Focus on the Family Equipping Parents Podcast

Focus on the Family
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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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Nov 25, 2025 • 12min

If Your Adult Child is Irresponsible

What if your adult child is not as responsible as you raised them to be? John and Danny bring up common frustrations parents of adult kids have today. Then, Jim Daly talks to Dr. Gary Chapman, who tells an encouraging story of a couple, Steve and Linda, whose daughter went from struggling to thriving.   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   How to Trust God With Your Adult Children   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 20, 2025 • 11min

Starting Family Devotions

Getting your kids to focus during family devotions is NOT easy. John and Danny discuss some of the ways they tried to implement things like reading the Bible and praying with their children. Also, Jim Daly talks with Tim Shoemaker about how he went from struggling with devotion times, to getting his kids to love 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   Studying the Bible as a Family   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 18, 2025 • 12min

Using Wisdom with AI

How do you teach your kids to navigate the world of technology and AI, when we're surrounded by them? Danny shares how parents can set a better example for not being on your phones all the time. Also, Arlene Pellicane and Jim Daly address some of the pitfalls with using AI too much.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Screen Kids for your donation of any amount!   Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment   How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well    Phone Contract   AI "Bad Science" Videos Promote Conspiracy Theories for Kids–And More   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 13, 2025 • 12min

Planned Emancipation’s Goal

Letting go of your children is a challenging process as they get older, but it's a necessary part of parenting. John and Danny open up about how they learned to let go in the teen years. Plus, Jim Daly talks to Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer, who share what the goal is for something called Planned Emancipation.   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     Contact our Counseling Team   Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 11, 2025 • 11min

When Your Teen Needs Independence

How do you avoid putting your identity in your kids' behavior? Jim Daly speaks with Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer on how children need to face consequences for their choices, and a concept called Planned Emancipation. Also, John and Danny explain why it's hard but necessary to let your kids suffer if they make bad decisions.   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     Freedom & Boundaries   Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.
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Nov 6, 2025 • 12min

Don’t Shut Down their Feelings

What should you say when your child says, "I'm scared?" John and Danny bring up some of their experiences of helping their kids overcome fear. Plus, Jim Daly and Michelle Nietert discuss what patterns you should pay attention to if your kid seems afraid.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the 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   Managing Those Tricky Emotions   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

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