Parents of the Year

Tracking your kids can feel like “good parenting”… until it turns your home into a control room. In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline talk about why location-sharing and constant check-ins often backfire—especially as kids become teens and young adults.
They unpack the real driver underneath most tracking habits: adult discomfort with uncertainty. You’ll hear how “just nice to know” can quietly turn into stress, distrust, and sneaky workarounds (hello, leaving the phone somewhere “safe”). Along the way, they share what actually keeps teens talking: conversations that aren’t about school, letting kids teach you their world (yes, even Formula 1), remembering the “small” details that matter to them, and owning it when you mess up.
If you want more openness, less policing, and a relationship your teen actually uses (calls in the car, debriefs after school, mall trips by choice), this one’s for you.

“Homework” activities for adults (to support kids + teens) 
1) The “Not School” Daily Check-In (7 minutes)
Once a day, ask one question that has nothing to do with grades, homework, or performance. Keep it light.
 Prompt ideas: “What was the funniest thing today?” “Who made your day better?” “What’s your current obsession?”
Resource: print/write a small stack of dinner questions (they mention using a question box). Use index cards or a notes app.
2) Let Them Teach You Something (15 minutes, once a week)
Pick one of their interests and let them lead. Your job is to be curious, not clever.
 Easy starters: music playlist tour, game/YouTube trend explainer, sport update, hobby demo.
Resource: a shared note called “Things I’m learning from you” where you jot down names, teams, inside jokes, friends, upcoming events.
3) The “Remember One Detail” Practice
When they mention something that matters to them (a friend issue, a teacher they can’t stand, a social moment), write one line somewhere. Bring it up later.
 Goal: they feel noticed without being managed.
Resource: phone note with headings: Friends / School People / Interests / Upcoming.
4) Replace Tracking With a Simple Family Plan
Instead of location monitoring, agree on a basic rhythm:
where you plan to be
what time you expect to be back
what to do if plans change
one check-in rule for late nights (short text is enough)
Resource: a shared family note or whiteboard titled “Today’s Plan.”
5) The Clean Apology (30 seconds)
When you misread them, embarrass them, overreact, or “torpedo” your partner in front of the kids—own it fast.
 Script: “I got that wrong. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
No sermon. No courtroom defence.
Resource: keep a reminder on your phone lock screen for a week: “Repair beats being right.”
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What happens when a child feels invisible—and how can adults respond in a way that builds confidence, connection, and kindness?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline sit down with Mark Perloe, a retired infertility physician turned children’s book author and grandfather, to talk about modern parenting through a grandparent’s lens. Mark shares the real family moments that inspired Milo’s Superpower, including sibling dynamics, screen struggles, emotional outbursts, and the quiet strengths that kids often carry unnoticed.
This conversation covers raising children across generations, respecting parenting boundaries as grandparents, supporting kids with big emotions, and using humour as a lifelong skill. You’ll hear honest stories about neurodiversity questions, screen time tension, emotional regulation, and how shared experiences—not stuff—shape children long after childhood.
Perfect for parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone raising or supporting kids today.
About Mark Perloe
Mark Perloe worked as a doctor specializing in IVF for 32 years. Now retired, Mark’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his two grandsons. He also enjoys spending time with his therapy dog, Andrew. The two of them travel all over to put smiles on people’s faces. He is thrilled to be writing his first children’s book! 

 Homework Activities for Adults (Parents, Grandparents, Caregivers)
1. The Superpower Conversation
 Ask your child or teen:
 “What do you think you’re really good at?”
 Follow up with where they’ve seen it help others.
Resource: Paper, markers, or notes app to write or draw their “superpower.”
2. Screen Swap Challenge (One Evening)
 Replace one screen session with a shared activity: cooking, walking, storytelling, or fixing something together.
Resource: A simple activity you already enjoy—no prep required.
3. Sibling Spotlight
 Spend 10 uninterrupted minutes with each child separately in the same week. No correcting, no teaching—just attention.
Resource: Timer on your phone.
4. Humour Reset
 When tension rises, ask:
 “How could we make this moment lighter without ignoring feelings?”
Resource: Model it yourself first.
5. Memory Over Stuff Check-In
 Before buying a gift, ask:
 “Would a shared experience mean more here?”
Resource: Calendar for planning time together.

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Andrew and Caroline start this episode the same way many parents start a “normal” day: northern lights, a bank visit that ate two hours, and a reminder that adulting is its own full-time job. Then they try something parents are doing more and more—asking AI for parenting advice.
They put a “nice British voice” to the test on real-life sticking points: kids refusing chores, screen-time blowups, bedtime anxiety, and the constant tug-of-war between boundaries and burnout. The advice isn’t wild… but the tone is the story. Why does AI feel so comforting? When does reassurance turn into a crutch? And what happens when “helpful” starts replacing your village?
If you’ve ever Googled a parenting question at 2 a.m., this one will hit. Expect laughs, some blunt truth about consistency, and a practical way to use AI without handing it the keys to your home.

