Focus on the Family Equipping Parents Podcast

Focus on the Family
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Dec 30, 2025 • 13min

When Your Kid Has an Emotional Meltdown

How do you respond well when your child has a meltdown? Michelle Nietert tells Jim Daly about a time she navigated an emotional outburst with her young daughter. Plus, Danny gives you some tips for how to deal with a whining child.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Cultivating Healthy Emotional Habits with Your Children (Digital)    Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter   Do Your Kids Know How to Handle Their Emotions?   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 25, 2025 • 10min

Confronting an Adult Child

Every parent has had a moment where you didn't agree with a choice your kid made. But how do you handle a time where you need to confront an adult son or daughter? Danny talks with John about how he's seen this be a common problem in his counseling practice. Also, Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman address why you must give your adult kids freedom to make their own decisions.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Your New Life with an Adult Child for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child     Contact our Counseling Team   Redrawing Boundaries with Adult Children   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 23, 2025 • 10min

You Can’t Control an Adult Kid

One of the more challenging aspects of parenting adult kids is you can't control their choices. Jim Daly and renowned author, Dr. Gary Chapman, will encourage you to focus on being a good influence on your adult son or daughter. Then, John and Danny will remind you that subtle changes to how you interact with an adult child can go a long way.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Your New Life with an Adult Child for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child     Contact our Counseling Team   Redrawing Boundaries with Adult Children   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 18, 2025 • 10min

Keeping Your Kids’ Attention Through Visuals

How do you keep your kids' attention in an age that's so distracted? Tim Shoemaker shares with Jim Daly that kids today are hungry for real analogies. Plus, Danny talks about some visual lessons that he taught his children, and how those have stuck with them.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Surprise Your Kids with Unforgettable Faith Lessons    Family Reading of Scripture   How to Make Family Devotions Fun (and Actually Work!)   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 16, 2025 • 10min

The Value of Object Lessons

When your kids are little, sometimes it's best to teach them spiritual principles through visuals. Tim Shoemaker joins Jim Daly to talk about how he electrocuted a pickle to teach his kids a powerful lesson. Also, Danny offers some thoughts for helping your son or daughter who's not a visual learner.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Surprise Your Kids with Unforgettable Faith Lessons    Family Reading of Scripture   How to Make Family Devotions Fun (and Actually Work!)   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 11, 2025 • 10min

Tell Them Who’s Responsible

One of the worst things you can do is bail your teen out when they make a poor choice. Danny and John open up about times their kids learned some hard lessons, and how they were tempted to bail them out. Also, Jim Daly chats with Jessica Pfeiffer and Dr. Ken Wilgus on communicating with your teens about their need to take responsibility.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Common Teen Issues That Drive Parents Crazy    Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter   Contact our Counseling Team   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 9, 2025 • 13min

Transitioning to a Young Adult

It's a massive adjustment when your child becomes a teenager. Danny opens up about how he and his wife had to approach things differently when their kids reached the teen years. Also, Jim Daly joins Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer, who explain why it's the right thing to start treating your teens like they're adults. At the end, John and Danny will address what to do if you don't like the person your teen is dating.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Common Teen Issues That Drive Parents Crazy    Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter   Family Reading of Scripture   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 4, 2025 • 11min

Listening Well, Even if Your Parents Didn’t Teach You How

Is it possible to be a good listener, even if that wasn't modeled for you growing up? Jim Daly joins Michelle Nietert, who encourages you to listen to your kids with your eyes. Plus, Danny addresses what to do if you find yourself repeating the same mistakes your parents made.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Cultivating Healthy Emotional Habits with Your Children     Contact our Counseling Team   Getting Kids to Listen   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Dec 2, 2025 • 12min

Get on Their Level

How do you respond well when your kid asks, "why did this bad thing happen?" Jim Daly talks to Michelle Nietert about getting on your children's level, and helping them deal with fear. Also, John and Danny will help you encourage your kids when they're struggling with imagining the worst-case scenario.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   Cultivating Healthy Emotional Habits with Your Children     Contact our Counseling Team   Family Reading of Scripture   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 27, 2025 • 9min

Offering vs. Demanding to Give Advice

It's challenging when your adult child is making decisions you disagree with. You may wonder, "Will my son or daughter ever ask for my opinion?" Danny shares how you can be a good friend when giving advice, without being a control freak. Also, Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman offer some encouragement if there's emotional distance between you and your adult kids.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Your New Life with an Adult Child for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child    Contact our Counseling Team   Redrawing Boundaries With Adult Children   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

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