A lot of parenting advice sounds like a to-do list. Dr. Will Dobud joins us to make the case for something both simpler and harder: stop chasing the perfect technique and start rebuilding the conditions where kids can actually thrive. We talk about youth mental health trends, why anxiety can rise even when “support” increases, and how easily adults can confuse more intervention with better outcomes.

We dig into research on school-based social emotional learning and universal stress management programs, including why broad rollouts can sometimes make students more anxious. The thread running through it all is co-regulation: kids learn emotional regulation through safe, trusting relationships with adults, not by being pushed into independent coping skills before they are developmentally ready. We also connect the dots to psychotherapy research and why the relationship matters more than the modality, whether you’re a therapist, teacher, counselor, or parent.

Then we go practical. We explore risky play, challenge, and why “be careful” can transfer adult anxiety onto kids at the exact moment they need focus and confidence. We also question perfection-driven schooling, the pressure to be exceptional, and the importance of community and a real village of adults. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by parenting tips, school pressure, screen time debates, or youth anxiety headlines, this conversation offers a calmer, more evidence-informed way forward.

Subscribe for more Brainy Moms conversations, share this with a parent or educator who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one change you’d make to give kids more connection and real-world practice?

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

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Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Have you tried parenting through playfulness? "Play" isn't usually what we think of as our kid melts down when it’s time to leave the park, ignores us at clean-up time, or suddenly “can’t remember” the three things we just asked them to do. But maybe we should try it! On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Dr. Kim Van Dusen, a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist known as The Parentologist. We talk about a calmer path that actually works in real homes with real schedules.

We dig into what “parenting through play” really means and why it’s less about long pretend-play sessions and more about tiny, strategic moments of playfulness that change the whole emotional tone. Dr. Kim explains how she blends play therapy, solution-focused therapy, and positive behavior interventions and supports to help families build better behavior, deeper connection, and clearer communication. You’ll hear practical ideas you can use today, including micro “play pockets” that reduce power struggles without adding more work.

We also unpack what’s underneath misbehavior with her ABC framework: avoidance, boredom, connection, and the need for power. From tantrums and transitions to lying and screen time limits, we focus on lowering the temperature, validating big feelings, and setting firm boundaries without getting stuck in tug-of-war. Dr. Kim shares simple tools like playful prompts, storytelling strategies that uncover the “why,” and parent self-regulation techniques that help you stay steady when your child can’t.

If you want more cooperation with less conflict, press play, then subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find these playful parenting tools. What’s the hardest moment in your day right now: transitions, mealtime, homework, or screens?

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

A child's diagnosis can feel like a lifeline and a weight at the same time. When your child struggles with attention, learning, anxiety, behavior, or social connection, the question isn’t only “What is it?” It’s also “What will a diagnosis change for my child, for school, for insurance, and for how they see themselves?” On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy is joined by pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Rebecca “Dr. F” Fontanetta to talk through why diagnoses like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, anxiety disorders, Tourette syndrome, ARFID, and developmental coordination disorder often overlap. Dr. F explains why the DSM shifted to allow more co-occurring diagnoses, how that can improve access to the right services, and why the real value is usually the full neuropsychological evaluation report that links test data to everyday life.

We also dig into the “overpathologizing” trap, what a meaningful change from baseline looks like, and when a wait-and-see approach is reasonable versus risky. You’ll hear practical guidance for public school and homeschool families, including how IEP and 504 accommodations work, why insurance reimbursement often drives the need for formal documentation, and how to choose the right clinician for your child’s age and needs. We close with a reminder that no word on paper changes who your child is, and that understanding barriers and building support matters more than chasing the perfect label.

Subscribe for more parenting and learning science, share this conversation with a friend who’s wrestling with testing, and leave a review telling us: what’s the hardest part of deciding whether to seek a diagnosis?

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com