This is a special edition of The Child Repair Guide featuring a guest-host, Dr. Amanda Thompson. Dr. Thompson is a pediatric psychologist and Medical Director of Patient Support Services in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC. My interview with Dr. Thompson on How to Talk to Kids About Death, Grief, and Loss is a powerful episode and a listener-favorite. In this episode, she guides you through another challenging experience of parenting: telling your kids about a loved one’s serious illness. You can find the full text of this episode at www.drstevesilvestro.com/40 If you find this or any other episode of The Child Repair Guide helpful, please share with your friends and leave a review on your podcast app!

"Parent self-care." Perhaps even taking care of yourself first. It just sounds wrong, doesn't it? Yet it might be one of the most important things you can do for your kids. See, we're all built with a "save the kids!" mentality, as if we're jumping off the Titanic and there's room in the lifeboat for just one more. It's a natural inclination that's great for the survival of the species -- put the next generation first so that the human race can keep on. Luckily, most of us don't spend our days jumping off the Titanic or out of burning buildings. And yet we live each day as if we are, stuck in the mindset of constantly sacrificing ourselves for our kids. We think it's for their benefit -- but what if it's not? What if it's actually harming them? I don't know about you, but I know that when I'm tired, stressed, or on edge, I can inadvertently be a little short with my kids and my wife. I might not pay attention as well as I should. I might eagerly look forward to later on when I can finally rest. Doesn't sound like amazing parenting, does it? More importantly still, this high-strung state would be a pretty terrible example for our kids. After all, you cannot teach what you have not learned. We want our kids to grow up healthy, happy, and balanced. How can we expect that to happen if their primary role models are constantly tired and stressed? This is why I created the Mindfulness for Parents Online Course -- to give you tools you need to recharge, refocus, and rebalance your life -- both as a parent and an individual, so you can raise your kids the absolute best you can. Learn more about this incredible course by clicking here. To help illustrate the importance of parental self-care & how some of the tools in this course work, I'm sharing my conversation with the wonderful Nancy Harazduk. Nancy is the director of the Mind-Body Medicine Program at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She has taught self-care skills to hundreds of medical students -- including me. She's also trained faculty and staff at Georgetown's med school and law school, residents and faculty at Stanford, members of the Middle East Cancer Consortium, and many more. She's an expert at helping people find balance in their lives, and she's here today to talk about why it's so important for you to find it in yours. Sign up for the Mindfulness for Parents Online Course here.

I know that when your child is struggling with something, it can be hard to figure out exactly what's going on. Or maybe you know exactly what the issue is, but you want to help your child figure it out, too. Well, since it's my job to try and tease out what's going on with kids, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. This week's episode shares one of those tips -- and you'll be surprised by its origins! 

It's the fear that runs through every new parent's mind at night: "Is my baby breathing?" The fear of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and infant suffocation is among the first giant worries that plague moms and dads in the early months of parenting. And it's not without reason -- nearly 3,700 infants in the United States die each year from sudden unexplained infant death, including SIDS. Clearly, there's more to know than just "back to sleep." Knowing the risks involved in day-to-day activities that we take for granted -- things like wearing your baby in a wrap, or even letting her nap in a carseat -- is key to learning how to reduce those risks. Amber Kroeker is here today to help us wade through the uncertainties of SIDS and infant suffocation so that you can rest easily knowing that your baby is sleeping safely. Amber is the Child Injury Prevention Coordinator at Randall Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and is a leading voice in the infant safety community. She's also the driving force behind the Smitten Sleep System, an award-winning, next-generation bassinet box designed to reduce infant sleep death. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The most common causes & risk factors for SIDS and infant suffocation The age at which infants are most at risk for SIDS Why babies' anatomy puts them at the highest risk for suffocation during sleep How sleeping in the carseat can risk SIDS and infant suffocation Tips for wraps & baby-wearing -- how to do it safely When you can introduce stuffed animals, blankets, etc., into your baby's sleep area What type of sleep devices can help create a safe sleep area And much, much more! This is information that every new parent needs to hear! Be sure to SHARE this page & this episode with anyone you know who has a little one on the way or at home! Important Resources & More Pip & Grow - for information about the Smitten bassinet box, plus Amber's contact information and social media The Arm's Reach Cosleeper - one of the most popular cosleepers Safe Kids Worldwide - the global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries Music Akashic Records – Motivation Canvai - Sunset This episode first appeared at www.drstevesilvestro.com

