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. Why YOU Should Talk to Your Kids About Sex: Advice on Parenting and Age Appropriate Sex Talk With Melissa Goldberg Mintz

    3D AGO

    Why YOU Should Talk to Your Kids About Sex: Advice on Parenting and Age Appropriate Sex Talk With Melissa Goldberg Mintz

    Do you really have to talk to your kids about sex? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Melissa Goldberg Mintz to talk about one of the parenting topics people avoid the most: having an age appropriate sex talk with your children. Melissa is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and assistant clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine who specializes in helping parents navigate difficult conversations. Together, we discuss why sexual education for kids is so important and why choosing to talk to your kids about sex is one of the most important pieces of advice on parenting we can offer. In this episode, we discuss: • Why parents often feel uncomfortable starting an age appropriate sex talk • How sexual education for kids helps protect children and build healthy boundaries • Why choosing to talk to your kids about difficult topics builds trust and communication • The risks of children learning about sex from the internet, friends, or misinformation • Practical advice on parenting for creating a safe space where kids can ask tough questions If you've ever wondered whether you really need to talk to your kids about sex, this conversation will help you understand why an age appropriate sex talk and honest sexual education for kids are such important parts of modern advice on parenting. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and Recovery 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 MELISSA GOLDBERG MINTZ: Website Instagram

    22 min
  2. What to Do When Your Kid Does Something "Naughty": Understanding Child Misbehavior and the Power of Curious Parenting

    MAR 3

    What to Do When Your Kid Does Something "Naughty": Understanding Child Misbehavior and the Power of Curious Parenting

    In this solo episode of the Educated Parent Podcast, I’m talking about what to do when your child does something that feels intentionally “naughty.” From peanut butter in the hair to Sharpie on the walls, moments of child misbehavior can feel personal, frustrating, and completely overwhelming. I know how easy it is to assume our kids are doing these things on purpose. In the moment, naughty behavior can feel like sabotage. But what if most child misbehavior is not defiance at all? In this episode, I walk through why kids misbehave from a developmental perspective and explain how our reactions can either escalate conflict or turn the situation into a teaching moment. I share how curious parenting has helped me respond more effectively and why regulating ourselves first is the most important step. In this episode, I cover: • Why kids misbehave even when they are not trying to cause problems • How developmentally appropriate behavior can look like naughty behavior • How I calm myself before responding to child misbehavior • How curious parenting helps prevent power struggles • How to turn frustrating moments into opportunities for growth If you have ever felt personally attacked by your child’s behavior or wondered why kids misbehave in ways that create chaos at the worst possible time, this episode will help you approach child misbehavior with more calm, clarity, and 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!

    24 min
  3. Supplements for Kids: How to Choose Safe Pediatric Supplements with Dr. Shetal Amin

    FEB 24

    Supplements for Kids: How to Choose Safe Pediatric Supplements with Dr. Shetal Amin

    When it comes to supplements for kids, most parents are left asking the same questions: Are they safe? Are they regulated? And how do I know what’s actually inside the bottle? In this episode of The Educated Parent Podcast, Dr. Leah Clionsky sits down with board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Shetal Amin to unpack what every parent needs to know about supplements for kids and pediatric supplements. With shelves full of gummies, powders, and capsules promising better sleep, improved focus, calmer behavior, and stronger immunity, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many families turn to supplements for kids as a first step before considering prescription treatment. But are all pediatric supplements created equal? Dr. Shetal Amin explains: • Why supplements for kids are not regulated the same way as prescription medications are • How to evaluate the safety and quality of pediatric supplements • What third-party testing actually means • Why “natural” does not automatically mean safe • How marketing and social media influence decisions about supplements for kids • The red flags to watch for when evaluating pediatric wellness products You’ll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls, including proprietary blends and products that sound too good to be true. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about choosing pediatric supplements, this episode will help you approach the process with clarity and evidence in mind. Most importantly, this conversation is about confident parenting. Making informed decisions about supplements for kids requires asking good questions, understanding the science, and knowing when to involve your pediatrician. Dr. Shetal Amin shares practical guidance so you can practice confident parenting without fear, pressure, or guilt. Whether you’re considering a multivitamin, a sleep aid, or another type of pediatric supplements, this episode will give you the tools you need to make thoughtful, informed choices. Tune in to learn how to navigate supplements for kids safely and confidently. 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. SHETAL AMIN: Website

