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In today's episode, we wanted to do something special for Father's Day to honor the important roles dads and other male adult role models play in children's lives. We are so grateful to be able to bring one of our clients to the show today to share his story and to talk a little about fatherhood. Ashley is joined by Joe, a dad of 3 who has been working hard with one of our parenting educators to be the best dad he can be. We wanted to share some of the things he has learned over the years, and encourage our dads listening to never stop working on themselves and their connections with their children. On behalf of everyone at Parenting Matters, Happy Fathers Day! If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Today I'm joined by our very own Marketing and Development Director, Bridget Harry. Bridget and I are both moms, and we both love researching as well as finding parenting techniques to make our lives easier. This week, we were busy at work interviewing our Parenting Educators to get a compilation of really helpful strategies and tips to help your children beat the summer slide and to incorporate learning into your summer adventures this year. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, a working mom sending your kids to summer camp, or on a road trip or vacation, we have some practical tips to help your child(ren) keep those skills they worked so hard for during the past school year! If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

On today’s episode of the podcast, Ashley is joined by Jackie Hester, a Parenting Educator at Parenting Matters, to talk about the topic of shame and how it relates to parenting. Many of us parents will unknowingly shame our children at some point, and not even be aware of it. When a child experiences any type of shame, it affects their self-esteem and self-worth in ways we may not realize. The good news is, that it’s not too late to learn healthier ways to communicate with our children to build them up. Jackie discusses the different ways shame presents itself in families, she gives some detailed examples, and best of all, some strategies to use instead of shaming our kids. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

I've had the privilege of hosting the Parenting Matters Podcast for about a year now, but it is time for a new perspective. Luckily, Ashley Williams, our Parenting Matters Administrative Assistant, and a young mother of three children, has stepped up and is looking forward to taking on the role of host from May 1.  Today, I'd like you to meet her. Thanks to all of you who've listened to the show over the past year. I hope you'll enjoy listening to Ashley and her guests as much as I've enjoyed doing this. It's been an honor.  If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Joining Steve again on the podcast is Gloria Tate, to discuss talking to your children in a pandemic world. Gloria is a therapist with the Parenting Matters' Chosen Families program. She discusses how validating your child’s feelings, regularly communicating, consistency and routines can be extremely beneficial for your children when going through crisis or chaos. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Joining me again this week is Parenting Matters’ Program Director Kelly Benford to talk about boredom in children as we approach Summer Break. For many parents, everyday responsibilities, such as work, household chores, and appointments, don’t take a break as children have long, unregimented, summer days. Kelly lets you in on a little secret. You don’t have to fix a child’s boredom! She shares how to guide your children to solve their own boredom dilemmas and also ideas and suggestions to help them get started. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Joining Steve on the podcast is Lori Stephens, a School Success Coach and Educational Advocate. She is here to give us an overview of executive functioning as it relates to children. Executive functioning, in a nutshell, is a set of mental skills that help you manage time, pay attention, plan, organize, etc. For our students, these skills are the base skills needed to be successful in school, that aren’t always intuitive, or easily learned. When it comes to children with ADHD or other special needs, it can be particularly helpful to understand executive functioning to support their success in and out of school. At the end, Lori gives some resources to dive a little deeper into this topic, so that you can begin to help your child improve their executive functioning both at home and academically. Check out https://www.understood.org/ and https://www.additudemag.com/ Additionally, this short video may help. https://youtu.be/H4YIHrEu-TU If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

With a small gap in our schedule, we're re-airing the first full episode of the Parenting Matters Podcast, with Katrina Bellemare, Executive Director of Parenting Matters. There is never a bad time to reintroduce why and how important parenting education can be. Once the interview with Katrina is over, stick around for a couple of minutes to hear how Steve got involved in the agency. It has been an impressive journey watching Katrina lead this organization that has impacted thousands of families through parenting education and support. Through this podcast, Katrina has asked me to help share the vast expertise and knowledge, as well as stories of resiliency and hope that lie within the professionals at Parenting Matters. Her vision is that parents from around the world will learn new strategies, feel validated and supported, understand more about their children’s development, and be in awe of what amazing accomplishments young and growing minds are capable of at every stage. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Joining me on this week's episode of the podcast is Chris Williams, the owner of a digital agency, and Vice President of the Parenting Matters’ Board of Directors. Chris is an expert on all things social media, and he is here to share some internet safety tips for parents. Learn about how children today are engaging in social media, such as finstas and secret facebook groups. His biggest takeaway for parents is to always make a point to regularly communicate with your children, and to fully explain to them the dangers of the internet. A “do as I say” approach is not what is best when it comes to keeping our kids safe online. It is best to give children a thorough and honest understanding of the dangers that exist on the internet. As mentioned in the podcast, Chris has added some points below for you to consider when thinking about YOUR child's social media presence. Kids are on social platforms, deal with it. Even with the right parenting and parental controls - Kids lead secret lives on social media. What parents need to watch out for Finsta's Kik Facebook groups What can parents do about it? Keep an Open Dialogue With Your Children. Educate Children on the Risks of Social Media. Follow Age Requirement Guidelines. Set Ground Rules for Social Media Use. Stay Up to Date on Your Child's Privacy Settings. Consider Products That Help You Monitor Online Activity. Staying safe on social media (What to teach your kids to watch out for) What FB and IG and other social platforms can do to self esteem While social media is sometimes touted to combat loneliness, a significant body of research suggests it may have the opposite effect. By triggering comparison with others, it can raise doubts about self-worth, potentially leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Remember, we always want to hear from you. If you have anything to say on this or any other subject, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Joining me this week are two guests, Katrina Bellemare and Kelly Benford, to discuss their experiences in step parenting. When becoming a blended family, Katrina and Kelly share how making intentional decisions can help your children feel valued, create a positive home environment, and help spouses understand their unique parenting roles and responsibilities. They give tips for boundaries, respect, discipline, and making big decisions as a family. Their biggest takeaway is to give grace and time to all parties, including yourself, as you transition into this role. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Today’s guest is Melissa, a Parenting Educator, who is joining Steve to discuss how to handle arguing between parents. Having disagreements is a normal part of a relationship. However, Melissa gives us some great tips on how to have healthy disagreements and discussions as parents. She talks about what to do after you have had an argument that got out of hand, better ways to communicate as parents, and the importance of modeling healthy behavior and disagreements to your children. Whether you are married, living together, or just simply co-parenting your children together, there will be practical tips for you to take away from this episode. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Joining us today is Kelly Benford, our Program Director. Kelly shares with us some tips and tricks for surviving the holiday season as a parent. With topics such as managing your stress, blended families, divorce/co-parenting, gift recommendations for kids, expectations and self-care, there is a little something for everyone to take away from this holiday-themed episode. Perhaps one of the most important tips Kelly gives us is that positive stress is still stress, and it’s important to regulate your energy so that you can be there to help support your child in regulating their own energy during such a busy season. Disclaimer- Santa is mentioned in this episode if listening around children. If you'd like more information on the subjects discussed, or suggest any upcoming topics for discussion, just email us at info@parentingmattersfl.org and we'll respond as soon as possible.