“Help me help you.” This line from the movie Jerry Maguire perfectly sums up the frustration we all feel when we’re trying to give our kids medicine, doesn’t it? I know that you’re sick and feel terrible…I get it…but this is the stuff that will make you feel better, so please take it! As a pediatrician and a dad, I know this frustration well. Not only do I occasionally have this challenge with my own kids, I also get dozens of phonecalls from parents having the same battles with theirs. I know that the pain is real—for everyone involved! So in this episode, I’ve brought together all the very best tips and tricks for getting your kids to take medicine, including many that you won’t find elsewhere. We start with tips specifically for how to take liquid medication, how to take eyedrops and eye ointment, and how to take pills. I’ll also cover my favorite way to teach your child how to swallow pills, plus some general tips that will be useful no matter what type of medicine you’re giving. You can read the full text of this episode at www.drstevesilvestro.com/35 This episode first appeared at www.drstevesilvestro.com

This second part of the Baby Sleep Guide series covers everything you need to know about sleep training, including: How to know when your baby's ready An overview of the most popular approaches How to get your baby to not be hungry in the middle of the night Information about crying 3 final key takeaway points A text version of this episode is available at www.drstevesilvestro.com/sleeptraining101 SHARE this link with your friends and anyone you know who might be struggling to get their baby to sleep! This episode first appeared on www.drstevesilvestro.com. Music Akashic Records – Motivation Aarre & Kedam – Joyride

I’m going to be honest: this is an article that I’ve been dreading writing. Why? As a pediatrician, I should be thrilled by the chance to help parents and their children sleep better. But I also know that sleep poses an almost universal problem, a struggle for millions of babies and parents, very few of whom find satisfying answers in the dozens of baby sleep books that are out there. So, you know, no pressure or anything! One problem is that good sleep can often seem like something that’s totally out of your hands. One of my mentors, a wise pediatrician named Dr. David Nelson, once told me “so much of sleep has to do with the temperament of the baby.” Feisty kids tend to be feisty sleepers, mellow kids are mellow sleepers, and most babies are somewhere in between. But does that mean that it’s just the luck of the draw—that if you’re up all night long with a rough sleeper, there’s nothing you can do but simply accept your fate? Luckily, there is plenty that you can do as a parent to either prep your baby early on for good sleep habits, or to help guide your baby to a comfortable place if sleeping has already become an issue. You can find the text version of this podcast episode at www.drstevesilvestro.com/sleep

We're in the middle of a revolution in parenting. It's clear to see that in the last twenty-plus years, parenting styles have radically changed. Gone is the view that children "should be seen and not heard," and in its place is a more kid-centric approach designed--we hope--to help our kids grow up more confident and balanced, and to allow parents to more fully enjoy the experience of raising kids. But as with any change, there are some growing pains. As we've moved away from a generally authoritarian approach to parenting, we've blurred some of the long-held lines in the parent-child relationship. "When am I your parent, and when am I your friend? Should I always be the parent and not the friend? How does a friend convince you to eat your dinner?" And with these lines blurred, we've introduced potential for daily conflict--both with our kids and within ourselves. Alyson Schafer is a pro at teaching parents how to manage these conflicts and even avoid them altogether. She is Canada's leading parenting expert, and her list of accomplishments makes it easy to see why: She's the author of three books, hosted her own parenting TV show for six seasons, has appeared in dozens of online and print media, and has given presentations around the world--including TEDxKids in Brussels. In this interview, Alyson dives into the conflicts that come up in modern parenting, giving you key tips to deal with and prevent those issues--and raise cooperative, happy kids in the process! In This Episode, You Will Learn About: Raising cooperative kids versus simply obedient kids How to stimulate intrinsic motivation and mutual respect instead of always using external rewards to motivate your child Kids’ 4 goals when misbehaving Why we should look at misbehavior as a mistaken approach How certain types of praise might actually hurt your child’s chances for true success How to deal with back talk and bad attitudes Why family meetings are so important—and how to structure them to be successful And so much more! "Mistakes are opportunities to learn, not failures and deficiencies." "Any time [kids] can increase their sense of control, their lack of control in other areas becomes more manageable." -- Alyson Schafer Be sure to SHARE this page & this episode with anyone who needs to find the right balance as they raise their kids in this new era of parenting! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or LinkedIn, and let me know what you think about my conversation with Alyson. Important Resources Alyson Schafer's website for more of her best resources Book: Honey, I Wrecked The Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes, Time-outs, Sticker Charts and Removing Privileges All Don't Work - by Alyson Schafer Book: Breaking the Good Mom Myth: Every Mom's Modern Guide to Getting Past Perfection, Regaining Sanity, and Raising Great Kids - by Alyson Schafer Book: Ain't Misbehavin': Tactics for Tantrums, Meltdowns, Bedtime Blues and Other Perfectly Normal Kid Behaviors - by Alyson Schafer Alyson's articles on Huffington Post Canada AnxietyBC.com -- Great resource for anyone with anxiety, filled with helpful articles, apps, and other resources Music Akashic Records – Motivation Extan - Sunshine