    28 min
  4. How to Stay Calm and Confident When Your Child Is Angry With You

    FEB 17

    How to Stay Calm and Confident When Your Child Is Angry With You

    When your child is angry, it can trigger something deep inside of you. You might want to defend yourself, shut it down, or react quickly. In this episode, I walk you through how to respond in those heated moments using evidence-based parenting strategies that protect your relationship instead of escalating the conflict. I also explain how to calm a child down when angry while staying calm and confident, even when the words coming at you feel sharp. In this episode, I cover: • Why it is developmentally normal when your child is angry, and what anger is actually communicating • Exactly how to respond when your child is angry without invalidating their emotions • The difference between allowing anger and allowing disrespect • Practical steps for how to calm a child down when angry without losing your authority • How to stay calm and confident so you can model emotional regulation • How these strategies reflect true evidence-based parenting and build long-term emotional skills Learning how to respond when your child is angry is one of the most powerful shifts you can make. When you approach these moments with evidence-based parenting, and practice staying calm and confident, you teach your child exactly how to calm a child down when angry in healthy ways for the rest of their life. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 37: Teaching Kids Emotions and Identifying Feelings for Fewer Blow Ups 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!

    25 min
  5. How to Support Your Teen Through Their First Heartbreak with Charity Chaffee

    FEB 10

    How to Support Your Teen Through Their First Heartbreak with Charity Chaffee

    Watching your teen experience their first heartbreak can feel absolutely gut-wrenching as a parent. You want to fix it. You want to make the pain disappear. And at the same time, you may be flooded with memories of your own teenage breakup experiences that still live in your nervous system. In this episode, we talk about how to show up in a way that actually supports healing instead of creating more distance. I’m joined by teen mental health specialist Charity Chaffee to talk honestly about why a first heartbreak hits teens so hard, why a teenage breakup can feel world-ending, and how parents can support teen mental health without minimizing feelings or becoming overinvolved. This conversation is all about learning how to stay connected through pain, using validating emotions as the foundation for trust and emotional safety. In this episode, we cover • Why a first heartbreak is developmentally intense and why teens experience a teenage breakup differently than adults • How to support teen mental health without rushing the healing process or trying to fix the pain • The difference between dismissing feelings and validating emotions in a way that builds long-term resilience • Common parenting reactions that unintentionally make a teenage breakup harder to process • How validating emotions helps teens feel safe opening up instead of shutting down • What parents can model to support teen mental health after a first heartbreak If your teen is struggling after a teenage breakup, this episode will help you understand what they actually need from you and how validating emotions can strengthen your relationship during one of the most vulnerable moments of adolescence. Supporting teen mental health through a first heartbreak is not about fixing the pain. It is about staying present, steady, and emotionally available when it matters most. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Read the full show notes HERE! Episode 13: How to Help an Angry Child Calm Down Without Losing Your Cool: The Key to Connection Before Correction 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 CHARITY CHAFFEE: Instagram Skool Website Teens Uncharted Website

    24 min
  6. How to Help Kids Build Social Skills Through Successful Play Dates With Maria Hammond, Ph.D.

    FEB 3

    How to Help Kids Build Social Skills Through Successful Play Dates With Maria Hammond, Ph.D.

