Dad Toolbox

Sean Croon
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  • Parenting

The hardest challenge I ever faced is being a modern Dad. I know so many good men who want to show up for their children but don’t have the tools, and are held back by unrealistic expectations, conflicting advice and an isolating societal structure. The Dad Toolbox podcast is stage one of solving this problem. No fluff, no celebrity stories, no comedic gold. This is parenting education for Dads.  We offer practical and scientifically-validated tools, insights and ideas curated from parenting experts, including coaches, therapists, scientists and authors. In just 30 mins per week, you are going to level up your Dad Toolbox to better support your family and children. This is a game-changer for Dads who want to show up as both a parent and a provider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3d ago

    12. A better way to deal with your kids when they give up - Ask A Better Question

    As Dads, when we see our teens or kids struggling, our first instinct is often to jump in and fix things. We want to help, share what we've learned and save them from making mistakes. But what if our attempts to help are actually getting in the way? The good news is that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop giving answers and start asking better questions. Psychologist, psychotherapist, parenting educator and author of Parenting for a Peaceful World and Heart-to-Heart Parenting, Robin Grille, shares a simple but powerful tool called Ask a Better Question, designed to help Dads move away from being Mr Fix It and towards raising confident, independent kids who feel heard, supported and capable of figuring things out for themselves. In this episode, Robin shares: Why jumping in to fix our teens and kids' problems can do more harm than good.How asking better questions helps teens and kids build confidence and independence.What makes a good question and why curiosity mattersHow to approach tricky conversations about gaming, school and motivation.When asking questions isn't the right approach.Why kids don't need a perfect Dad, just one who's willing to learn. KEY QUOTES "And wouldn't you say that a good coach is somebody that says less but observes more and asks more?" "Our children don't need the perfect dad. Our children need a learning dad." "Don't teach, ask a question. Makes a huge difference." MORE ABOUT ROBIN Find out more about Robin on his websiteOr follow him on Instagram. and Facebook ASK A BETTER QUESTION RESOURCES Robin’s Parenting Books: https://www.robingrille.com/publications/books/Robin’s Parenting Articles: https://www.robingrille.com/publications/articles/Robin’s Parenting Videos: https://www.robingrille.com/videos/Robin’s Parenting Courses & Workshops: https://www.robingrille.com/seminars/Robin's writings on Substack: http://robingrille.substack.com/Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Oct 4

    11. What to do before you react - Resilient Reframe

    Most Dads have had that moment where they’ve reacted to their kids, walked away and thought, “I didn’t handle that well.” The hard part is finding a way to interrupt that reaction while it’s actually happening. The Resilient Reframe is a simple tool designed to create some space between what’s happening around you and how you respond, helping you step out of the emotion of the moment and make a more considered choice. Teaching us the tool is Rob Marston, a mental fitness advocate, Certified Resilience Coach, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Resilience First Aid Instructor who works with individuals, workplaces and communities to build greater resilience and mental fitness. He’s also deeply involved in men’s mental health, including founding the Inner West chapter of When No One Is Watching. In this episode, Rob shares: Why taking five before reacting can completely change what happens next.How to recognise the situations and triggers that bring out a version of yourself you don’t want your kids to see.How to use the Resilient Reframe to step out of the emotion of the moment and choose a response that better reflects the dad you want to be.Why perspective can help you decide what actually matters and which battles aren’t worth fighting.How practising the Resilient Reframe can help you become a more stable, present parent when things get chaotic. KEY QUOTES “This is the first time I’ve been a parent. Like, I’ve been a kid before, but I’ve never been a parent before, and I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got.” “You need to know you’re not doing well in order to be able to access doing better.” “I think it’s really about trying to give people a bit of a distance between stimulus and response.” MORE ABOUT ROB Connect with Rob on LinkedIn GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Sep 27

    10. A simple tool for raising resilient kids - Stress Your Kids Out

    We all want to protect our kids from struggle, disappointment and stress. But what if constantly stepping in to make life easier is actually getting in the way of something they need? Today’s tool is “Stress Your Kids Out” and is about deliberately giving our kids small, manageable doses of stress, challenge and adversity so they have the opportunity to adapt, problem-solve and build resilience. Teaching us how to use it is Tim Curtis, author of Building Resilient Kids and co-author of the bestseller The Resilience Shield. Tim spent much of his professional life exploring: what makes some people better able to cope, adapt and grow when life gets difficult? A former SAS officer, Tim draws on 16 years of military service, an MBA, decades of leadership and resilience work, and, importantly, his own experience as a father. He is here to show us our job is not to remove every stressor, failure or disappointment from our children's lives, but to help them develop the skills and confidence to navigate them. In this episode, Tim shares: Why resilience isn’t about avoiding stress, but learning how to respond to it.Why letting our kids experience stress and adversity is essential for their well being and development.The difference between harmful stress and the moderate stress our kids can actually benefit from.How to know when to step in and support our kids, and when to stand back and let them struggle a bit.Why fixing every problem for our kids can rob them of the chance to find their own solution.Simple ways to “dose the discomfort” through everyday things like ordering at restaurants, carrying school bags, chores and losing games.The questions we can ask instead of immediately jumping in with advice.How Rose, Bud, Thorn can help kids reflect on their day and work through the things they’re struggling with.Why praising effort rather than results can help our kids develop a growth mindset.The importance of letting our kids experience the consequences of their choices.Why building resilience is less about big parenting interventions and more about consistently getting the basics right.How the way we respond to our own stress teaches our kids how to respond to theirs. KEY QUOTES “Stress in itself is not inherently harmful. But managing stress, teaching our kids to embrace a little bit of discomfort, is incredibly useful.” “Dealing with discomfort makes us better at dealing with discomfort.” “The role of the lifeguard isn't to prevent the swimming, it's to prevent the drowning.” MORE ABOUT TIM CURTIS Find out more about Tim including his podcasts, books and work, at https://linktr.ee/resilienceshield STRESS YOUR KIDS OUT RESOURCES Buy a signed copy of Tim’s book: Building Resilient Kids Check out the Building Resilient Kids podcast Find more resilience tools at The Resilient Shield GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Sep 20

    9. Why a meltdown is healthy and how to handle them - Loving Limits

    What do you do when your child is completely losing it? You can feel yourself getting frustrated and every instinct is telling you to either give in or put your foot down… There’s another option: holding a firm boundary while still giving your child space to feel everything they’re feeling. This is a process called Loving Limits and for this episode we are joined by Jason Seeman to help guide us on the process. Jason is a father of two, fatherhood guide, educator and founder of Raising Fathers. Raising Fathers supports new fathers through parenting education courses, as well as running rites of passage experiences, 1:1 mentoring, and community events for Dads. Loving Limits has fundamentally changed the way Jason parents his own kids, offering a practical way to stay connected through the messy moments, without giving in to every demand. In this episode, Jason shares: What to actually say and do when your child is melting down, dysregulated or refusing to cooperate.Why being emotionally attuned doesn’t mean becoming permissive or giving up boundaries.How Loving Limits creates a firm “no” to challenging behaviour while saying “yes” to the feelings underneath.Why crying, raging and other big emotions don’t necessarily need to be stopped or fixed.How to recognise when our own fight-or-flight response is kicking in and then regulate ourselves before reacting.Why trying to reason with a child in the middle of big emotions usually doesn’t work.How to set limits when you genuinely don’t have time to sit with your child’s feelings.What Loving Limits can look like in public, when other people may be watching or judging.How to validate anger while still physically preventing a child from hurting someone.What can happen when kids grow up seeing emotional attunement modelled at home. KEY QUOTES “Kids need to feel felt. It doesn’t matter what the gender is. They need to feel felt and held by both parents.” “The places where they push your buttons the most are the things that you still haven’t fully sat with and made peace with in yourself.” “How you parent your kids is how you parent yourself.” MORE ABOUT JASON Find out more via Jason’s website.Or follow him on InstagramNew Dads check out his Expecting Dads Course LOVING LIMITS RESOURCES Download the free Loving Limits GuideLearn more about Aware Parenting from Aletha Solter PhD and Marion Rose PhD GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox  SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 13

