Family Confidential: Secrets of Successful Parenting with Annie Fox, M.Ed.

School bullying gets an awful lot of media coverage. Character education, not so much. And yet if we are truly serious about reducing peer conflict in school, we've got to be educating kids to be empathetic, compassionate humans with the social courage to do the right thing, online and off. Annie talks with school counselor Barabara Gruener about her new book "What's Under your Cape? Superheroes of the Character Kind". They also discuss why character counts and why teaching kids people skills needs to be a top priority for 21st century parents and educators. About Barbara Gruener School counselor and character coach Barbara Gruener grew up on her family's dairy farm in Wisconsin. She says her parents "always welcomed people into our home including foreign exchange students and foster children—so I learned to appreciate culture and diversity!" She currently works her friendship skill building and character magic with the K-5th grade students at Westwood-Bales Elementary School in Friendswood, TX (I didn't make that up!) Learn more at http://CornerOnCharacter.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

School bullying gets an awful lot of media coverage. Character education, not so much. And yet if we are truly serious about reducing peer conflict in school, we've got to be educating kids to be empathetic, compassionate humans with the social courage to do the right thing, online and off. Annie talks with school counselor Barabara Gruener about her new book "What's Under your Cape? Superheroes of the Character Kind". They also discuss why character counts and why teaching kids people skills needs to be a top priority for 21st century parents and educators. About Barbara Gruener School counselor and character coach Barbara Gruener grew up on her family's dairy farm in Wisconsin. She says her parents "always welcomed people into our home including foreign exchange students and foster children—so I learned to appreciate culture and diversity!" She currently works her friendship skill building and character magic with the K-5th grade students at Westwood-Bales Elementary School in Friendswood, TX (I didn't make that up!) Learn more at http://CornerOnCharacter.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Which style of parenting best describes you? Reactive or reflective? When we do the knee-jerk reactive thing all the time, we are not as likely to respond appropriately to our children. But when we take the time to develop a reflective approach, we are better able to learn from our parenting mis-steps as well as our parenting successes. Annie talks to Dr. Amy Alamar about her new book, "Parenting for the Genius: Developing Confidence in Your Parenting Through Reflective Practice". About Amy Alamar Amy Alamar, EdD, has been working and researching in the field of education as a teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and reformer for over fifteen years, with a focus on underresourced students, literacy, curriculum design, and constructivist education. She has also done additional research in the areas of utilization of multimedia in education and student stress. In her role as an educator, Amy has been in classrooms ranging from elementary all the way through higher education. Her latest book, Parenting for the Genius, offers sound and productive advice based on research, professional experience, and personal practice. Learn more at http://AmyAlamar.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Which style of parenting best describes you? Reactive or reflective? When we do the knee-jerk reactive thing all the time, we are not as likely to respond appropriately to our children. But when we take the time to develop a reflective approach, we are better able to learn from our parenting mis-steps as well as our parenting successes. Annie talks to Dr. Amy Alamar about her new book, "Parenting for the Genius: Developing Confidence in Your Parenting Through Reflective Practice". About Amy Alamar Amy Alamar, EdD, has been working and researching in the field of education as a teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and reformer for over fifteen years, with a focus on underresourced students, literacy, curriculum design, and constructivist education. She has also done additional research in the areas of utilization of multimedia in education and student stress. In her role as an educator, Amy has been in classrooms ranging from elementary all the way through higher education. Her latest book, Parenting for the Genius, offers sound and productive advice based on research, professional experience, and personal practice. Learn more at http://AmyAlamar.