Kids & Family
**Notes from a Child Psychologist**

Welcome to the “Notes from a Child Psychologist Podcast”, a place for parents who aspire to be intentional about meeting their child’s mental health needs. The “Notes From a Child Psychologist Podcast” is hosted by Dr. Tasha Brown, a licensed clinical psychologist. In her clinical practice, Dr. Brown provides a wide variety of evidence-based clinical services to parents and children. Dr. Brown is passionate about helping the individuals she works with function adequately at home, school, and in their communities. She is EXCITED about using this platform to help parents make decisions about their children’s everyday lives. Each week the podcast will explore topics that directly impact the mental health of children. Parents will walk away with facts, resources, and practical tools that will help them make decisions for their children and family that work for them!

Latest Episodes:

Ahh! My Child is Having a Tantrum: Helping Your Child Manage Big Emotions : Part 2 Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

When children feel their needs aren't met physically or emotionally, they get angry, frustrated, and annoyed. But, unlike us, our children don't have the emotional language to express themselves —leading to temper tantrums/big emotions. Often when parents and caregivers find themselves frustrated when managing their child’s big emotions.

In this two-part episode, we explore age-appropriate tantrums (yes, some tantrums are a part of normal development), The ABCs of emotions, and responses that parents and caregivers can use to guide children through Big Emotions. In part two of this episode, we will explore a variety of ways that parents can manage their child’s disruptive behaviors.

Join me for another episode of Notes From A Child Psychologist

Resources:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- Dr.tashabrown7@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Note of the week - How Parents Make Tantrums Worse

The Value-Based Masterclass is for parents and caregivers who need guidance to identify their Parenting Values and who would love a space where they can explore the values they bring to parenting.
The Masterclass will take place Live via Zoom on Monday, March 28th at 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST. After you purchase your ticket, you will receive a Zoom link.
REGISTER HERE

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Ahh! My Child is Having a Tantrum: Helping Your Child Manage Big Emotions : Part 1 Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

Join me for another episode of Notes From A Child Psychologist

[00:04:33] Join the Parenting Values Workshop on Monday, March 28th at 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST.
[00:05:37] Note of the week- How Parents Make Tantrums Worse
[00:12:13] What is the definition of a tantrum? Join me as I walk through the questions parents and adults can ask themselves about their child's Big Emotions.
[00:17:01] Tantrums are a part of a child's development and don't stop after grade school - Join me as I share what tantrums look like at various ages
[00:20:32] Manipulative behaviors vs. Cycles of interactions in younger children
[00:22:23] Understanding the ABCs of emotions and feelings
[00:24:14] Two questions parents and caregivers can ask themselves before responding to a child's tantrums
[00:25:41] The #1 strategy that I recommend to parents and caregivers navigating a child's tantrums
[00:29:24]Supporting children as they navigate Big Emotions and what to expect for our next episode

Resources:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- Dr.tashabrown7@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Note of the week - How Parents Make Tantrums Worse
The Value-Based Masterclass is for parents and caregivers who need guidance to identify their Parenting Values and who would love a space where they can explore the values they bring to parenting.
The Masterclass will take place Live via Zoom on Monday, March 28th at 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST. After you purchase your ticket, you will receive a Zoom link.
REGISTER HERE

Support the show

Navigating Conversations About War and Conflict with your Children Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

The complexities of foreign policy and long-standing feuds between nations are too intricate for adults to understand let alone children. Therefore, I understand why many adults shy away from having conversations about war and conflict.

This podcast exists to assist parents and educators in navigating these critical conversations so that we can protect the mental health of our children. In this episode, we discuss how to talk about the War In Ukraine with our school-age and adolescents children

My goal with this episode is to give adults the tools to help children manage the emotions that come with exposure to images of war and extreme violence. We want to help children develop empathy and ease emotional distress.

