About Practical Parenting
Latest Episodes
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Resilience in an Age of Worry with Dr. Meredith Elkins
Parents today are under enormous pressure to protect their children from discomfort, but what if constantly “fixing” anxiety is actually making it worse? In this live conversation, Dr. Nguyen talks with clinical child psychologist Dr. Meredith Elkins on how avoidance fuels anxiety, what keeps families stuck, and how parents can help kids build resilience by facing hard feelings instead of escaping them.
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Microdose: End-of-Year School Burnout: How Parents Can Help Kids Finish Strong
Challenging behavior spikes once the weather gets nice aren't just in your house. In this episode, we explain why kids at all ages hit burnout as the school year winds down and what parents can do to help.
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Understanding Neurodivergence with Dr. Brad Schlaggar
Neurodivergence is a normal variation of the human condition, but many parents still struggle to understand what it means for their child. In this episode, we discuss what neurodiversity really is, why early identification matters, and how a strengths-based approach can help kids thrive.
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Microdose: AAP Screen Time Guidelines Explained
The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its screen time guidance, shifting the focus from hours to a broader “digital ecosystem” that includes the child, caregiver, content, and larger systems. In this episode, we break down the new framework, including the 5 Cs and practical tools parents can use to support healthy media use at home.
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Unfiltered: Body Image is Not Just a Girl Problem
Body image pressure is no longer just affecting girls—more boys are now struggling with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. In this episode, we discuss where these pressures come from, how they show up differently for boys and girls, and what parents can do to support healthier relationships with food and body image.
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Microdose: What the New Food Pyramid Means for Families
Nutrition guidance evolves as science evolves, and that can feel overwhelming for parents who are simply trying to feed their kids well. In this episode, we unpack the recent changes to the federal food pyramid and explain what these tools are really meant to do.
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How Our Childhood Shapes How We Show Up for Our Kids
Most of parenting has very little to do with our kids. In this episode, we explore how our childhood experiences show up in moments of parenting stress, why everyday parenting moments can trigger us, and how this can lead us to respond in ways we might not intend, all through the lens of Internal Family Systems framework. This isn't another parenting style or item we need to check off the list. This episode simply offers another way of understanding ourselves, so we can parent with calm, clar...
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Microdose: Parenting Ins and Outs for 2026
We are well into January, but it's never too late to reflect. In this episode, we review key parenting themes from 2025 and share what parents should leave behind and what they should bring into 2026.
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What Children Are Really Telling Us Through Play with Dr. Rachel Altvater
Play is fun, but it's also how children communicate. In this episode, we are joined by psychologist and play therapy expert Dr. Rachel Altvater to explore what kids express through play and why it’s such a powerful therapeutic tool. From understanding play themes and symbolic behavior to learning why children need control, autonomy, and emotional safety, this conversation helps parents see play as a window into their child’s internal world. Dr. Altvater practices at Creative Psychological Hea...
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Microdose: How to Apologize to Your Kids
It happened; you yelled. You swore you never would, but you did. You are not alone. There isn't a parent in the world who hasn't lost their cool, and honestly, it's important you did. Repair is an essential skill for parents to learn and to model for our kids.