    Play dates are supposed to be fun, but so many parents tell me the same thing: play dates are stressful. You worry about how your child will act, whether they’ll feel left out, or if things might go sideways in front of another parent. In this episode, I wanted to give you concrete tools to help play dates feel calmer, smoother, and actually enjoyable for everyone involved. I’m joined by Maria Hammond, Ph.D., a specialist in communication development and parent-child relationships. Maria runs social skills groups for young children and brings a thoughtful, practical lens to helping kids build social skills through everyday interactions. Together, we talk about why successful play doesn’t mean perfection and how small shifts in preparation can make a big difference. In this episode, we cover: Why play dates are stressful for both kids and parents, and how anxiety can shape expectationsHow to build social skills by planning play dates witha clear structure and realistic goalsWhy going into a play date with a “mission” helps kids feel more confident and engaged in successful playHow environment and expectations impact successful play, especially for shy or sensitive kidsWhen and why it’s better to leave a play date while it’s still going wellHow parents can support build social skills without hovering or overcorrecting If play dates have ever left you feeling tense, discouraged, or unsure of what went wrong, this conversation will help you reframe what success really looks like. With guidance from Maria Hammond, Ph.D., you’ll walk away with practical strategies to support successful play, reduce stress, and help your child build social skills in a way that feels manageable and developmentally appropriate. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Listen to Episode 16: How to Stop Meltdowns Before They Start By Managing Expectations and Parenting Without Power Struggles 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 MARIA HAMMOND, Ph.D. Website Email: drhammond@nestdevelopmentalcenter.com

    24 min
  7. How to Reset Expectations and Build Healthy Screen Time Boundaries at Restaurants

    JAN 27

    How to Reset Expectations and Build Healthy Screen Time Boundaries at Restaurants

    Eating out with kids can quickly turn into a battle over screens. If your child expects a phone the moment you sit down at a restaurant, you are not alone. In this episode, I walk you through how to reset expectations, change screen time habits, and build sustainable screen time boundaries without turning every meal into a meltdown. I explain why this pattern develops, why it is so hard to undo once it starts, and how to step out of it using evidence-based, realistic strategies. This episode is full of positive parenting tips to help you feel more confident and prepared the next time you go out to eat with your child. In this episode, you will learn: Why screen time habits form so quickly at restaurantsHow to reset expectations before you even walk through the doorPractical ways to build and hold screen time boundaries without escalating behaviorWhat to do when your child pushes back and how to respond calmlypositive parenting tips to make restaurants less stressful and more connected If you are tired of relying on screens at meals and want a plan that actually works, this episode will help you take the first steps toward screen-free restaurant experiences that feel doable and respectful for everyone. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Read the full show notes HERE! Episode 16: How to Stop Meltdowns Before They Start by Managing Expectations and Parenting Without Power Struggles 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!

    17 min
  8. How to Balance Extracurricular Activities in a Busy Family Without Mom Guilt With Rachel Fein

    JAN 20

    How to Balance Extracurricular Activities in a Busy Family Without Mom Guilt With Rachel Fein

    If choosing extracurricular activities leaves you feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, and stuck in constant mom guilt, this episode is for you. Many parents in a busy family feel pressure to do more, sign up for everything, and keep up with what other families are doing, even when it does not feel right. In this conversation, I want to help you step out of overschedulingand into confident decision-making that actually supports your child and your nervous system. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Fein, a licensed child psychologist and board certified behavior analyst, to talk about how parents can prioritize extracurricular activities without burning out. Rachel Fein brings both clinical expertise and real-life parenting experience to this conversation, helping parents rethink mom guilt, pressure, and what children truly need to thrive. Together, we break down how overscheduling happens so easily in a busy family and how parents can make intentional choices that support connection, emotional regulation, and physical activity for kids without sacrificing family wellbeing. In this episode, we discuss Why overscheduling is so common in a busy family and how it quietly fuels mom guiltHow to evaluate extracurricular activities through the lens of family values instead of outside pressureThe difference between meaningful physical activity for kids and activity overloadHow to recognize when mom guilt is driving decisions instead of your child’s actual needsPractical strategies for setting boundaries around extracurricular activities without feeling selfishWhy protecting downtime matters just as much as physical activity for kidsHow confident parenting reduces overschedulingand supports healthier routines for the entire busy family This episode is a reminder that you do not need to do everything to be a good parent. When you let go of mom guilt, reduce overscheduling, and make values-based choices, you create more space for connection, regulation, and joy for both you and your child. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 15: Should You Keep Pushing Your Child to Succeed or Back Off? With Kristin Mervich 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. RACHEL FEIN: Instagram Website

    28 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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