deeply worthy. Here is what we’ll cover in this episode: • The exact language I use to model positive self-talk for kids and how it shapes a child’s lifelong confidence • Why true healthy self-confidence starts with how you talk to yourself as a parent and what your kids overhear • How to use evidence-based parenting strategies like modeling, praise, and reflection to raise confident kids without inflating their ego • The surprising ways our culture chips away at healthy self-confidence in girls and how you can protect your daughter from it • What it means to balance kindness with self-respect so you can raise confident kids who treat others well and stand up for themselves If you want to understand how to build healthy self-confidence, use positive self-talk for kids, and lean on evidence-based parenting tools that actually work, this episode is for you. Listen now to learn how you can raise confident kids who believe in themselves no matter what life brings. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Read the full show notes HERE! 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!

    24 min
  7. When To Take Your Child to the Doctor for a Fever (Or Wait It Out at Home): Pediatrician Advice From Ross Newman (Dr. Rossome)

    NOV 11

    When To Take Your Child to the Doctor for a Fever (Or Wait It Out at Home): Pediatrician Advice From Ross Newman (Dr. Rossome)

    Watch this episode on YouTube! If your child has ever came down with a fever out of nowhere, and you’ve questioned when to take your child to the doctor (or if you can wait it out at home), this episode will give you the calm, clarity, and confidence you need. I’m joined by Dr. Ross Newman (Dr. Rossome), a board-certified pediatrician and father of six, who shares trusted pediatrician advice that helps every parent make informed, evidence-based choices.  Together, we talk about how to manage parental anxiety, understand fevers in kids, and use positive parenting tips to stay grounded when your child is sick. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to know when to take your child to the doctor and what signs matter most. What every parent should understand about fevers in kids and when they become a concern. Why understanding normal illness patterns helps reduce parental anxiety when your child has a fever. The most practical pediatrician advice for hydration, fever, and common viral infections. How simple positive parenting tips can help you stay calm and confident even when things feel uncertain. Parents often struggle with parental anxiety about when to take your child to the doctor, especially when symptoms are confusing. This episode helps you trust yourself again with the right pediatrician advice, clear insight into fevers in kids, and the kind of positive parenting tips that keep your home calmer and your confidence stronger. Listen now for expert pediatrician advice and discover how to handle parental anxiety with clarity about when to take your child to the doctor and practical, positive parenting tips for real-life situations. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Read the full show notes HERE! 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! CONNECT WITH DR. ROSS NEWMAN: Website YouTube Instagram TikTok a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Dr-Rossome/61574622723693/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    23 min
  8. How to Help Your Child Get Their Homework Done with Evan Weinberger: Including Homework Planner and Checklists for Kids

    NOV 4

    How to Help Your Child Get Their Homework Done with Evan Weinberger: Including Homework Planner and Checklists for Kids

    Do you ever wonder how to improve executive function in your child so they can stay organized and actually turn in their work? You are not alone.  In this episode, I talk with Evan Weinberger, founder of Staying Ahead of the Game, about how to improve executive function at home using simple, practical strategies that really work. Together, we explore how the right homework planner, daily checklists for kids, and consistent time management for teens can reduce frustration and help children feel capable and confident. As a psychologist and parent, I know how exhausting it can be to remind, repeat, and rescue your child from the same executive functioning challenges every week. Evan and I share real solutions that make it easier to improve executive function through structure, support, and the right tools that fit your family’s routine. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why teaching your child to improve executive function early builds lifelong skills for independence and success • How to set up a homework planner that actually gets used and helps your child manage big projects with ease • The science behind checklists for kids and how they make daily transitions smoother and calmer • The secret to using a homework planner and checklists for kids together to build strong time management for teens • How to spot the signs that your child might benefit from extra support to improve executive function at home or school If you are ready to help your child feel more capable and calm, this episode gives you the tools to improve executive function, create a reliable homework planner, build lasting time management for teens, and use checklists for kids to bring more peace and confidence into your home. Listen now to learn how to improve executive function, design a homework planner that works, strengthen time management for teens, and make checklists for kids a natural part of your family’s daily rhythm. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 29: Why Praising Your Child Matters More Than You Think: How to Praise Your Child with Julia Lair 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! CONNECT WITH EVAN WEINBERGER: SAOTG Client Challenge Facebook Instagram a...

    30 min
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5
out of 5
43 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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