The Parenting Horizons Podcast

Julie Ross M.A.
  • 4.9 (18)
  • PARENTING
The Parenting Horizons Podcast

A parenting expert and a Ninja Turtle walk into a bar... A lively presentation of insights, tips and techniques for parents of children ages 12 months through 25 years. Hosted by best selling author and parenting expert Julie Ross M.A. (www.ParentingHorizons.com) and actor/writer/father (and actual Mutant Ninja Turtle) Gregory Abbey.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Enough With The Lectures! How to talk to your kids about drugs, alcohol and vaping so they’ll listen.

    When it comes to drug and alcohol use, it’s very tempting as parents to put your head in the sand and say "Not my kid” but that strategy never works, even if your kid isn’t actively experimenting (yet.) Since the most important component of prevention is education, the first step for parents is to get educated and be honest with yourself. In this episode we’ll talk about what you need to know as a parent to effectively communicate your values and concerns to your kids, without them shutting you down. When do kids commonly start experimenting with drugs and alcohol? Should you start having conversations with your kids before then? How do you explain the difference between abstaining vs. postponing? We’ll talk about how to navigate denial (both yours and your child’s) and what are the pros and cons of using monitoring and tracking apps like Life360. And with so much at stake, when is it okay to allow natural consequences and when should you step in? This episode will give your practical advice on how to navigate this potential minefield, and keep your relationship with your kid intact.

    53 min

  2. OCT 5

    Not All Disabilities Are Visible: Parenting Neurodiverse Children

    In this episode we talk with author Rebecca Vitsmun about her new book "Eliza Dee’s Universes." As an autistic mother with neurodivergent children, Vitsmun was inspired by her personal experiences to provide an accessible story that inspires creative imagination in readers of all ages and backgrounds. You’ll not only learn more about autism but also EDS, hyperphantasia and other “invisible” disabilities and how to spot them in your children. And while you shouldn’t rush in to diagnose or label your child, an accurate and timely diagnosis can be VERY helpful. We’ll also discuss what to do first, before getting your child diagnosed. Kids do well, if they can.  If they aren’t doing well, there is something standing in their way. From a practical standpoint that means: Focusing on your child’s strengths, not their weaknesses Leaning in with compassionate curiosity instead of pulling back What a shame spiral looks like and how to avoid it Finally, we’ll address how to advocate for your child in a school system that may not provide services for neurodiverse children.

    50 min

  3. JUL 20

    Who Blinks First? Essential Negotiation Skills For Parents

    Have you ever gotten into an argument with your three year old and wondered “How did it come to this? I’m bigger, stronger, smarter and yet this little tyke has me on the ropes!!!!” Have you tried to set a boundary with your teenager, only to have them“flip the script” and suddenly you’re on the defensive. In this special podcast we interview certified hostage and conflict negotiator Karleen Savage M.A., author other “The Confident Teen Blueprint: A Parent’s 30 Day Challenge to Empower their Teen.” We’ll discuss universal skills for conflict resolution that work with all children of all ages (including adult children!) Some of the techniques include: Embracing Curiosity: How to become an exceptional learner. Master Listening: How to story map, connecting the bullet points and filling in the gaps in the story. “Zippy the Lippy” : Learn when to keep your mouth shut.  Most relational conflict is NOT an emergency. There is a way to avoid getting caught up in the other person’s intensity.  Attitude: How can I deescalate this? How can I be present without “fixing” the problem. If you’ve ever felt like a hostage in your own family, you’ll want to listen to this one.

    52 min

  4. MAY 3

    BATTLE STATIONS! Getting Your Toddler To Sleep

    Even parents of grown children sometimes wake up in a cold sweat reliving the battles in getting their 4 year old to go to sleep. In this episode we tackle head on the thorny but solvable challenge of getting your young child to go to sleep. After listening to this podcast, you’ll be primed to make bedtime more effective and relaxing for everybody. Some of the topics we cover are: When is the ideal time to switch your child from a crib to a bed? Common causes that create difficulty falling asleep or middle of the night wakings. How do you handle it if the child is afraid? How much sleep do children this age actually need at night? What is a healthy bedtime routine that promotes sleep? In the end, it’s all about taking back parental authority by setting appropriate, respectful, firm boundaries while avoiding some of the common mistakes that parents make that inadvertently cause sleep problems. We’ll give you tips on how to set limits and consequences that actually work and give you a realistic time frame about how long to expect before seeing results. Finally, we’ll look at the more controversial topics: Do rewards work? And what about the “family bed”?