    8. How single Dads can setup a home where kids thrive - Home Game

    When life is already busy, a little friction at home can quickly add up. For single dad Matt Harbour, creating a home where his kids feel safe, settled and loved is something he approaches with intention. His “Home Game” framework starts with a simple question: what do you want it to feel like for your kids to be at Dad’s place? Because a calm, connected home isn’t about having everything perfect. It’s about creating an environment where your kids can relax, feel like Dad’s got things handled, and know that they belong. Matt Harbour is a single dad of three who has worked in divorce coaching, particularly supporting men navigating separation and the transition to single fatherhood.  In this episode, Matt shares: How to create a home where your kids feel safe, settled and like Dad has things handled.Reducing the everyday friction that gets in the way of being present with your kids. Setting up your home so kids can find what they need and become more independent. Using routines and rituals to create familiarity, connection and stability. Protecting your kids from adult conflict and stress inside the home. Where to start when you’re setting up a new home as a single Dad. Keeping things simple and affordable when organisation doesn’t come naturally. Creating spaces around what your kids actually need as they grow. Maintaining connection with your kids when they’re staying with their other parent. KEY QUOTES “So if I wasn't on top of things and organized, it'd create friction, and the more friction I found I had in trying to run the home, the less presence I had with the kids.” “I feel like being a dad, I'm the lighthouse, right? I'm the lighthouse on the rock, and no matter what comes from outside, whatever waves and weather crashes over the lighthouse, I'm still standing there looking out for them all the time.” “I think just keep it simple and start with what's best for the kids and what's best for my wellbeing.” MORE ABOUT MATT Connect with Matt on LinkedIn HOME GAME RESOURCE Download the free Home Game Checklist GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox  SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Sep 6

    7. How to get kids to cooperate with less yelling and threats - Force vs Power

    Sometimes the fastest way to get your kids to do what you want creates a much bigger mess afterwards. Yelling, threatening or simply overpowering a situation can work in the moment, but Jake Casella argues there’s often a better option: using ‘power’ instead of ‘force’. Through his own very imperfect parenting moments, Jake explores how dads can stay in control without always needing to take control, and why understanding what your child actually needs can make cooperation a whole lot easier. Jake is a friend, father, qualified psychotherapist, social worker, educator, and kids resilience coach with 10 years experience in casework, coaching and educating children, including two years developing and delivering school-based resilience programs. In this episode, Jake shares: The difference between using power and force with your kids, and why both can have a place in parenting.Why using too much force leads to having to repair the relationship afterwards.The times when force can actually be appropriate.The reason why yelling, threats and other forceful reactions can become our automatic response.How considering your child’s unmet needs can help you respond with more empathy.Simple ways to use power that work for both you and your child.Why giving kids some control and autonomy can make them much more willing to cooperate.How to reflect and repair when you do lose your cool. KEY QUOTES “When you use too much force, things break.” “When you are trying to use power, you need to think about the exact scenario going on right now and what leverage do you have.” “The minute that I reflect on those needs, I feel compassion and empathy.” MORE ABOUT JAKE Follow Jake on InstagramOr get in touch via his email: jake@coachingpsychotherapy.com GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on Facebook.Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolboxFollow on Youtube.Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox  SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Aug 30

