It’s always been true that if you want to get your message across, tell a story. And that’s exactly what Dave Mossman and Brian Nolet did with their Jungle Buddyz books for kids, dedicated to teaching social-emotional skills through engaging stories. Dr. Nicole Lipkin talks to Dave and Brian about The Buddyz books, the importance of social emotional learning and life for kids pre-and-post pandemic. Through their carefully crafted books and educational tools, The Buddyz strive to create a safe space for children to explore their emotions, ask questions, and learn important life lessons. They be ..read more

We know stress is a part of life but we’re not always aware of when and how it’s hitting us, particularly when it comes to our kids who may not always know what’s happening internally. Moreover, stress is contagious and without self-awareness we can easily spread our own stress throughout our family.  This week Dr. Nicole Lipkin speaks with trauma-informed specialist, Kathy Magnusson, about what trauma specifically is, how it affects children, and how parents can help their kids who may be experiencing high levels of stress.  Kathy Magnusson is a trainer, coach, and speaker, who has ..read more

This is part 2 in the everything you always wanted to know about sensory processing but were afraid to ask episode!” We only touched the surface with Emily Charles on our last episode so we wanted to go deeper with her to get some practical, at-home techniques we can do with our kiddos who might be experiencing regulation issues. Emily discusses the signs of sensory processing challenges and explains the difference between the two key players that impact our nervous system (the proprioceptive system vs the vestibular system) and the functioning of our kiddos. Emily Charles is a seasoned pro ..read more

Wouldn’t it be great if our kids always came up to us and said, “Mom, Dad, this is how I’ve been feeling lately?” But that rarely - if ever - happens. More often than not, our children’s behavior is their form of communication, indicating their need for specific sensory input or support. This week, we dive into the world of sensory processing with Emily Charles, a seasoned professional with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, specializing in pediatric care since 2009. Her expertise lies in sensory processing and integration, a niche she has passionately practiced over the years. Dr. Lip ..read more

How do we take care of ourselves as parents? What exactly is self-care? Dr. Nicole Lipkin chats with Chris Downs, a child and family therapist, about the benefits and challenges of embracing your child as a whole person while taking care of yourself.  Chris shares practical insights on effective listening, setting appropriate limits, and supporting children through their struggles. Together, we explore the delicate balance between embracing our children as individuals and ensuring we prioritize our own self-care needs. Join us as Chris and Nicole provide actionable insights and encouragem ..read more

When we hold ourselves to too high of a standard as parents, we burn out and we run ourselves down. It’s okay to be tired, confused, angry, uncertain, stresses this week’s guest, Robin Hornstein. We are of course going to make mistakes as parents. So, what does course correction look like? Dr. Nicole Lipkin talks to Robin Hornstein, a licensed psychologist and counselor, who specializes in treating eating disorders, anxiety, grief, life transitions and works closely with the LGBTQIA+ community. Robin talks about forgiving yourself as a parent and giving yourself a break when it comes to feelin ..read more

Creativity isn’t just about making art and hanging it up on the fridge; it’s about problem-solving, critical thinking, and emotional expression.  Join clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Lipkin and art therapist and licensed professional counselor, Demi Leleux, as they chat about sparking creativity and imagination in children. Together, they explore insights and practical strategies for parents to ignite their child’s creativity through art.  During their conversation, Nicole and Demi explore how art therapy can be integrated into everyday life. They discuss approaching the process wit ..read more

“When we validate [our children’s emotions],” says this week’s guest, Erika Malm, “we're helping our kids to be able to learn how to self-regulate so that they don't have to turn to symptoms or substances or to other people for validation.” This week’s guest, Erika Malm, discusses emotion coaching for parents, the practice of equipping parents and caretakers with tools to help their own kiddos so they’re not solely reliant on a therapist. Erica talks about the importance of validating our children’s experience and their emotions rather than going straight to problem solving and soothing.&nbs ..read more

Race is an extremely tough subject to tackle with your child. “What if I mess up and say the wrong thing?” is a common anxiety among parents. Messing up is ok, but what happens when you mess up is important to navigate. How should you approach that as an adult? How should you help your child approach it? This week, Teran Tadal, the Director of Equity and Inclusion at the Wharton Undergraduate Division at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), talks to Dr. Nicole Lipkin about why it’s important to talk to kids about race and identity, and more importantly how to talk with your child about race ..read more

If you’ve ever wondered, “How does anyone maintain a 50/50 work/life balance?” You’re not alone. And the good news is, it’s a myth.  “Work/life balance is a joke,” says Marissa Green, the creator of Work/Life Reimagined, a work/life design program for working parents. She also hosts The Reimagine Ambition podcast focused on inspiring parents to design work/life on their own terms.  Marissa draws on 20 years of building organizational culture through human-centered design to help working parents rethink balance in a modern world and use creative intention to build a work/life design t ..read more