Mom Enough: A Parenting Podcast

Many adults bemoan the extent to which electronic communication has replaced face-to-face interactions for kids today. But what would children say about the impact of technology on their relationships, including their relationships with parents? Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and instructor at Harvard Medical School, interviewed 1000 children (ages 4 – 18), 500 parents and 500 teachers for her new book. Her surprising and important findings challenge us to reflect on how to harness the positive power of technology and protect our children and ourselves from the harmful effects technology can have on our family relationships. Whatever the age of your children, you will want to listen to this Mom Enough show!   How do you think technology has helped and/or harmed your family relationships? What are your family rules or practices about using smartphones, tablets and computers? Based on what you heard in this Mom Enough discussion, what might you do differently?

When Marti & Erin saw the book More Chocolate, No Cavities, they thought, “What in the world?” But author and dentist, Dr. Roger Lucas, has a strong, research-based dental health message and clear tips on “teeth-friendly foods” to give your children. He also shares common snacks to avoid or keep to a minimum, the importance of organized eating rather than grazing and how and when your children should brush their teeth. (And yes, he really does recommend chocolate.) Tune in and learn along with Marti & Erin in this interesting discussion of the pathway to zero cavities.   What surprised you about the foods that do and don’t cause cavities? Based on that information and Dr. Lucas’s recommendation that children eat six mini-meals a day, what are you doing right and what dental health steps can you take to further prevent tooth decay for your children?   For 50 snack ideas (that aren't crackers), click here. For 25 ideas to make brushing more fun for your child, click here. For additional resources from Dr. Lucas, click here.

Feeding our children, at any age, is the most basic way we nurture them and support their health and development. But too often, especially with picky eaters, mealtime becomes a battleground and a source of stress for the whole family. This week’s Mom Enough guest, Occupational Therapist Robin Campbell from St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, brings years of experience and wisdom to this discussion of how to take the stress out of mealtime, how to identify underlying reasons for your child’s food challenges and how to know when professional help is in order.   What challenges have you encountered with your child’s eating and how has that varied at different stages of development? What strategies have you found to be effective in helping picky eaters through these challenges? What might you do differently based on what you heard in this Mom Enough show?   For recommendations for picky eaters and warning signs for problem feeders, click here. For tips on helping children learn to eat, click here. For St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, click here. For the Feeding Therapy program at St. David's Center, click here.

One of the first steps toward having a healthy baby is to make healthy choices during pregnancy. Smoking (or breathing secondhand smoke), drinking alcohol and/or using drugs during pregnancy poses serious threats to your child’s longterm health and development. Even before you begin trying to become pregnant, it’s important to have accurate information about the risks of substance use in pregnancy, the important role of family and friends and other available resources to help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. In this week’s Mom Enough show, Dr. Adrienne Richardson, Medical Director of the Healthy Beginnings program at HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, joins Marti & Erin for a rich discussion of substance use in pregnancy.   What new information on substance use in pregnancy did you gain from this Mom Enough interview with Dr. Adrienne Richardson? How could this information influence your behavior if you become pregnant, or how could it shape your conversations with a prospective parent in your family or circle of friends?   To watch a video on HealthPartners' Healthy Beginnings program, click here. To take the HealthPartners healthy pregnancy assessment, click here. For the HealthPartners' Children's Health Initiative, click here.

The “Back to Sleep” Campaign has been highly effective in reducing SIDS. Along with keeping blankets, pillows and other loose objects out of the crib, putting babies to sleep on their backs led to a 53% reduction in SIDS between 1992 and 2001. Now, to bring death rates even lower, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released new recommendations that babies sleep in their parents’ room (but not bed) for at least six months, preferably a year. While many parents welcome this advice, some parents, particularly those with postpartum depression or anxiety, are uneasy about having their infant sleep in their room. Therapist Crystal Clancy, co-director of Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota, joins Marti & Erin to shine light on these concerns and to encourage an individualized approach to find sleep arrangements that will keep both parent and baby as safe and healthy as possible.   What are your thoughts about the new AAP guidelines for infant sleep? What are other parents you know saying about the recommendations and how are they balancing their own need for sleep and privacy with the need to keep their baby as safe as possible?   For the new AAP safe sleep guidelines, click here. For the op ed story from the New York Times referenced in this show, click here.