“Homework” ideas!

Homework 1: Pick one non-negotiable and make it boring
Choose one daily expectation (dishes in sink, teeth brushed, screen off at X).
Say it once, neutrally.
Follow through with a consequence you’ll actually do (pause screens, delay dessert, Wi-Fi off).
Resource: a one-sentence script you can print:
“When ___ is done, then ___ happens.”

Homework 2: Build a screen-time runway (no surprises)
Give a two-step warning: “10 minutes” + “2 minutes.”
Add a simple handoff action: “screen off → device charges here → we move.”
Resource: set two phone alarms labeled “10” and “2,” or use a visible kitchen timer.

Homework 3: Write your “calm plan” for when you feel yourself boiling
Pick a pattern interrupt you’ll use every time: step into hallway, cold water on wrists, 10-count down, slow exhale.
Practice it once when you’re not mad, so it’s there when you are.
Resource: a note on your phone lock screen: “Pause. Breathe out longer than you breathe in.”

Homework 4: Bedtime anxiety ladder (reduce reassurance over time)
Keep routine steps in the same order nightly.
Decide on a “stay time” (3 minutes), then shorten it every few nights.
Use one consistent line at the door: “I’m nearby. You can do this.”
Resource: a simple bedtime checklist your child can tick off (paper on the wall works great).

Homework 5: Use AI without letting it “parent for you”
Try a prompt that forces clarity and reduces the cheerleading:
“Give me 3 options for handling screen-off meltdowns for a child aged __. Include exact words to say, one consequence I can enforce, and what not to do. Keep it short. No pep talk.”
Resource: save that prompt as a note called “Parenting Prompt” so you don’t spiral-scroll when you’re stressed.

Bonus Homework (from the bank + Manulife moment): Make a 30-minute “family admin” file
One page: mortgage info, insurance contact, school logins, emergency contacts.
Put it in a folder labeled “If I get hit by a bus.”
Resource: shared note app doc + one printed copy.
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AI isn’t going away, and kids are already using it. So how do we protect their curiosity, critical thinking, and safety without panicking or burying our heads in the sand?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline and Andrew sit down with English professor, game developer, and AI builder Jerry White to talk about kids, teens, AI, and critical thinking. Jerry has spent years teaching college students, building AI tools for his university, and helping his own son learn to use AI well. He brings that real-world classroom and parenting experience to this conversation.
You’ll hear them unpack:
Why using AI as a ghostwriter can quietly erode learning and memory
How freewriting and “thinking on paper” before asking AI can protect kids’ brains
Practical ways to use tools like ChatGPT and mind-mapping apps without letting them become a crutch
How attention spans and learning styles have shifted with social media and constant tech
What educators can change right now: assignments, discussion boards, and assessment
Deepfakes, Character.ai, Roblox, and other risks parents and schools need to know about
Why parents must start using AI themselves to guide their kids safely
This episode is especially useful for anyone who want to help children and teens:
·       Build real critical thinking skills
·       Keep their own voice in their writing and ideas
·       Stay safer online in an AI-driven world
·       Use AI as a tool, not a replacement for their brain
About Gerry White
Gerry White is the Dean of Academic Technology at ECPI University and founder of MyTutorPlus, an AI-powered tutoring platform. With two decades at the intersection of education and technology, he creates innovative digital learning experiences, including apps and immersive AR/VR. Gerry writes and speaks about how AI reshapes education and culture, exploring its ethical and societal impacts with a balanced, thoughtful approach. His work equips educators, parents, and professionals with practical insights to navigate the evolving AI landscape while preserving critical thinking and humanity.
Resource: https://gerrywhitebooks.com/
Get in touch
https://www.instagram.com/the_gerry_white/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrywhitetech/
https://gerrywhite.tech/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@gerrywhite6197 
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Working from home with kids in the mix can feel like you’re failing at two jobs at once. 
Andrew and Caroline get real about why “balance” is a trap, and why clear boundaries work better—at home and at work. They share what actually helped in their house (the red/green door system, kid-friendly “emergency rules,” and setting kids up with non-screen activities—yes, including the legendary cardboard pirate ship that took over an entire archway). 
You’ll also hear how Caroline plans work in 90-minute focus blocks, why email can wait, and why everyone needs pockets of nothing during the day—no phone, no noise, just a reset. If your calendar is packed, your attention is shredded, and you’re trying to parent without snapping, this episode gives you language, scripts, and practical setups you can try this week.
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