ADHD has been one of the most challenging topics over the past twenty years, and is something that many, many families experience. And while we could have long conversations about the state of ADHD in the United States—about increasing rates and whether they are due to better recognition and understanding, influence of the availability of multiple medications and treatments, changes in social expectations around the behavior of kids both at home and especially at school, or some combination of all of these things. But without even diving into any of that, here is the reality: parents and kids all around the country are dealing with the impact of ADHD and are often struggling as they learn how to manage it. That's what intrigues me about the work of Michelle Buzgon. Michelle is an ADHD coach with over 10 years of experience partnering with adults, kids, teens, and parents. Through individual coaching and through workshops using Cindy Goldrich’s popular, Calm & Connected program, Michelle provides something that is often the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to treating kids with ADHD—and that’s help kids and their parents figure out lifelong strategies that tap into their strengths and help them find the focus and motivation to succeed. So in this episode, we dive into all of this and more—with of the questions that I asked coming from parents like you who wrote to me on Facebook about their biggest ADHD challenges. In This Interview, You Will Learn: What’s going on with ADHD and why it isn’t about inattention, but rather a problem of attention regulation How using rewards and negative consequences can sometimes create more problems How to use the right type of consequences and when to set boundaries How to break the “cycle of defiance” How saying the same words in a different way can get a drastically better response from your child Tools to motivate your child How making the bed is a great example for teaching your child planning and executive function skills Tips for teachers, tips for when medication wears off in the afternoon, tips for making schooltime more successful And much, much more! If you know a family that is struggling as they learn to manage ADHD, share this interview with them and others on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, and help get this information out to everyone who needs it!  Important Resources Michelle Buzgon can be found at www.positivefocuscoach.com ADDitude Magazine - four issues a year filled with tips for raising kids with ADHD Book: Raising Boys with ADHD: Secrets for Parenting Healthy, Happy Sons - Mary Anne Richey and James W. Forgan - tips and stories that are useful for both boys and girls Book: Mindful Games - by Susan Kaiser Greenland - Susan is one of my favorite experts; here, she describes dozens of activities that can be used to enhance focus and awareness Fidget: Set of 3 Tangle Jr. Fidget - colorful and comes with two back-ups! Fidget: Boinks Fidgets (Package of 6) Fidget: Stress Cube Music Akashic Records – Motivation Canvai - Sunset This post first appeared at drstevesilvestro.com/podcasts

If you grew up watching family sitcoms at any point from the ‘60s through the ‘90s, then you probably expected that parenting would be filled with grand “teachable moments.” At the end of every episode—whether it was The Brady Bunch, Growing Pains, Family Ties, or Full House—cheesy music would play, the parent would sit on the edge of the bed with a kid who’d made a hilariously big mistake, they’d have a touching moment in which the parent imparts some life-changing wisdom, and then the scene would end with a hug followed by a joke. It turns out that real-life parenting isn’t quite like that. In fact, many of the biggest opportunities for teachable moments with our kids are unexpected or even go by unnoticed. If only someone could cue the cheesy music and clue us in on what to do! Well, there is something you can do to create an opportunity to connect with your children each and every day. I call these “The Dinner Questions.” They are a way to avoid asking the question that every child on the planet finds boring: “How was school?” and getting the unhelpful answer of “fine” or “I don’t know.” What’s special about these questions is that they do more than just entice your kids to talk about their day. They let you in on how your kids think. They help your kids learn to appreciate their experiences and the people in their lives. And they help to shape a positive mindset about the future. In short, they create built-in “teachable moments.” Take a listen to this short episode to hear the questions and see how. This episode first appeared at www.drstevesilvestro.com Music Akashic Records – Motivation Adam Hinden & cinnafinn — sea you soon Ampyx & Ron Curtis – Shoot for the Stars