Show Highlights:

[00:01:45]The importance of fostering empathy and providing children context into what's going on in the world.
[00:02:43] Difficult conversations provide parents and caregivers with the chance to help children develop an emotional vocabulary and critical thinking skills - Listen as I share other benefits of providing safe spaces to talk about emotions.
[00:03:24]How do children process complex information? Join me as I share what happens when children don't have context and the importance of developing compassion in children.
[00:06:19] Note Of The Week- Talking To Children About War
[00:07:52] Understanding is not based on age but cognitive, social, and emotional functioning - Here I share how to discuss the war with various age groups and conversation starters.
[00:17:47] The problem with news and media is that is not designed for children. Listen as I share strategies for protecting children's mental health.
[00:30:50] Strategies for understanding the emotional language of children and how to adopt their communication style to encourage open dialogue.
[00:29:15] Self-care for parents and caregivers and the importance of modeling authenticity is explained here.

Click here for the note of the week
Register for the Parenting Values Workshop

Connect with me!

Website| Instagram| Twitter| Email
The Value-Based Masterclass is for parents and caregivers who need guidance to identify their Parenting Values and who would love a space where they can explore the values they bring to parenting.
The Masterclass will take place Live via Zoom on Monday, March 28th at 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST. After you purchase your ticket, you will receive a Zoom link.
REGISTER HERE

Support the show

It's Happening! The Value Based Parenting Masterclass. Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

How do I become the parent I've always dreamed of being?

How do I create healthy rules and guidelines for my children?

I'll be answering these questions and more in the Parent Goals: 5 Keys to Value-Based Parenting Masterclass!

Value Based Parenting is an effective tool in helping parents and caregivers manage the challenges that arise in parenting.

And parents who choose to parent based on their values find that they are more successful in building and maintaining authentic relationships with their children.

Who is this Masterclass for?

This Masterclass is for parents and caregivers who need guidance to identify their Parenting Values. This Masterclass is also for parents and caregivers who would love a space where they can think about and explore the values they bring to parenting.

What will I learn in this Masterclass?

You’ll leave with:

Techniques to identify your personal values
Techniques to identify your parenting values
Tips on how to communicate your values to your family
Ways to be consistent and maintain your values

What does the cost include?

When you purchase a ticket you will have exclusive access to the Live Masterclass and complementary worksheets to accompany the live material.

Where will class take place?

The Masterclass will take place Live via Zoom on Monday, March 28th at 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST.After you purchase your ticket, you will receive a Zoom link 24 hours before class starts.

Support the show

How Parenting Impacts Your Mental Health Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

Many adults deal with mental health concerns, leading to challenging relationships with their children. Challenges occur due to the day-to-day issues parents encounter caring for their children's physical and emotional needs while also handling their mental health.

Couple these challenges with stress from work and societal unrest, and it's easy to see why many parents report feelings of anxiety.

In this podcast episode, we explore how Parenting impacts the mental health of adults and caregivers. We also offer tips for maintaining positive relationships with your children while caring for your mental health needs.

Episode Highlights:

[00:06:10] Note of the week, How to enjoy the often exhausting, depressing role of parenthood

[00:08:44] Parenting is filled with an intense array of emotions - Listen as I share how to identify these feelings and tools for managing the stress of being a parent and caregiver.

[00:20:32] It's uncomfortable for adults to admit disappointment when they've held onto expectations for their children that don't come to fruition - Here, I share strategies to help adults cope with these feelings while learning to celebrate their child's uniqueness.

[00:23:23] Are your expectations the cause of distress or anxiety for your children. Adopting a parenting style that supports open communication may be what your child needs to feel understood and supported, but where do you start - I'll share a few strategies you can use here.

[00:26:08] Identifying your parenting values and using them to guide you in times of disappointment, stress, grief, and happiness are critical to supporting your mental health as a parent and caregiver. Join me as I share why.

[00:30:29] Interested in joining the upcoming parenting values workshop on March 28th? The details are included here.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Article by Alice G. Walton

How to Enjoy the Often Exhausting, Depressing Role of Parenthood

Connect with me!

Website| Instagram| Twitter| Email

Support the show

Breaking the Stigma! Let’s talk about the mental health of Black Children and Adolescents Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to the final episode of our Black History 2022 wellness series.

