The Parenting Horizons Podcast Julie Ross M.A.

If you feel like your kids just aren’t listening to you anymore, there’s a good chance you’ve fallen into one or more classic communication blocks, practically guaranteeing that they shut you out. While parents often mean well, these blocks, over time, become a wall separating you from your child.



The good news is that you can learn to recognize the ways you may be inadvertently shutting your kid out. We’ll delve into these communication blocks, what they sound like and what you can do differently to start to tear down that wall between you and your child and build bridges instead.

Courage and positive self esteem are essential to living authentic lives. They are the greatest gifts we can give our children. We’ll uncover the ways you may be unintentionally robbing your child of self-esteem (yes, praise might actually be backfiring!) and the small but powerful changes you can make to instill courage instead.

Frustration. Despair. Jealousy. Grief. Powerlessness. 



Uncomfortable, unpleasant feelings are a fact of life. Everybody has them, including your kids. But some parents make the mistake of pretending they don’t exist, telling our kids to “suck it up” or “find their happy place.” And if you deny or suppress feelings, they just squirt out sideways, often in unpredictable and destructive ways.



Today we talk about the sometimes perfectly understandable reason parents may want to gloss over their children’s negative feelings or jump in too quickly to “fix” it.  And we offer techniques for helping your kid learn how to handle negative feelings head on, leading to resilient children who possess that much sought after quality: “grit.”

Risky Business

Have you ever watched a baby take their first steps, fall down, get back up again? No one taught them to keep trying, it’s baked into our very DNA.  The fact is, humans are natural risk takers.  But there’s also no denying that some risks are dangerous. So how do you channel that drive into something positive? We discuss how parents can use the power of consequences to encourage your kids to become "appropriate risk takers"



Consequences VS. Punishment: One works and the other…doesn't.

Make no mistake: these two forms of disciplining your kids are very different and produce very different results! We’ve all heard it before: “Mistakes are for learning.” Children must be given a chance to learn from their mistakes and try again. But how do you give your kid a chance to try again without feeling like a doormat or like you’re being taken advantage of? We walk through some real life examples of how to use consequences and how, in the long run, it works way better than “punishment”.

The “Nag Then Yell" Technique

Spoiler alert: This extremely common parenting technique DOES NOT WORK! We’ll explain what it is, why it falls flat, and how to replace it with something that is way more effective!



The “I” message

A classic communication technique with a twist holds the key to getting your kids to listen. 



The Myth of Instinctive Parenting

Why does parenting feel so hard sometimes? It may be because of the myth floating around in your head that somehow you should just “know” how to do it. Parenting is the most important job you may ever have, so there’s nothing wrong in reaching out for a little bit of guidance!

In this episode we answer some parent questions and reflect on some common threads of concern with our listeners.



In case it’s not obvious, shame is NOT a motivator.

Kids are struggling with motivation. It’s okay for parents to have goals for their children, but how we communicate our expectations can mean the difference between success and failure.



Is my kid depressed? Am I?

What’s the difference between the “blues” and something more serious. We give you the warning signs and what to do about it.



Exercise? What’s that?

How important is it to make sure your kids get some exercise when they are spending all day isolating in the house? Depending on their age, you probably can’t force them, nor should you. But if you engage them in a non-judgemental dialogue, you’ll have a better chance of getting buy in.



Is ignorance really bliss?

COVID is a complex, and potentially terrifying, topic to discuss with your kids, especially younger ones. We break down the key steps in talking to your younger kids about difficult subjects.