With new technologies making it possible to watch videos or play video games almost any time and any place, many of us worry about the impact of media on children’s learning, behavior and development. Many early studies asked broad questions, such as whether watching violent content was associated with aggressive behavior. But recent studies are taking a more nuanced approach and yielding important insights into subtle ways media experiences shape a child’s perceptions, beliefs, behavior, school performance and even physical health. Douglas Gentile, psychology professor at Iowa State University and a leading researcher on children and the impact of media, joins Marti & Erin for an information-packed discussion every parent should hear. Take special note of the power of parents to prevent the negative effects of media!   What was most interesting and surprising about Dr. Gentile’s research findings on the impact of media on children’s development? What practical steps can you take to make sure your children reap the benefits and avoid the problems associated with screen time?

Childhood should be a time of joy, discovery and positive connection with family and friends. So it’s difficult for most of us to imagine a child experiencing depression. But, as this week’s Mom Enough guest knows, depression can and does affect people of any age. And it’s up to teachers, parents and other caring adults to be alert to the signs of childhood depression and to make sure a child exhibiting those signs gets a proper evaluation and, as needed, appropriate treatment and support. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Elizabeth Reeve has a wonderful way of educating all of us about children’s mental health, so Marti & Erin are grateful she agreed to join them to address signs of childhood depression.   Have you known a child who was depressed? To what extent were the symptoms the same as or different from depressive symptoms in adults? What new information about signs of childhood depression did you learn from Dr. Elizabeth Reeve in this week’s Mom Enough show?   For Dr. Reeve’s book aimed at young people with ASD, click here. For Marti’s tips on recognizing signs that your child might have a mental health problem, click here.

As parents, we often roll our eyes at the thought of our children becoming adolescents. How will we (and our children) survive this difficult period of development? But Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a Temple University professor and well-known author, has spent decades studying adolescents and has arrived at a much more positive view of what he terms The Age of Opportunity (the title of his latest book). He joins Marti & Erin for a rich and hopeful discussion of how recent research on adolescent brain development can inform the ways we guide our teens to a healthy, happy, productive adulthood.   What did you hear in this Mom Enough discussion on adolescent brain development that surprised you? In what ways might that information lead you to change the way you think about and/or parent your children before and during adolescence?   To read about Dr. Steinberg’s current research projects, click here.

We’ve all heard “mean girl” stories and many of us probably have lived them. But the social rejection and humiliation kids inflict on each other is not unique to girls; in fact, this week’s Mom Enough guest cites evidence that relational aggression is equally common among boys and girls. Whatever the gender of the children involved, being on the receiving end can be devastating. And as wrong as it seems, there often are rewards for the perpetrators in terms of popularity and social status. As researcher Adrienne Banny attests, it will take a concerted effort by parents, teachers and other caring adults to turn around this very disturbing trend!   What has been your experience with relational aggression, either in your own life or that of your children? How did you deal with it? Based on what you heard in this week’s Mom Enough discussion, what could you do at home, school or in your community to help reduce relational aggression?   For more information on longitudinal studies of relational aggression at the U of M, click here. For the Institute of Child Development at the U of M, click here. For our ME show on bullying with Sticks and Stones author Emily Bazelon, click here. For parenting resources from PACER, click here. For Understanding the Threat of Bullying from Children's Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota, click here.

We all have heard about – and many of us have seen firsthand – the negative effects of divorce on children. But the choices parents make before, during and after divorce have a powerful impact on how children survive and even thrive in the face of such a difficult family change. Attorney Ron Ousky is co-author of The Collaborative Way to Divorce: The Revolutionary Method that Results in Less Stress, Lower Costs and Happier Kids. He joins Marti & Erin for a rich and informative discussion on collaborative divorce that you’ll want to hear, whether you’re considering divorce, know someone who is or simply want to learn about this important topic.   What have been your experiences with divorce in your own family or circle of friends? How have the children fared after divorce and what specific challenges have you noticed? What did you hear in this Mom Enough discussion on collaborative divorce that helped you think of what could reduce the negative effects for children?   For The Collaborative Way to Divorce, click here. For Ron's blog, click here.