When I heard the news concerning the suicide of Cheslie Kryst, attorney, television correspondent, and former Miss USA, I was left speechless like many of you. Suicide rates amongst people of color look are skyrocketing. And for every story that makes national headlines, ten more don't.

I understand that many of my listeners are parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles dealing with children, adolescents, and young adults living with mental health concerns.

In this final episode, I want to discuss the stigma surrounding mental health in the black community. Together, we will examine the cultural attitudes that keep the stigma in place and have an honest conversation about creating real change starting in our own families and the children around us.

[00:10:36]What is Mental Health Stigma, and how does it show up in the black community?
[00:12:12]How can parents and caregivers address mental health stigmas around children.
[00:18:59] Acknowledging the harassment, bullying, and abuse around black children and adolescents with mental disorders and how we can protect our most vulnerable members of society.
[00:23:36] Addressing the black communities' mistrust of mental health care and treatments and advancements in practice.
[00:24:18] The trouble with dismissive language and improperly labeling those who struggle as "crazy" - is one of the ways we promote hiding and prevent individuals from seeking help - Listen as I share the importance of handling those we love with respect.
[00:25:18] The impact of religious coping and other mechanisms used in the black community leads to missed opportunities to get help - here is how we can change that.
[00:30:09] Creating communities of mental health professionals starts here.
[00:31:49] Getting community buy-in to support your children
[00:34:20] Breaking generational curses by sharing information and creating safe spaces to have conversations.

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Tasha Brown:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- Dr.tashabrown7@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7
Twitter- https://twitter.com/drtashab

Support the show

Representation Matters! How Representation Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to part 3 of this 4-part Black History Month Series!

Five years ago, 3-year old Sophia from South Carolina went viral when she visited a Target with her mother and chose a doll made in the image of her favorite cartoon character -Doc McStuffins.

The cashier questioned why Sophia, a 3-year old white child, would choose a black doll. Sophia's response was heard worldwide as she explained how she and Doc McStuffins were the same - including they were both doctors and both pretty.

The moral of the story is that representation and exposure matter for all children. While Sophia's story makes my heart sing as a doctor, I want us to do more to ensure that children of all genders and races see themselves represented in media and academics. In today's episode, I am focusing on why representation matters for black children and the ways that adults and the community at large can advocate for representation.

[00:02:15] Listen as I recap our 4- Part Black History Series and updates about future episodes
[00:06:46] The article of the week: The 1940's Doll Test The Study of The Psychological Effects of Segregation and how it relates to representation.
[00:10:06] What is representation - and how adults can use it to impact their child(rens) mental health positively.
[00:11:49] Research-based information on how representation impacts children's mental health -such as identity development and more.
[00:18:07] Discovering how diversity and exposure encourages empathy and compassion for other races and cultures
[00:20:47] What can we do to make sure that there's diversity in a child or adolescence? Mindful strategies for parents and caregivers
[00:30:31] Helping to instill pride and a positive self-image.

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How to have conversations about race, racism, and social justice with your children Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to the second installment of this 4-Part series:

In last week's episode, we discussed: How Knowing Their History Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health.

In this week's installment, I am sharing a framework that parents and caregivers can use to begin discussing race, racism, and social justice with children and adolescents.

In this intimate conversation, we cover the following:

How adults prepare mentally and emotionally for these difficult conversations.
The key to having developmentally appropriate conversations with your children about race, racism, and social justice.
How families who do not identify as Black can advocate for social justice.

This episode aims to ensure that all children feel safe, seen, and heard.