    6. How to overcome fear and let your kids take risks - Fearless Trust

    For Sheldon Lieberman, learning to trust his son Spike meant first confronting the fear he was carrying himself. After the devastating loss of his two-year-old daughter, Sheldon and his former partner Olivia could have held their surviving son even tighter. Instead, over time, they found themselves giving him more freedom to explore, take risks and find his own way. That approach became the tool Sheldon calls Fearless Trust. Not pretending the fear isn’t there, but learning how to work through it so it doesn’t automatically become a limit you place on your kids. It’s an approach that has shaped Sheldon’s relationship with his now 19-year-old son and challenged his own ideas about risk, resilience and what it really means to keep our kids safe. Sheldon is a father, owner of brand design house Big Fish Design. a kids music performer called SalmonHead, and the writer and animator of Spike and Dadda, an internationally-awarded short animation series based on real recordings of Sheldon and his son Spike from the age of three to eight. In this episode, Sheldon shares: Why giving your kids the freedom to take risks can build their confidence, resilience and independence. How to recognise when your own fear is getting in the way of trusting your kids. A simple way to pause, process your reaction and come back to your child before making a decision. Why letting kids take progressively bigger risks can help them learn their own limits. How getting involved in the things that scare you can help you better understand the actual risk. Why other people’s judgement can make it harder to parent differently and the importance of finding like-minded support. How working on your own fears and experiences can change the way you respond to your kids.  KEY QUOTES “It's not just what they're asking you to do. It's how you're reacting to that question and what it brings up in you.” “Kids instinctively know that they can do more. And if they're not shut down by the parents, I think it's more about the parents being able to trust.” “I realized I had to change because I was the one who was fearing life.” MORE ABOUT SHELDON Watch Spike and Dadda on YouTube [TOOL] RESOURCES GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on Facebook.Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolboxFollow on Youtube.Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox  SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Aug 23

    5. What Dads need to know about how kids learn to read - Brain-based Model of Reading

    Learning to read is one of the most important skills our kids will ever develop, but when they struggle with it, it can be hard as a Dad to know what’s actually going on or how best to help. Our tool for this episode is ‘The Brain-based Model of Reading’, a simple way to understand what’s happening inside your child’s brain as they learn to read and how you can better support that process. To help us understand it, I’m joined by Dr Duncan Milne, an educational neuroscientist, CEO of Junior Learning, and author of “Teaching the Brain to Read”. Duncan is an expert in literacy and develops educational resources that support children learning to read which are used in schools across the world including the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. In this episode, Duncan shares: How the brain learns to read and the two different circuits kids use to sound out and recognise words. The difference between phonological and surface dyslexia, the signs of each and how they can affect the way your child reads. Simple ways to target the areas your child is struggling with.How to make reading fun which can keep your child engaged and build their confidence.How working memory affects reading and some simple games that can help strengthen it. The early warning signs that could indicate your child may struggle with reading.When it might be worth getting a tutor or professional assessment. The simple things you can do at home to build your child’s reading skills.Why you should focus on finding something your child enjoys reading. KEY QUOTES “Giving the gift of reading is like giving children a time machine.” “We need to really make that effort to model excellent language and read to our children.” “If you can make it fun, you can turn on learning.” MORE ABOUT DUNCAN Find out more about Junior Learning via the websiteFollow Duncan on LinkedIn. BRAIN-BASED MODEL OF READING RESOURCES Buy Dr Milne’s kids book “How My Brain Learns to Read” to help you and your children understand what their brain is doing when learning to reading GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE Join our community of Dads on Facebook.Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolboxFollow on Youtube.Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox  SUPPORTING RESEARCH Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic. Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

The hardest challenge I ever faced is being a modern Dad. I know so many good men who want to show up for their children but don’t have the tools, and are held back by unrealistic expectations, conflicting advice and an isolating societal structure. The Dad Toolbox podcast is stage one of solving this problem. No fluff, no celebrity stories, no comedic gold. This is parenting education for Dads.  We offer practical and scientifically-validated tools, insights and ideas curated from parenting experts, including coaches, therapists, scientists and authors. In just 30 mins per week, you are going to level up your Dad Toolbox to better support your family and children. This is a game-changer for Dads who want to show up as both a parent and a provider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Sean Croon
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sean Croon
  • Show Website
    Dad Toolbox

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