Language development is central to most academic learning and social relationships, and it begins long before children speak words. Ann Derr brings more than 30 years of experience in early childhood special education, with a focus on linguistically diverse families, to her discussion with Marti & Erin in this Mom Enough show. On behalf of Help Me Grow, who sponsored her appearance, Ann provides guidance on supporting optimal language development; understanding the effects of bilingualism in early childhood; recognizing signs that language development might not be on track; and knowing where to turn if you have questions or concerns. Listen to this important conversation and share with other parents and caregivers of babies and young children.   What are some of the most important and enjoyable ways to support your young child’s language development? What did you learn in this Mom Enough interview about children’s development of language when they are exposed to one language at home and another in childcare or school?   For Help Me Grow, click here. For ideas to encourage language development, click here. For Early Childhood Screenings in Minnesota, click here. For American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), click here. For Beyond Baby Talk, click here. For fast facts regarding second language acquisition, click here.

Being smart is one ingredient for school success. But, without the ability to stay focused, develop a realistic plan for completing tasks and organize yourself and your stuff, being smart may not get you very far. It is those “executive skills” that are the focus of Dr. Peg Dawson’s work, particularly with children and teens who struggle with attention problems. Peg also is co-author of three books on the subject, dealing separately with children, teens and adults who are Smart but Scattered. Tune in for practical ways to help kids build executive skills, as well as some true confessions from Marti & Erin about their “smart but scattered” family members!   How do your children and other family members (including yourself) measure up on the executive skills discussed in this Mom Enough interview? How do you put into practice Dr. Dawson’s tips (e.g. breaking down tasks, establishing routines, creating clean spaces and using incentives)? What could you do better?   To learn more about Dr. Peg Dawson's books, click here. For the Smart but Scattered blog, click here.

We all want our children to grow up to be healthy, happy, caring and competent adults. And we often feel compelled to find the latest program, gadget or strategy that will make optimal health and well-being happen. But, as this week’s Mom Enough guests know, it is simple things that matter most – activities that require no fancy equipment.   Dr. Charlie Lais, department chair of ob/gyn, and Dr. Anne Edwards, chair of pediatrics, are co-medical directors of the Children’s Health Initiative at Health Partners/Park Nicollet, working together to reach as many parents (and prospective parents) as possible with their simple but powerful message about supporting our young children’s optimal health and well-being. Tune in to their chat with Marti & Erin about “Read, Talk, Sing,” a centerpiece of their initiative, as well as the crucial foundations of social-emotional development that are built in the earliest months of life. Then get ready to have fun – and make a difference – with the babies in your life!   What are some concrete ways to implement “Read, Talk, Sing” with young children and with babies, even before they can talk? What are some of the most important ways to help babies develop trust, self-regulation and confidence to explore and learn?   To lean more about the Children's Health Initiative, click here.

Child psychiatrist Elizabeth Reeve and children’s author Elizabeth Verdick have more in common than a first name; both are moms of sons living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They have pooled their experience and talent to write a book aimed at young people with ASD, but Marti & Erin see this clear, engaging, practical book as a great resource for anyone who knows a person with ASD – and who doesn’t? Tune into this week’s Mom Enough show to hear these mothers’ stories of life with their sons and how they have helped them navigate the social and emotional challenges they confront at home, at school and in the larger world.   Do you know a child living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? What are some of the ways they respond differently than typically-developing children to ordinary social situations at school or work? What did you learn in this week’s Mom Enough discussion that helps you understand more about the behavior of the child you know (keeping in mind that each child with ASD is unique)?   For our show on helping children with ASD find social enjoyment, click here. For our show on early identification and intervention for children with ASD, click here. For our show on understanding the early signs of ASD, click here. For our show on treating ASD, click here.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death and injury for children under 14 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But many of those injuries and fatalities can be prevented if we follow best practices in passenger safety. Heather Darby, coordinator of passenger safety for the MN Department of Public Safety – Office of Traffic Safety, joins Marti & Erin for an important conversation about proper use of car seats, how to know if shoulder straps are providing the protection they should, why airbags pose a danger for children under 13 and how heavy winter clothes can compromise the effectiveness of seatbelts and car seats. Heather also helps Marti & Erin think about how to explain that a 12-year-old is safer in the back seat even if she’s the same height as Grandma!   What are the ages of your children and what are the laws and best practices for keeping them safe in the car? What other adults drive your children and how well do they understand passenger safety rules and recommendations?   To locate a Minnesota car seat check near you, click here. For a Guide for Child Passenger Safety Seats and Seat Belts, click here. For the Buckle Up Kids brochure, click here. To visit BuckleUpKids.mn.gov, click here.