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Twenty-first century family life can be stressful, with parents and kids juggling obligations and schedules that would have made our parents' 20th century minds come unglued. And yet we manage... most of the time... with patience and good-humor. But at those moments when we are stressed to the max, what do we typically do? And when we do what we typically do, what are we teaching our kids about managing stress? Annie talks to Lori Lite, founder of Stress Free Kids, about simple and effective ways parents can teach calmness... something every family could use more of. About Lori Lite Lori Lite is the founder of Stress Free Kids®. She has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, lower anxiety and control anger. As a parent, Lori spent two hours every single night trying to settle her young son down to sleep. Her daughter developed stress related night terrors and Lori herself became sick from anxiety. In an effort to help her family she created a story for her children that would entertain them while introducing them to research-based relaxation techniques. That moment began a journey that now includes 8 books, 10 CDs, a curriculum and lesson plans. Lori's titles are used by parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. A successful entrepreneur, Lori cut a deal on Shark Tank with Barbara Corcoran which helped her greatly increase her sales and grow her business. Learn more at http://StressFreeKids.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Twenty-first century family life can be stressful, with parents and kids juggling obligations and schedules that would have made our parents' 20th century minds come unglued. And yet we manage... most of the time... with patience and good-humor. But at those moments when we are stressed to the max, what do we typically do? And when we do what we typically do, what are we teaching our kids about managing stress? Annie talks to Lori Lite, founder of Stress Free Kids, about simple and effective ways parents can teach calmness... something every family could use more of. About Lori Lite Lori Lite is the founder of Stress Free Kids®. She has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, lower anxiety and control anger. As a parent, Lori spent two hours every single night trying to settle her young son down to sleep. Her daughter developed stress related night terrors and Lori herself became sick from anxiety. In an effort to help her family she created a story for her children that would entertain them while introducing them to research-based relaxation techniques. That moment began a journey that now includes 8 books, 10 CDs, a curriculum and lesson plans. Lori's titles are used by parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. A successful entrepreneur, Lori cut a deal on Shark Tank with Barbara Corcoran which helped her greatly increase her sales and grow her business. Learn more at http://StressFreeKids.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When parents seek help with a problem involving their teen, it is often the teen who refuses to participate in anything that looks like counseling. But educational psychologist and psychotherapist Amy Fortney Parks has a winning approach. "Teens build this system. Either you're on their side or you're on their parents' side. They need to know you are on their side." So she works very hard to build trust and a relationship, one-on-one, with the teen before inviting in the parents. "I really believe strongly, with teens in particular, that you have to have empathy." Annie talks to Amy about family counseling, who can benefit most, how to get buy-in from reluctant teens, how to teach parents the value of really listening to their adolescents. About Amy Fortney Parks Amy Fortney Parks, Ph.D. Resident, LPC-R is the Executive Director of Family and Student Services for WISE Educational Services, LLC. Amy is a wise and gifted Educational Psychologist, psychotherapist, and consultant specializing in merging brain-based research, educational interventions and clinical strategies into a comprehensive approach to treatment. With 20+ years experience in educational and clinical psychology, Amy has developed a unique approach to working with clients. She provides comprehensive counseling and consulting services to children, families, parent groups, local independent schools and public systems. Learn more at http://TheWiseFamily.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When parents seek help with a problem involving their teen, it is often the teen who refuses to participate in anything that looks like counseling. But educational psychologist and psychotherapist Amy Fortney Parks has a winning approach. "Teens build this system. Either you're on their side or you're on their parents' side. They need to know you are on their side." So she works very hard to build trust and a relationship, one-on-one, with the teen before inviting in the parents. "I really believe strongly, with teens in particular, that you have to have empathy." Annie talks to Amy about family counseling, who can benefit most, how to get buy-in from reluctant teens, how to teach parents the value of really listening to their adolescents. About Amy Fortney Parks Amy Fortney Parks, Ph.D. Resident, LPC-R is the Executive Director of Family and Student Services for WISE Educational Services, LLC. Amy is a wise and gifted Educational Psychologist, psychotherapist, and consultant specializing in merging brain-based research, educational interventions and clinical strategies into a comprehensive approach to treatment. With 20+ years experience in educational and clinical psychology, Amy has developed a unique approach to working with clients. She provides comprehensive counseling and consulting services to children, families, parent groups, local independent schools and public systems. Learn more at http://TheWiseFamily.