Family play therapist and childhood mental health expert Carley Aroldi hosts "Good Enough Parenting," the podcast where not so perfect parents tune in to be rem...
February is rough. The winter blues are real, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and if your family has managed to dodge the flu, norovirus, and pink eye this season—tell me your secret!This past weekend, my husband and I got a much-needed break while the grandparents took over. And while I love that my kids get this time with them, it also meant one thing: a weekend filled with sugar and screens.So today, we’re diving into the ever-evolving world of screens. What’s too much? What actually matters more than time limits? And how do we, as parents, set tech boundaries that actually work?In this episode, I share:📱 Why how kids use screens matters more than how long🧐 The one question I ask my kids (and myself) about screen time🚫 The simple rule we have about tech in bedrooms (game-changer!)📵 My own experiment with a digital detox—how it’s going so farThere’s no perfect answer, and we’re all figuring it out together. But sometimes, just being intentional is good enough.To get Carley’s free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!
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17:28
Stop "Shoulding" On Your Kids!
Happy New Year! We made it to 2025. And if the first few weeks are any indication, it looks like we might be in for a bit of a bumpy ride.Which is why I open this month’s “Good Enough Parenting” episode with the reminder that tapping into things that bring us joy is not a luxury as parents – it’s a necessity for your family’s well-being. Whether it’s catching a movie, meeting up with a friend or simply savoring a quiet coffee, prioritizing things that fill your cup isn’t selfish; it’s essential.To start my year, I indulged in a favorite tradition: seeing a Broadway show solo. This time, it was Our Town—front row and close enough to get spit on by Jim Parsons (yes, it was worth it).Watching those turn-of-the-century moms yell for their kids to come to breakfast reminded me of something important:Some parenting struggles are timeless (like kids not listening the first, second, or third time).And parents losing their cool? Yeah, that hasn’t changed in 125 years either.In this month’s episode, we’re diving into: ✨ How to stop “shoulding” all over yourself and your kids. 📺 Proven strategies for managing transitions (like turning off YouTube without tears). 🌱 Why letting go of unrealistic expectations frees you to trust that your kids will grow toward the light—in their own messy, beautiful ways.Here’s to a year of realistic expectations, more joy, and a whole lot of good enough. To get Carley’s free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!
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16:20
Infants, Elders and Everything In Between
This month, we’re diving into the sacredness of multi-generational family time. After returning from a vacation with 20 relatives—ranging from babies to grandparents—I’m reflecting on why these connections matter so much for our kids and for us as parents.We’ll talk about how spending time with multiple generations helps kids develop empathy, responsibility, and self-worth (yes, even when they complain). Plus, I share why parenting wasn’t meant to be a solo act and how leaning on a larger community—whether it’s relatives or chosen family—can help us stay calm and grounded.Whether you’re heading into a big ol’ family gathering this holiday season or leaning on a community you’ve recently built, know this: those multi-generational connections aren’t just a “nice-to-have.” They’re a lifeline for our sanity and our kids’ growth.So before you spend your year-end bonus on enough wine to block out the unsolicited parenting advice from Aunt Sally, take a deep breath and remind yourself to embrace the messiness and magic of extended family. Your village may not be perfect, but they’re good enough.To get Carley’s free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!
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16:38
Stop, Drop and Roll With It
In this episode, we’re taking a classic fire safety rule—Stop, Drop, and Roll—and turning it into your new secret weapon for navigating those fiery parenting moments. Remember how often the fire department visited your elementary school to drill this into our heads? Turns out, that advice is just as helpful for when your kid is melting down over the color of their cup as it is for actual flames.I share a recent moment where I found myself at the edge of a parenting meltdown (yes, even therapists have those!) and how Stop, Drop, and Roll helped me regain control—well, at least of myself, if not the chaos. 😉 Learn how to apply this three-step strategy to put out emotional fires and keep your cool when the heat is on at home.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to apply Stop, Drop, and Roll to your parenting toolbox 🧯Why stopping in the middle of chaos can be a game-changerHow dropping the need for control leads to calmer outcomesWhat “rolling with it” really means in the wild world of parentingTo get Carley’s free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!
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14:25
Building Bravery
Fear Isn’t the Enemy 👾 We often think we need to protect our children from things that scare them, but in reality it's better to help them face it.“Fairy Tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed.” ~GK Chesteron Kids know that scary sh*t is out there. But their biggest fear is not the monster under the bed or the bully on the playground. The biggest fear many children have? Feeling powerless. That's why fear can lead to aggressive outbursts—because when a child feels scared, they try to regain control, often through extreme reactions.What Helps? Facing Fear with Control 💪It’s not about keeping scary things away from them, but about teaching them to face fear while remaining in control. Let them go at their own pace—approaching the edge of their comfort zone but not pushing them into distress.Practical Tips for Managing Fear 👻Here’s how you can help your child manage their fears:Take Baby Steps: Start small, letting them explore their fears in a controlled way.Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge their fear without rushing to solve it for them.Playfully Conquer Fear: For imaginative fears (like monsters or vampires), try creative solutions—draw pictures of what they’re scared of and destroy them, or come up with funny tools to "banish" their fears.Create Safe Opportunities: Games like hide-and-seek can help kids practice separation in a fun, controlled setting.The goal isn’t to shelter kids from fear but to help them practice feeling scared and managing that fear. When we let them take control, they become more empowered, resilient and ultimately cooperative! On today's "Good Enough Parenting" podcast, I share a personal story of how I was able to move my three year old from paralyzed to playful on Halloween night. And while we can't make all the dragons disappear, we can give our kids the swords they need to feel less afraid. And that's good enough. To get Carley’s free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!
Family play therapist and childhood mental health expert Carley Aroldi hosts "Good Enough Parenting," the podcast where not so perfect parents tune in to be reminded that our kids are gonna be ok, even if we don't always know what we're doing! Listen in for tips on using brain-based play therapy techniques to create more calm, connection and cooperation in your family life.
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