Parenting Decoded Mary Eschen

How much can a 2-, 3- or 4-year-old do? What can they do? They’re so little, right? A toddler? A preschooler? What’s reasonable? What’s not? Are you doing too much as a parent? All good questions for sure that most of us struggle with! In this podcast we explore what’s reasonable to encourage and train young kids to do from chores to life skills that will build self-confidence and independence. Here's the list of ideas we...

Getting teens and tweens to talk to parents is an age old battle the repeats itself over and over again with each new generation. Times change but our teens wanting independence from us doesn't. In this episode learn some tips and tricks for how to get our kids to relax and just enjoy being with us so that they'll open up and want to trust us. There is a list of activities and how to use them to break down the barriers and engage your teens and tweens that should lead to bui...

Kids of all ages need to feel connected and loved unconditionally. How can you set up a system in your family for creating and keeping those connections? In this podcast we go over connections for kids between 2 and 10. The next podcast covers what you can do for teens and tweens, a much harder demographic than younger kids who still think the world of you. In this episode we explore ideas on how to have regular "quick" connections on a daily or weekly basis while also...

Grumpy kids can really put your home into a foul mood. What can we do to help tame these dark clouds and bring some sunshine back into our lives?In this episode we'll cover these four steps:Step 1 – Keep Your Cool Step 2 – Offer Empathy and Hugs Step 3 - Fix the Broken Connection Step 4 – Go on a Trigger Quest and Brainstorm The transcript for this episode is HEREHere are the resources mentioned in the podcast:Kings Corner Card Game YouTube Instruction Video Mood Met...

Parents struggle with how to motivate their children toward certain behaviors. Typically rewards and bribes are used. In this episode learn about when bribes and rewards are most likely to motivate your child. There are pros and cons of both types of motivations. Bribes tend to reinforce negative behaviors, while rewards are commonly thought of as something that's planned ahead and well-thought-out, used for positive behaviors. However, sometimes our plans backfire!&nb...

Kids being bullied isn't new. What's new is the extent at which they are being bullied and, with the internet, in new and harmful ways. In this episode, we'll cover the different types of bullying:Verbal - teasing, name-calling, taunting, etc.,Social - spreading rumors, leaving kids out, embarrassing them, etc.Physical - hitting, spitting, tripping, etc. Cyberbullying - using digital devices to cause others harmWhy does bullying occur?What can families do?How you can role-pla...