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Before choosing an app for children eight years old and younger, adults should ask themselves, "What is my goal with this app?" Whether it's a goal to keep your child safe and entertained on a car trip, encourage creativity, or help strengthen a cognitive skill, app reviewer Carisa Kluver reminds us first to figure out the goal so as "not to get distracted by the bells and whistles." And always remember, she says, "When it comes to learning, technology is a tool, but it's not the only tool." Annie talks to Carisa about kids, apps, and how parents can set standards for what they download for their children. About Carisa Kluver Carisa Kluver, the creator of The Digital Media Diet, is the editor of Digital-Storytime.com, a review site for iPad picture book apps. The Digital Media Diet is a companion to the review site, featuring articles about kids, technology and the digital publishing industry growing up around these new digital children's books. Founded in December 2010, Digital-Storytime has almost 1000 reviews in a sortable database with individual ratings for animation, interactivity, originality, educational value, audio quality, bedtime, re-readability and extras. Learn more at http://DigitalMediaDiet.com and http://Digital-Storytime.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Before choosing an app for children eight years old and younger, adults should ask themselves, "What is my goal with this app?" Whether it's a goal to keep your child safe and entertained on a car trip, encourage creativity, or help strengthen a cognitive skill, app reviewer Carisa Kluver reminds us first to figure out the goal so as "not to get distracted by the bells and whistles." And always remember, she says, "When it comes to learning, technology is a tool, but it's not the only tool." Annie talks to Carisa about kids, apps, and how parents can set standards for what they download for their children. About Carisa Kluver Carisa Kluver, the creator of The Digital Media Diet, is the editor of Digital-Storytime.com, a review site for iPad picture book apps. The Digital Media Diet is a companion to the review site, featuring articles about kids, technology and the digital publishing industry growing up around these new digital children's books. Founded in December 2010, Digital-Storytime has almost 1000 reviews in a sortable database with individual ratings for animation, interactivity, originality, educational value, audio quality, bedtime, re-readability and extras. Learn more at http://DigitalMediaDiet.com and http://Digital-Storytime.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

It's a rare kid who doesn't melt at the sight of a puppy. It's a rare adult, too! But the reality of being a responsible pet owner, day in and day out, is often very different from the fantasy of having a family dog. Animal trainer and Marin Humane Society Adoption Counselor Karen Schuerholz firmly believes that growing up with a dog is a "fabulous experience for kids. It teaches them life lessons." But it's not a good fit for everyone. Annie talks with Karen about how parents can determine when and if it's the right time to bring a dog into your pack. About Karen Schuerholz Karen Schuerholz has been an animal lover since childhood. Formerly in Advertising Sales, Karen moved to California 20 years ago with her son Matthew and her first dog Oscar. This 125 lb. Chocolate Lab mix would shape her future as an animal enthusiast. When he passed in 1998, she started volunteering at the MHS as an Adoption Counselor and quickly realized that a career in animal care would be in her future. Karen is a graduate of the MHS Canine Behavior Academy Levels I and II. She continues to work as an Adoption Counselor at MHS and trains new volunteers in the program. Her philosophy is that dog training can be fun! The key ingredient to having and raising pets is patience and knowing that they will tell you what they want—you just have to pay attention to how they tell you. Learn more about pet adoption at http://MarinHumaneSociety.org Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

