Today’s conversation comes straight from our Q&A series, where I answer real questions from listeners.Andrea wrote in to share about an ongoing struggle with her 10-year-old daughter. She describes her as a “gladiator,” strong-willed, demanding, and often wanting everything her way. These traits can make family events stressful, sometimes leading to meltdowns and blow-ups that derail the day.With a trip to the theme park on the horizon, Andrea wanted to know: How do you prepare and set things up so the whole family has a better experience, even with a gladiator child on board?In this episode, I’ll share practical strategies to help you set expectations ahead of time, manage transitions during the day, and create a plan that supports both your gladiator and the rest of the family. Because yes, family trips don’t have to be a battle. With a few intentional steps, you can help your gladiator child feel more grounded while protecting the joy of the day for everyone.Jennifer's Takeaways:Introduction to the Episode and Andrea's Question (00:00)Understanding Neuro Spicy Kids and Their Behavior (01:38)Managing Expectations and Pre-Planning (02:52)Divide and Conquer Strategy (05:23)Handling Overwhelm and Making Choices (07:59)Dealing with Tantrums and Leaving Early (11:43)Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
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Back To School 2025 | CP223
Hello connected parents, and welcome back to another episode of Connected Parenting. In today’s conversation, we’re tackling the back-to-school transition.For many kids, change can feel overwhelming.Shifting from the relaxed rhythms of home or summer into the structure of school can bring up resistance, anxiety, and even meltdowns. As parents, that can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions for us too.In this episode, I’ll walk you through practical tips and insights to help your child ease into the school routine with less stress and more confidence. We’ll cover ways to prepare them for what’s ahead, strategies to manage overwhelm, and how you can support yourself through the process as well.By the end, you’ll have a toolkit of ideas to make the back-to-school transition smoother and set the stage for a positive year ahead.Jennifer's Takeaways:Back to School Transition Challenges (00:00)Managing Time and Bedtime Adjustments (03:07)Celebrating Summer and Preparing for School (04:44)Handling Emotions and Transitions (08:17)Maintaining Routines and Handling Challenges (09:25)Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
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13:46
[REPLAY] How To Make Family Events Go Better | CP222
Special occasions, whether they’re weddings, birthdays, holiday gatherings, or family reunions can be joyful, memorable, and deeply meaningful. But for parents of children who are highly sensitive, anxious, or strong-willed “Gladiators,” these events can also bring big challenges.In this episode replay of Connected Parenting, Jennifer Kolari, shares 10 practical strategies to help your child (and you) navigate these moments with more ease.From preparing ahead of time and setting realistic expectations, to knowing when to step away and how to stay calm under pressure, Jennifer offers tools that will make family celebrations less stressful and more enjoyable.Let's face it, big events will never be stress-free, but with these strategies you can turn them into opportunities for connection and lasting family memories.Jennifer's Takeaways:Impact of Parental Energy on Children (02:18)Managing Event Schedules and Expectations (03:22)Consistent Parenting Across Settings (05:23)Taking Breaks and Sharing Responsibility (07:16)Leaving Before a Meltdown (09:00)Preparing Children for Events (10:28)Ensuring Proper Nutrition (11:03)Ensuring Adequate Rest (12:06)Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
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13:24
[REPLAY] Growing Up Gladiator: A Candid Conversation With My Daughter Olivia | CP221
In this very special episode of Connected Parenting, I sit down with my youngest daughter, Olivia my true “gladiator child.” Fierce, sensitive, musical, and deeply thoughtful, Olivia has always had a strong counterwill and a fire that pushed me as a parent in all the best (and hardest!) ways.Parents often ask me, “What will my gladiator child be like when they’re older?” In this conversation, Olivia shares openly about what it felt like to be that child the eight-year-old who struggled, the teen learning to navigate big feelings, and the young adult she is now.If you’ve ever worried about what the future holds for your strong-willed child, this episode will give you hope, perspective, and connection.Jennifer's Takeaways:Olivia's Experience as a Gladiator Child (03:55)Challenges of Parenting a Gladiator Child (05:57)Integration and Growth of a Gladiator Child (07:51)Advice for Parents of Gladiator Children (10:04)Strategies for Managing Gladiator Child Behavior (14:23)Impact of Gladiator Child Behavior on Parents (15:11)Olivia's Role as a Kids Club Counselor (23:39)Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
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35:07
[REPLAY] Texting Your Teen | CP220
In this episode of Connected Parenting, we flip the script on a common parenting concern; texting.While we often hear about the downsides of screens, social media, and endless scrolling, texting can actually be a powerful connection tool between you and your teen.I’ll share why, in certain moments, a text might be the bridge that keeps communication open, helps your teen feel seen and understood, and even diffuses tension before it escalates. From using texts to check in during their busy day to sending a quick message that shows you’re thinking of them, I’ll walk you through the situations where texting shines and how to use it effectively without replacing meaningful face-to-face conversations.If you’ve ever worried about “too much screen time” but also want to strengthen your bond with your teen, this episode will give you a fresh perspective and practical tips to make texting work for your relationship instead of against it.Jennifer's Takeaways:Benefits of Texting Your Teen (00:00)Using Texting for Specific Tasks (02:09)Texting for Connection and Affirmation (05:07)Overcoming Texting Challenges (07:26)Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
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.
New Zealand