Inspiration from this Episode

“The most important kind of play is usually free play, especially for kiddos but for some adults as well.”

“This just shows your kiddo that you're involved. that you're there for them and it builds their confidence.”

“You will learn things about how she's playing, but she sees you as an important role.”

094 | Us & Kids: 10 Tips for Playing with Kids

Intro 

On today's show, we are talking about the 10 tips for playing with your kiddos. This is not about how to have your kids play by themselves, this is 10 tips for how you can best play with your kiddos. When we play, we are so busy using so many different aspects of her brain, problem-solving, and creative and trying new things. 

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning. We don't learn separate from play, we learn while playing. Have fun with your kiddos as you listen to these 10 tips. I'm hoping that you find one or two that you like...

Inspiration from this Episode

“These are new routines and helping your kids know what the structure is, have a routine.”

“Listening to your body and what your body can do is important.”

“Sometimes heat makes us really lethargic, but lethargy is not really the best trick for keeping our brains healthy and happy.”

093 | Us & Kids: 10 Tips for Summer Health

Intro 

Because it's summer and because this is episode 93 in the history of the Us and Kids podcast, I'm looking forward to episode 100. Episode 100 will be airing on August 3rd, so what I wanted to do is a bit of a countdown. I'm doing a number of podcasts where we are talking about 10 tips and ideas to help us in one specific area each week.

So today we're going to start with the topic of 10 tips for summer health. Now you might be thinking “why do we need a tip for summer health?” And so we're just going to talk for a little bit about what are some ideas to...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Are you using it to help people yourself as well as other people?” 

“Remember anger is energy, and we decide how we want to use it.” 

“Because often anger is asking for is an adjustment, in some way. And in that adjustment, we hear acceptance.”

092 | Us & Kids: A’s of Angry

 Intro  

On today’s show, we're going to talk about the letter A. We're going to start by talking about anger and then add other A words that both lead away from anger in a negative way or in a more sad way and lead away from anger into a more healthy or appealing way. So first, we have to start by talking about anger. 

I talk often with my clients the idea that anger is energy. It's emotional energy that really wants to have influence in some space or another and often, when it is held back can be sort of explosive. It comes out in that way because we haven't just let it come out more quickly...

Inspiration from this Episode

“For kiddos, we want them to understand that they have feelings and emotions and we help them put labels to them.”

“Put yourself in their shoes, understand their perspective. This is a key part of building empathy.”

“This is my looking for ways to help her and ways to apply how I use empathy and perspective for her age.”

089 | Us & Kids: Empathy

Intro 

On today’s show, we are using the DNA method. We are going to need to Define our desires or a dream. And that means today my dream or my desire is being emotionally connected with my family and with other people in very kind ways. What is my N, my necessary skill? Today is going to be about empathy. And the A is, how are we going to apply it? Empathy, yes for anyone in our family. 

In order for everyone to get on the same page, we need to know exactly what we mean by the word empathy. That is part of defining our dreams and desires, is...

 Inspiration from this Episode

“That is why when we blend imagination and let it grow into confidence through our conversations.”

“Where you would like to become better, you would like to have more confidence in your skill.”

“I'm going to practice it in my mind, I might even practice some of it out loud by myself.”

088 | Us & Kids: Imagination and Confidence

Intro 

On today’s show, our topic is all about using our imagination to build confidence and this is a timeless podcast because we are always as adults and as kiddos encountering new things and we can either become scared and a little shaky or unsure of ourselves, losing our confidence or we can be confident of ourselves and what we are able to do. 

Imagination plays a significant role in building up and maintaining confidence. Let’s talk, first of all, about what do I mean by imagination? And I think using our imagination is using our brain to...

Inspiration from this Episode

“What I would desire to model would be the skill of being truthful and kind or tactful.”

“We can both be honest and cooperate and that's what we did.”

“Be sure you don't reward the lies, especially when our little ones are talking. I don't mind the storytelling. It's a use of their imagination.”

087 | Us & Kids: Truth or Lie

Intro 

On today’s show, we're going to talk about being honest. Now, honesty can come in many forms, right? Honest to ourselves, honest with others, honest about our emotions. When you hear the word honest, or when someone says to you, oh come on, be honest. How do you respond? 

Are there different levels of honesty? Because then, that begs the question about are there different levels of lies? And what do you want to teach your kids about being honest and about lying? The two conversations sort of go together, don't they?

What You’ll Learn in...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Kids often also have to move when they're anxious because they don't have language to be able to say what's going on.”

“Plan that there is going to be anxiety and then plan so that you can manage it.”

“I'm going to look at my options and I'm going to choose the best one for the moment and for the long haul.”

086 | Us & Kids: Anxiety and Breathing

Intro 

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about anxiety. Anxiety is often physiologically a sense of overwhelming concern, or worry. Because there doesn't seem to be a good way to resolve it and even if it's resolved, there's a worry about what about next time? So it's a worry about things in the future and the unknown things that we don't have control over. 

Sometimes we don't know exactly what we are worried about. We can just feel that concern running around in our heads all the time. So, let’s talk about what to do with...

Inspiration from this Episode 

“Then, they're going to be empowered by your love. They need unconditional love.” 

“There's one more thing that the person bringing support would bring, and that is the ability to think a little bit more clearly.” 

“Because, as you do, your hopes and dreams, your desires for your family relationships and marriage, will come together, because you will become more connected.”

085 | Us & Kids: How Can I Help?

Intro  

On today’s show, we're talking about, "How can I help?" Or, "How can I support?" So, we're going to work our way through the word SUPPORT in an acronym sort of way. But, looking at each letter briefly from both: What if you're looking for support, what would you do?; And, if you're offering support, or being asked to support someone, or help someone, what's your best way to respond? What skill is usually best in that situation? 

You know hanging around...

Inspiration from this Episode 

“And so in the long run it can hold us back from taking more courageous steps because were not sure of the end result.”

“Kids and adults can hear when we’re insincere and when we’re not interested. Use your praise and affirmation in ways that match the intensity of the effort.”

“They need different ways of being encouraged in order to grow that courage inside of them.”

084 | Us & Kids: Encourage

Intro  

It takes a lot of courage to stay married forever while you parent together and it also takes a lot of encouragement to do that. The DNA method of communication often talks about this need for having courage. But also how to use encouragement to help build up the courage. We know this is worth the work, being married forever while you parent together is so very rewarding. 

So today I just wanted to talk a little bit about how do we help each other? How do we encourage...

Inspiration from this Episode 

“Encouragement or having courage we can tell that by somebody who says yes, I can do that.”

“Give your kids some room for grace because self-confidence also comes as we practice something and grow proficient in it.”

“These are people who are compassionate they put other people’s needs before their own without worrying about what they’re going to lose.”

083 | Us & Kids: In Courage

Intro  

On today’s show, were going to talk about being in a space of Courage. So you might think, okay well you know courage is for when there’s something really scary and sometimes just like courage. That’s not a problem. I just go and do what I need to do.  

But do you know why and there are people who get stumped and just can’t seem to move forward or goes so slow? Like what’s taking you so long? This podcast will answer those great questions! Everyday...