It's a rare kid who doesn't melt at the sight of a puppy. It's a rare adult, too! But the reality of being a responsible pet owner, day in and day out, is often very different from the fantasy of having a family dog. Animal trainer and Marin Humane Society Adoption Counselor Karen Schuerholz firmly believes that growing up with a dog is a "fabulous experience for kids. It teaches them life lessons." But it's not a good fit for everyone. Annie talks with Karen about how parents can determine when and if it's the right time to bring a dog into your pack. About Karen Schuerholz Karen Schuerholz has been an animal lover since childhood. Formerly in Advertising Sales, Karen moved to California 20 years ago with her son Matthew and her first dog Oscar. This 125 lb. Chocolate Lab mix would shape her future as an animal enthusiast. When he passed in 1998, she started volunteering at the MHS as an Adoption Counselor and quickly realized that a career in animal care would be in her future. Karen is a graduate of the MHS Canine Behavior Academy Levels I and II. She continues to work as an Adoption Counselor at MHS and trains new volunteers in the program. Her philosophy is that dog training can be fun! The key ingredient to having and raising pets is patience and knowing that they will tell you what they want—you just have to pay attention to how they tell you. Learn more about pet adoption at http://MarinHumaneSociety.org Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Our culture is so failure-averse we come up slogans like "Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing" and "Failure is not an option." But what kind of messages are sent to kids when an Olympic athlete, after being awarded a prestigious silver medal, acts as if someone has hung a dead fish around his neck? Dr. Regina Lamourelle doesn't like the word "failure"... she prefers the word "mis-take." As she puts it, "A mis-take is what happens before the learning takes hold." Annie talks with Dr. Lamourelle about how parents can use their kids' "mis-takes" to help them develop the grit and confidence to keep working toward their goals and learning all along the way. About Regina Lamourelle Dr. Regina Lamourelle. PhD., is a professor of Human Development at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, CA, where she is also the department chair. She serves on the Board of Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children and is the Orange County representative for the California Association for the Education of Young Children. Regina speaks three languages and is the mom of four daughters. Since 1996, her passion has been to teach educators how the brain learns so that they can care for children with kind hearts and knowledgeable brains. Regina hosts the Teens and Tweens Channel on BAM Radio. Learn more at http://DrLamourelle.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Our culture is so failure-averse we come up slogans like "Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing" and "Failure is not an option." But what kind of messages are sent to kids when an Olympic athlete, after being awarded a prestigious silver medal, acts as if someone has hung a dead fish around his neck? Dr. Regina Lamourelle doesn't like the word "failure"... she prefers the word "mis-take." As she puts it, "A mis-take is what happens before the learning takes hold." Annie talks with Dr. Lamourelle about how parents can use their kids' "mis-takes" to help them develop the grit and confidence to keep working toward their goals and learning all along the way. About Regina Lamourelle Dr. Regina Lamourelle. PhD., is a professor of Human Development at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, CA, where she is also the department chair. She serves on the Board of Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children and is the Orange County representative for the California Association for the Education of Young Children. Regina speaks three languages and is the mom of four daughters. Since 1996, her passion has been to teach educators how the brain learns so that they can care for children with kind hearts and knowledgeable brains. Regina hosts the Teens and Tweens Channel on BAM Radio. Learn more at http://DrLamourelle.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

We've all had those moments at the end of the day when the house is finally quiet and we wonder if we're becoming a stressed-out, humorless parent. We may play back recent scenes and ask ourselves, "Did I say anything but 'NO!' to my kids today?" If you are yelling a lot, but not helping your kids learn what you want to teach them, this podcast may be exactly what you need. Annie talks with Dr. G about her new book, Get the Behavior You Want Without Being the Parent You Hate, a strategic guide to effective parenting. About Dr. G Deborah Gilboa, MD, aka "Doctor G" is a Pittsburgh-based parenting expert, family physician, international speaker, author, media expert and mom of four boys. In response to the years of character building questions she's received from her patients, Dr. G developed the "3 R's of Parenting" to empower parents to raise respectful, responsible and resilient kids. Chosen for Pittsburgh Magazine's "40 Under 40," she has also received numerous awards including the Bristol Meyers Squibb award for Clinical Excellence and The Excellence in Teaching Award. Learn more at http://AskDrG.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.