    47 min

  5. MAR 1

    "Lions and Tigers and Bears, (and CBT) Oh My!" Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - What it is and how it can help anxiety and depression in your kids

    In this episode we interview clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Cohen clinical about the huge uptick in anxiety and depression in our kids since the pandemic and how CBT is providing a lifeline for many families. Therapists using CBT work with anxious and depressed children and teens to help them identify the specific triggers that lead to their anxiety and give them strategies to develop resilience and to handle discomfort. We also discuss how parents can work with the principals of CBT including taking a “fear inventory” to help their children and teens at home.  Finally, we’ll discuss whether medication is helpful or something to be avoided.

    45 min

  6. JAN 24

    The Sleep Deprived Teen

    “Without enough sleep, we all become tall two-year-olds.” Sleep isn’t a luxury, and this is especially true among our tweens and teens. 77% of teens nationwide do not get the minimum number of hours of sleep they need each night (8 hours is the minimum.) And it’s no surprise that sleep deprivation leads to short-temperedness, risky behaviors; poor learning; inability to absorb, retain and retrieve new information; drowsy driving and poor mental health.   In this episode we interview Lisa L. Lewis, author of “The Sleep Deprived Teen” who helps us come up with a strategy for helping our kids get they sleep they desperately need. We’ll uncover the truth about how a teen’s sleep patterns differ from the years prior to and after adolescence and how this Circadian rhythm shift affects them. Finally, we’ll give parents tips for how to help your child self-regulate, make sleep a family priority and help overworked and over-scheduled teenagers achieve a balance in their sleep, social life, school work and extracurricular activities

    56 min

  7. 11/06/2023

    It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

    It’s okay to not be okay: Self-care vs. that never ending, ever expanding TO DO list Being a parent is A LOT of work and often very stressful. But there’s stress and then there’s STRESS, and a parent’s relationship to that stress can occasionally  dip into unhealthy territory. But if that happens, there are ways to get back into balance and find a healthy way to cope. In today’s episode we talk with Meredith Ethington, author of “The Motherload: Surviving the daily grind without losing your ever-loving mind.” We start by debunking the idea that men and women are “wired” differently, and focus instead on how the pressure to conform to societal norms about men and women contribute to the fact that mothers typically bear the majority of the mental, physical and emotional load in families. We offer suggestions as to how mothers can learn to share that load so they don't feel so overwhelmed all of the time. Finally, we talk about how it’s okay to not be okay. The mental load placed on mothers can sometimes lead to mental health issues and it’s important to talk about this. Destigmatizing mental health issues is critical and parents of all genders (partnered or not) do not need to feel shame about needing help. (And don't necessarily have to spend money to get that help.)

    49 min

  8. 09/20/2023

    The “School Of Hard Knocks”: Fostering Resilience In Your Kids

    It’s a fact of life; at some point in their life, your kid is going to get knocked down by circumstances out of their control. But as uncomfortable as that truth may be, there are concrete steps you can take as a parent to foster resilience in your kid, the kind of grit that allows them to get up, dust off and get back on the horse. In this episode we interview Kate Lund, the author of “Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive In School, Sports and Life” We’ll identify the pillars of resilience and ways to help your kid identify and build upon the tools to reduce stress and increase confidence, even in the face of setbacks and disappointment. Finally, we’ll talk about ways you can model resilience for your kid and how both your child (and you!) can learn to tolerate discomfort.

    50 min
See All (55)

4.9
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

A parenting expert and a Ninja Turtle walk into a bar... A lively presentation of insights, tips and techniques for parents of children ages 12 months through 25 years. Hosted by best selling author and parenting expert Julie Ross M.A. (www.ParentingHorizons.com) and actor/writer/father (and actual Mutant Ninja Turtle) Gregory Abbey.

Information

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada