If you’ve ever wondered how to get kids to listen, you’re not alone. Parents often feel like they are repeating themselves over and over, asking their child to put on shoes, clean up toys, or get ready for school. In this episode, I share simple strategies that can dramatically improve how to get kids to listen by making small changes to the way we communicate with our children.

In my clinical work, I often see that the issue isn’t that kids refuse to cooperate. Instead, the problem is that our instructions for kids are unclear, indirect, or overwhelming. When parents focus on clearer instructions for kids and strengthen positive communication with your child, cooperation becomes much easier. These simple shifts can make a huge difference in how to get kids to listen during everyday routines.

In this episode, I talk about:

1. Why kids sometimes ignore directions and what parents misunderstand about how to get kids to listen
2. How clearer instructions for kids can increase cooperation and reduce frustration
3. The role of positive communication with your child in helping kids respond the first time
4. Why vague directions often fail, and how better instructions for kids solve the problem
5. How strengthening positive communication with your child can reduce yelling and power struggles
6. Why are strategies like these frequently discussed on the best parenting podcasts focused on practical parenting tools
7. How improving positive communication with your child helps children understand expectations more clearly

If you enjoy learning practical strategies from the best parenting podcasts, this episode will give you simple tools you can use immediately to improve cooperation at home. Conversations about how to get kids to listen are common across the best parenting podcasts, because small communication changes can transform everyday parenting moments.

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Do you really have to talk to your kids about sex?

In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Melissa Goldberg Mintz to talk about one of the parenting topics people avoid the most: having an age appropriate sex talk with your children. Melissa is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and assistant clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine who specializes in helping parents navigate difficult conversations. Together, we discuss why sexual education for kids is so important and why choosing to talk to your kids about sex is one of the most important pieces of advice on parenting we can offer.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why parents often feel uncomfortable starting an age appropriate sex talk

• How sexual education for kids helps protect children and build healthy boundaries

• Why choosing to talk to your kids about difficult topics builds trust and communication

• The risks of children learning about sex from the internet, friends, or misinformation

• Practical advice on parenting for creating a safe space where kids can ask tough questions

If you've ever wondered whether you really need to talk to your kids about sex, this conversation will help you understand why an age appropriate sex talk and honest sexual education for kids are such important parts of modern advice on parenting.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and Recovery

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In this solo episode of the Educated Parent Podcast, I’m talking about what to do when your child does something that feels intentionally “naughty.” From peanut butter in the hair to Sharpie on the walls, moments of child misbehavior can feel personal, frustrating, and completely overwhelming.

I know how easy it is to assume our kids are doing these things on purpose. In the moment, naughty behavior can feel like sabotage. But what if most child misbehavior is not defiance at all?

In this episode, I walk through why kids misbehave from a developmental perspective and explain how our reactions can either escalate conflict or turn the situation into a teaching moment. I share how curious parenting has helped me respond more effectively and why regulating ourselves first is the most important step.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why kids misbehave even when they are not trying to cause problems

• How developmentally appropriate behavior can look like naughty behavior

• How I calm myself before responding to child misbehavior

• How curious parenting helps prevent power struggles

• How to turn frustrating moments into opportunities for growth

If you have ever felt personally attacked by your child’s behavior or wondered why kids misbehave in ways that create chaos at the worst possible time, this episode will help you approach child misbehavior with more calm, clarity, and confidence.

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When it comes to supplements for kids, most parents are left asking the same questions: Are they safe? Are they regulated? And how do I know what’s actually inside the bottle?

In this episode of The Educated Parent Podcast, Dr. Leah Clionsky sits down with board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Shetal Amin to unpack what every parent needs to know about supplements for kids and pediatric supplements.

With shelves full of gummies, powders, and capsules promising better sleep, improved focus, calmer behavior, and stronger immunity, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many families turn to supplements for kids as a first step before considering prescription treatment. But are all pediatric supplements created equal?

Dr. Shetal Amin explains:

• Why supplements for kids are not regulated the same way as prescription medications are

• How to evaluate the safety and quality of pediatric supplements

• What third-party testing actually means

• Why “natural” does not automatically mean safe

• How marketing and social media influence decisions about supplements for kids

• The red flags to watch for when evaluating pediatric wellness products

You’ll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls, including proprietary blends and products that sound too good to be true. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about choosing pediatric supplements, this episode will help you approach the process with clarity and evidence in mind.

Most importantly, this conversation is about confident parenting. Making informed decisions about supplements for kids requires asking good questions, understanding the science, and knowing when to involve your pediatrician. Dr. Shetal Amin shares practical guidance so you can practice confident parenting without fear, pressure, or guilt.

Whether you’re considering a multivitamin, a sleep aid, or another type of pediatric supplements, this episode will give you the tools you need to make thoughtful, informed choices.

Tune in to learn how to navigate supplements for kids safely and confidently.

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When your child is angry, it can trigger something deep inside of you. You might want to defend yourself, shut it down, or react quickly. In this episode, I walk you through how to respond in those heated moments using evidence-based parenting strategies that protect your relationship instead of escalating the conflict. I also explain how to calm a child down when angry while staying calm and confident, even when the words coming at you feel sharp.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why it is developmentally normal when your child is angry, and what anger is actually communicating

• Exactly how to respond when your child is angry without invalidating their emotions

• The difference between allowing anger and allowing disrespect

• Practical steps for how to calm a child down when angry without losing your authority

• How to stay calm and confident so you can model emotional regulation

• How these strategies reflect true evidence-based parenting and build long-term emotional skills

Learning how to respond when your child is angry is one of the most powerful shifts you can make. When you approach these moments with evidence-based parenting, and practice staying calm and confident, you teach your child exactly how to calm a child down when angry in healthy ways for the rest of their life.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Episode 37: Teaching Kids Emotions and Identifying Feelings for Fewer Blow Ups

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