Feature episodes in this series include:

Why representation is crucial for your child's mental health
The importance of breaking the stigma around mental health for Black Children and Adolescents

[00:01:20] Upcoming episodes on race and mental health
[00:03:10] The note of the week and the fantastic resources on PBS.org
[00:06:35] Children listen to what you say, but what they really focus on is your behavior. Listen as I share tips that adults can use to check their personal biases and prepare to have meaningful dialogue.
[00:07:21] Strategies to navigate and process your emotions before engaging with your child(ren).
[00:09:31] Techniques for age-appropriate conversations and
[00:11:51] Modeling authenticity and several conversation openers that you can use to initiate the discussion
[00:13:44]The importance of validating your child's emotional response.
[00:17:38] Why authenticity matters
[00:18:19] How can non-black families talk about race, equal treatment, anti-racist behavior? Here I discuss the importance of teaching children about the complexities of people to promote equal treatment.
[00:25:48] Using the resources provided in the show notes and ways that children and families can get involved

Resources:

PBS Article

Connect with Dr. Tasha Brown:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- Dr.tashabrown7@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Support the show

Black History Month 2022: How Knowing Their History Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Having conversations around race and mental health is hard for parents and caregivers. Yet, parents and caregivers are the most equipped to create spaces for healthy dialogue—today, children have access to news, commentary, and social media but lack the context that history provides. In addition to understanding the world we live in, exposing children to Black History is also an opportunity to celebrate and promote a positive self-image.

This month I am celebrating Black History Month with my first series. For February, we will discuss Black History and Mental Health. We're kicking this series off with today's episode titled: Why Knowing Their History Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health. In this episode, I discuss three ways that understanding mental health can improve your child's mental health.

Future episodes in this series include:

How to talk to your children about race and racism.
Why representation is crucial for your child's mental health
The importance of breaking the stigma around mental health for Black Children and Adolescents.

[00:05:05] The note of the week, 2022's Black History Month Theme.
[00:09:09] The significance of this year's theme and how we use it to support children's mental health in the wake of recent events.
[00:11:15] Our adolescent children benefit significantly from understanding their history as this is a critical time in Identity Development. Here I discuss ways parents and caregivers can use history to help their children process the world around them.
[00:14:30] Research supports that children with a healthy sense of identity take pride in their culture. Learn how to use Black History and your family history to improve self-esteem and promote a positive self-image.
[00:15:48] The stress of racial uprisings, protests, and disturbing videos are emotionally triggering. As adults, we have the context to help us process our emotions through understanding history. Unfortunately, our children don't. Here I discuss how discussions about history can support your child's mental health and foster understanding and empathy.
[00:17:59] Resources for parents and caregivers that foster communication
[00:21:11] Discussions about history improve family connection and create moments for family connection. Join me as I share tips for creating memories through historical events.
[00:29:00] Why Black History Month and an understanding of race and racism is a conversation for everyone.

Don't forget to Listen, Share, Comment, and Rate. These small actions support this podcast and raise awareness about Childhood Mental Health.

Book Resources: https://drtashabrown.ck.page/7fb2c2baf2

Note of the Week- https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- Dr.tashabrown7@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Support the show

Why Children LOVE Routine – Even when they seem hard! Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Structure is a huge part of our everyday lives; as humans, we crave systems in the form of routines. Routines ease anxiety, reduce confusion, and make us feel confident and safe. Routines are equally important for children and families. In previous episodes, we discussed the importance of creating safe spaces for discussions and establishing parenting values to guide decisions. Today, we're taking the conversation further by exploring how routines can:

Support your parenting values
Build closer bonds and reduce stress
Create space for children to learn organizational skills
Help you children feel safe and secure

By the end of this episode, you will have a deeper understanding of how to create and support the routines in your home based on your family's values.

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:18] Children love routines - even when they pretend they don't
[00:02:38] How parenting values -which we discussed on last week's episode- and routines work together
[00:03:19] How routines support the family unit through structure and much more!
[00:03:54] The article of the week, Routines for families: How And Why They Work
[00:06:16] Routines are about creating peace and reducing stress, but they can also build deeper familial relationships
[00:08:50] Establishing routines that support your parenting values can help you reduce stress as a parent/caregiver while introducing your child(ren) to important life skills
[00:11:11] The importance of allowing your child to have a voice in the creation process and a few real-world examples
[00:11:21] How to get buy-in from school-age children and adolescents and tips for balancing the needs of multiple children
[00:16:19] Reviewing the schedule regularly for better communication between caregivers and minors
[00:22:31] Why being flexible will lead to better results and tips for handling changes in the routines