Talking About Kids

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Why you need Norway’s antibullying ombudsmen initiative with Kaja Asmyhr, Bodil Houg and Jon Lenning Jun 16, 2025

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My guests this episode to talk about Norway’s antibullying ombudspersons, what they do, their value, and tips for bringing this important initiative to your community are three of Norway’s most experienced ombuds: Kaja Vintervold Asmyhr, Bodil Jenssen Houg, and Jon Halvdan Lenning. Our conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2025 World Anti-Bullying Forum, in Stavanger, Norway. The 2025 World Anti-Bullying Forum was hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioural Research in Education at the University of Stavanger (UiS) in collaboration with the teacher education programs at UiS; the UNESCO Chair in Diversity, Inclusion and Education; the Knowledge Centre for Education; and the Partnership Against Bullying. This biannual conference – the largest and most important of its kind – is an initiative of the Swedish NGO, Friends, and its Presenting Sponsor is BRP, a global leader in powersports products who, through its Ride Out Intimidation program, takes a firm stand against bullying. More information about Kaja Vintervold Asmyhr, Bodil Jenssen Houg, and Jon Halvdan Lenning; the resources they mentioned; the antibullying ombudspersons initiative and its supporters; the World Anti-Bullying Forum; the conference organizers; and BRP’s Ride Out Intimidation program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to support single and divorced parents with Ronald Platt Jun 09, 2025

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It is not uncommon to hear divorces and adoptions described as “finalized.” However, if you have been through either, you know that the most difficult parenting begins after the legal documents are executed. My guest this episode is Ronald Platt, co-founder of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families (NASDF). NASDF exists to support parents with vetted resources that save time and promote well-being and stability. Ron and I explore the experiences that prompted him to start NASDF and those things that we all can do to help single and divorced families. More information about Ron and NASDF is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to promote kids' digital wellness with Michael Rich Jun 02, 2025

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This episode is about digital wellness, and my guest is Michael Rich. Michael is a pediatrician, the Founder and Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital (a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital) and the author of The Mediatrician’s Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World. In his book, Michael writes, “The best strategy for protecting your child from potential harm is to teach them not just to survive, but to thrive in the screen media environment: to cultivate their awareness, develop their critical thinking, awaken their creativity, and nurture their empathy, providing them with the skills to harness the positive affordances and to recognize and avoid the negative influences of the screens that surround us all.” Michael and I discuss this wonderful goal and some techniques for making it a reality. The episode was recorded during a live webinar that Talking About Kids regularly convenes with the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (AAAH), so you also will hear from Celeste Krell-Colum and Vinny Chulani of AAAH. More information about Michael, the Digital Wellness Lab, his book, and AAAH is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to promote safety and emotional regulation in the classroom with Bethany Bilodeau May 26, 2025

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Emotional regulation comes up a lot on Talking About Kids. That is because a growing number of experts believe that it is fundamental to a child or adolescent’s health and well-being. My guest this episode, Bethany Bilodeau – or “Dr. B” as she is known to her fans – is one of those experts. Dr. B and I discuss her insights from her book, Ease the Pain in the Classroom: A Guide to Safety and Regulation, and techniques that you can employ today to keep yourself and the kids in your life regulated and ready for success, however you define it. More information about Dr. B and a link to her contact information and book are at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about underdeveloped jaws in children with Ben Miraglia May 19, 2025

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I get excited when I learn about new or innovative ways to address any of the many adversities that kids face, but I get more excited when I learn about ways to prevent adversities from occurring in the first place. In a previous episode of Talking About Kids, a guest and I discussed sleep apnea in children, its terrible consequences, how to treat it, and how it often results from a child having an underdeveloped jaw. In this episode, my guest, Ben Miraglia, and I do a more in-depth examination of the consequences of underdeveloped jaws in children – which include everything from crooked teeth to chronic pain – and we discuss how to prevent these problems from ever occurring. Ben is the Chief Clinical Officer at Toothpillow. Ben brings more than his two decades of experience to that role. As you will hear, he brings a passion and an intellectual curiosity that I hope you will find as engaging as I do. More information about Ben and links to resources he cites are at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to connect with your newborn with Joanna Parga-Belinkie May 12, 2025

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As its title implies, Joanna Parga-Belinkie’s new book – The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting With Your Newborn – is centered on the connection between the infant and the primary caregiver. The book is thoughtful, smart, practical, and a pleasure to read. It is no wonder that the American Academy of Pediatrics selected Joanna as an official spokesperson and the co-host of its flagship podcast, Pediatrics On Call. Joanna and I discuss her book and tips for parents of newborns next. More information about Joanna and links to resources are at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about sibling sexual abuse with Tanya Whitworth May 05, 2025

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When it comes to understanding the terrible adversities that some kids face, like sibling sexual abuse, it is important to separate the facts from the hyperbole and the anecdotes that get used to generate fear or to gain attention. Trusted and proven sources of information are critical, and there is no more trusted source for this topic than the Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA) at the Crimes against Children Research Center, a center that has been studying family violence and related topics since 1975. My guest today to share information and resources about sibling sexual abuse is Tanya Whitworth, a Research Scientist at SAARA and a generous guest and advocate. More information about Tanya and links to resources are at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to have a child-centered divorce with Karen McNenny Apr 28, 2025

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Just under a year ago on Talking About Kids, the attorney Charles Jamieson recommend mediation, not litigation, to protect kids’ well-being during a divorce. My guest today, Karen McNenny, is a mediator and more. Karen is a Certified Divorce Coach, CoParenting Specialist, Crucial Conversations trainer, and Gracious Space facilitator. As you will hear, Karen is passionate about shifting the focus from “getting a divorce” to “being divorced,” because, she contends, it is everything that happens after the paperwork that really impacts kids. More information about Karen and divorce coaches is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to help young children appreciate being alone with Scott Casperson Apr 21, 2025

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Where’s the Party, the latest children’s book from Scott Casperson, is described as the story of a cupcake rediscovering “joy within its community and the comfort of being alone.” That intrigued me, especially the part about finding comfort in being alone, so I read it. In this episode, Scott and I discuss his motivation for the book, my reaction, and the skills kids need to be content without screens or other people to entertain them. More information about Scott and his books is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about PANDAS and its treatment with Ethan Pompeo Apr 14, 2025

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Talking About Kids is committed to the science of raising happy and healthy children and adolescents. Unfortunately, there are times when the best research seems out of sync with the needs of families. For example, it is rare for me to encounter the parent of a neurodivergent kid who is completely satisfied with their child’s diagnosis or the care their child is receiving. This is especially true for kids whose issues are defined by a combination of symptoms, some of which may be contradictory or shared by multiple syndromes. My guest today is Ethan Pompeo. Ethan has pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections or PANDAS. In this episode, Ethan describes how his and his family’s inability to find a suitable treatment for him eventually led them to CBD. Ethan and I discuss PANDAS, his experience with CBD, what CBD is and is not, the state of the research on CBD as a treatment for PANDAS and other conditions, and how Ethan’s company, Green Valley Nutrition, is helping advance the science. While researchers from groups like the Harvard Medical School agree that the available studies of CBD are promising, the consensus in the scientific community is that there is more to learn, which is why you should review the evidence yourself and consult with the care team before introducing CBD into a kid’s treatment regimen. More information about Ethan and links to Green Valley Nutrition and the other resource we cite are at talkingaboutkids.com.

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