Busy parents can build values into everyday life through simple routines—reading bedtime stories, having conversations during mealtimes, praising small acts of kindness, and asking children gentle reflection questions. These consistent touchpoints help children naturally internalise important values.

June, our host, spoke with early childhood educators Ashley Yeoh and Joanna Lee—both mothers and certified parent coaches—who explain why values are the foundation of raising confident, grounded children. They describe how values act as anchors, helping children handle peer pressure, make sensible choices, and navigate emotional challenges. Through real examples, such as choosing honesty or practising forgiveness, they show that children learn best when parents model the behaviour they hope to teach.

Ashley and Joanna remind parents that they are their child’s strongest teachers. Everyday interactions provide meaningful opportunities to reinforce values. Their encouragement is to start small—notice the good, name the value, and live it out. Shared family values give children a steady compass to guide them with clarity and virtues.

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Sign up here to create an account with Focus on the Family Singapore to access a wide range of marriage and parenting resources designed to nurture and strengthen your family relationships.

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If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/parentedpodcast to share with your friends.

You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Please note that if you are based in Singapore, as a donor-supported charity with Institution of a Public Character status, all monthly and one-time donations of $50 and above, will qualify for 250% tax deduction.

Many parents are beginning to recognise how deeply our childhood experiences shape the way we show up in our parenting today. We absorbed patterns growing up — how conflict was managed, how emotions were expressed, and how love was shown. These early lessons can strengthen us, but at times, old hurts or unmet needs resurface in the way we respond to our children.

So how do we parent with openness, acknowledging and working through our own childhood issues? And how do these past experiences influence our children’s sense of safety and identity?

In this episode, Ee Jay speaks with Kelvin Seah — a father of two, educator, and passionate advocate for fathering. Kelvin helps us unpack what it means to recognise and take ownership of our childhood wounds, and how the healing journey can transform the way we parent today.

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Life can be overwhelming. Having a listening ear can bring relief, help you feel supported, and improve relationships. Make an appointment with a counsellor today. Fees apply. Find our more www.family.org.sg/counselling.

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If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/parentedpodcast to share with your friends.

You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Please note that if you are based in Singapore, as a donor-supported charity with Institution of a Public Character status, all monthly and one-time donations of $50 and above, will qualify for 250% tax deduction.

Let’s dive in. Play is just as important. We explore how well‑intentioned adult expectations can unintentionally shape a child’s inner world. When children are frequently directed—told what to do, how to do it, and at whose pace—they begin meeting adult expectations rather than developing healthy self‑regulation. This can narrow their curiosity, limit creativity, and reduce their freedom to explore, leaving them believing there is only one “right” way to do things.

Host June speaks with Mariko, a former early childhood educator, and Ruth, a stay‑at‑home mum and clinical psychologist. Together, they share why growth is still possible—for both children and parents. Intentional parenting can create space for autonomy, exploration, and emotional development, helping children grow confidently at their own pace.

A key theme is the importance of playing. Play supports cognitive, social, and emotional growth, helping children with problem‐solve, imagine, negotiate, and understand their world. It restores creativity, confidence, and trust.

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Sign up here to create an account with Focus on the Family Singapore to access a wide range of marriage and parenting resources designed to nurture and strengthen your family relationships.

--

If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/parentedpodcast to share with your friends.

You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Please note that if you are based in Singapore, as a donor-supported charity with Institution of a Public Character status, all monthly and one-time donations of $50 and above, will qualify for 250% tax deduction.