

Connected Parenting
Jennifer Kolari
Connected Parenting shares techniques that therapists use to help parents soothe their child as well as enhance the parent-child bond and is based on the understanding that correcting and guiding behavior works best when it is preceded by and linked to empathy. At the heart of this parenting model is the CALM Technique which helps parents accurately attune to children’s affect and experience. These empathic interactions release reward chemicals in the brain that stimulate positive emotions and increase order and balance in the nervous system. Reward chemicals, including natural opiates, endorphins, and a powerful hormone called oxytocin, reduce and inhibit stress hormones and bathe the brain in positive emotions that ripple through every cell in the body. The benefits of empathy and compassion have a strong base in science that cannot be underestimated. Simply put, it is brain food, the emotional nutrition all of us need, perhaps our children most of all.
Although many parenting techniques stress the importance of empathy, Connected Parenting will show you how to use it skillfully to repair frayed bonds, deescalate tantrums, contain and correct difficult behaviors and help your child to become more confident and emotionally resilient. We use a collaborative and supportive coaching model and provide inspirational, easy-to-understand techniques grounded in neuroscience and attachment. In the end, your child will be more compliant, more relaxed, and – most importantly – happier. Connected Parenting will bring out the best in you and your child.
Although many parenting techniques stress the importance of empathy, Connected Parenting will show you how to use it skillfully to repair frayed bonds, deescalate tantrums, contain and correct difficult behaviors and help your child to become more confident and emotionally resilient. We use a collaborative and supportive coaching model and provide inspirational, easy-to-understand techniques grounded in neuroscience and attachment. In the end, your child will be more compliant, more relaxed, and – most importantly – happier. Connected Parenting will bring out the best in you and your child.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2022 • 25min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 62 – The Good, The Bad And The Lovely
join me and my guest Natalie in our get real conversation on what it means to parent even in hard times, especially when parenting our gladiator child who tend to be the more sassy, spicy, feisty kind of kids.

Mar 1, 2022 • 7min
CONNECTED PARENTING SPECIAL PODCAST EPISODE – Helping Our Children Navigate The Uncertainty of Current World Events
Today I want to talk about the difficult events that are happening in the world right now and how we can talk to our children about it.

Feb 23, 2022 • 18min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 61 – Is Your Child Struggling With Eco-Anxiety?
Parents report that their kids are dealing with eco-anxiety, and having trouble sleeping at night because of the stress that comes with it. Consumed by the fear that the world is not going to be a place they can live, work and or raise a family in.
So what exactly is eco-anxiety, what causes it and how can we as parents help our kids manage it?

Feb 14, 2022 • 15min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 60 – Your Child Is Stealing; No Need To Panic
What is happening in the brain when a child steals and how can we as parents can best love them into overcoming those strong impulses that often feel so overwhelming they take them over?

Feb 7, 2022 • 19min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 59 – Liar, Liar Pants On Fire
Don’t panic, lying is a normal developmental stage that children go through. How we respond or react to it can determine whether the behavior of lying is reduced or if our kids just become better liars. The key here is to remain calm, always listen to what our kids have to say and root ourselves in love not fear when it comes to addressing the lie.

Jan 28, 2022 • 16min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 58 – Taming Tantrums
In this episode, Jennifer explores temper tantrums, meltdowns, hissy fits, and other emotional outbursts.
Tantrums are a normal part of child development but they are challenging to deal with and can be exhausting for parents. Children have big feelings that don’t always fit in their little bodies. In this episode, we explore the purpose and function of tantrums and how to deescalate or even at times avoid them altogether.

Jan 17, 2022 • 16min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 57 – Yelling
Yelling is a very popular parenting technique, but not a very effective one. If it was, there would be a lot of very well-behaved children in this world! Yelling doesn’t work. At best, your kids tune you out and roll their eyes or worse they are terrified. In this episode, Jennifer explores why we yell, how it impacts our kids and ourselves, and what we can do instead.

Jan 10, 2022 • 17min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 56 – Is your Child a Ruiner?
I once had a little girl in my office, in tears, calling herself “the ruiner”. She confessed that she ruins everything she is excited about... birthdays, holidays, vacations. Everything! This stuck with me and I have heard it over and over again, over the years, both from kids and parents. Why do some kids ruin things and sabotage things? In this episode I break down why this happens and its effect on the whole family.

Nov 25, 2021 • 27min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 55 – The Gift of Emotional Regulation
In this podcast, Jennifer discusses the importance of emotional literacy and emotional processing. Feelings are meant to be felt… They are essential in helping us navigate relationships, stay safe, make good choices, and to be at peace in our world. Feelings are information. If we ignore that information - if we don’t listen - feelings don’t go away. They build in intensity and find creative ways to get our attention. One way or another, your brain or your body will make you listen.
In this episode, Jennifer not only talks about why this is so important, but teaches you how to listen and process intense feelings.
Learning to feel your feelings and regulate emotion is the greatest gift you can give yourself and ultimately the greatest gift you can give your child.

Nov 1, 2021 • 22min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 54 – Being the Parent of That Kid
Do you notice the judgmental glances from other parents when you drop your child off at school or birthday parties? Can you sense the teacher is frustrated and fed up with your child? Do you hold your breath as you approach the playground crossing your fingers hoping that your child behaves? Does your heart skip a beat when the phone rings for fear it is the school?
In this episode, Jennifer talks about being the parent of “that kid.” It is heartbreaking when you know your child is struggling and to know that others don’t understand. You know that he can be loving, sensitive and well-meaning, but others don’t always see this side of him. She can be maddening and frustrating at home at times, but seeing her so misunderstood is hard to bear. In this episode, Jennifer will help you to learn powerful strategies that will help you understand your child, advocate for your child, and know that you are not alone.


