Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems Podcast By Dr. Leah Clionsky cover art

Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

By: Dr. Leah Clionsky
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You’re doing everything you can to be a great parent. You’ve read the books, followed the mommy bloggers, asked your friends—yet somehow, parenting still feels overwhelming. One person says one thing, another says the opposite, and now you’re wondering if you’re ruining your child. It’s not you. It’s the endless, conflicting advice that’s making parenting more stressful than it needs to be. I’m Dr. Leah Clionsky, a licensed parenting psychologist, child development expert, and real-life mom of two. As the owner of Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts, I’ve spent over 15 years helping parents raise emotionally healthy children with evidence-based parenting strategies. And now, I’m bringing that expertise—and my network of trusted parenting experts—straight to you. Welcome to Educated Parent, the podcast that gives you real answers to everyday parenting dilemmas. No guilt. No guesswork. Just expert-backed parenting tips to help you feel confident in raising emotionally healthy, thriving kids. If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and just want to know what actually works, you’re in the right place. It’s time to ditch the stress and step into confident parenting—together. LET'S CONNECT: Thriving Child Center → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/thrivingchildcenter PCIT Experts → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/pcit-experts Instagram → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/instagram Want more parenting tips? Join our newsletter for expert advice straight to your inbox! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/newsletter Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources! → https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/provider-newsletterCopyright 2026 Dr. Leah Clionsky Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • If Your Child Won’t Listen in Public, You’re Probably Missing This

    If Your Child Won’t Listen in Public, You’re Probably Missing This
    Mar 31 2026

    Is your child not listening in public, making every outing feel stressful? You are not alone. So many parents struggle with this, especially when expectations aren’t clear, and behavior quickly unravels. Often, the issue isn’t your child being difficult; it’s a mismatch in child expectations from parents that hasn’t been clearly communicated.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down how to get your child to listen in public settings using simple, practical strategies that actually work. When you clearly communicate child expectations from parents ahead of time and consistently use positive reinforcement for kids, you’ll see a major shift in behavior. Instead of reacting to your child not listening, you’ll be setting your child up for success before you even walk into the store.

    In this episode, we cover:

    1. Why a child not listening often comes from unclear child expectations from parents
    2. How to get your child to listen by setting clear expectations before entering public spaces
    3. The role of positive reinforcement for kids in improving cooperation and behavior
    4. What to do in the moment when your child not listening starts to escalate
    5. How clear child expectations from parents reduce confusion and prevent power struggles
    6. How to get your child to listen without yelling or threatening consequences
    7. How to consistently use positive reinforcement for kids to reinforce the behavior you want
    8. Why understanding a child not listening is key to long-term success

    If you’ve been frustrated with your child not listening, this episode will help you figure out how to get your child to listen by setting clear child expectations from parents and using positive reinforcement for kids in a way that feels calm, confident, and effective.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Episode 29: Why Praising Children Matters More Than You Think with Julia Lair

    LET'S CONNECT:

    Thriving Child Center

    PCIT Experts

    Calm and Connected Program

    Instagram

    Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.

    Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!
    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • HOW to Talk to Your Kids About Sex: Advice on Parenting and Age Appropriate Sex Talk With Melissa Goldberg Mintz

    HOW to Talk to Your Kids About Sex: Advice on Parenting and Age Appropriate Sex Talk With Melissa Goldberg Mintz
    Mar 24 2026
    If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to your kids about sex without feeling awkward, overwhelmed, or unsure what to say, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions I get from parents, and it’s something every parent will eventually face.In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Goldberg Mintz, a clinical psychologist and parenting expert, to walk you through how to approach age appropriate sex talk in a way that feels natural, supportive, and aligned with your values. We break down what sexual education for kids can actually look like in real life and how to use this moment as powerful advice on parenting that strengthens your relationship with your child. Instead of avoiding the conversation, this episode will help you feel more confident about how to talk to your kids and make age appropriate sex talk an ongoing, comfortable dialogue.In this episode, we cover:How to talk to your kids about sex in a way that feels calm, confident, and aligned with your valuesWhat age appropriate sex talk actually looks like at different developmental stagesHow sexual education for kids can be guided by your child’s questions instead of a one-time “big talk”Practical advice on parenting to help you feel more comfortable having these conversationsWhy sexual education for kids should be ongoing and not just a single conversationHow to use age appropriate sex talk to build trust and open communication with your childWhy learning how to talk to your kids about hard topics sets the foundation for future conversationsInsights and strategies from Melissa Goldberg Mintz on making these conversations easier and more effectiveLearning how to talk to your kids about sex doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right approach, age appropriate sex talk becomes a natural part of parenting and a powerful way to connect. This kind of advice on parenting helps ensure that your child receives accurate sexual education for kids directly from you, in a way that supports both their understanding and your relationship.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and RecoveryLET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!CONNECT WITH MELISSA GOLDBERG MINTZ:WebsiteInstagram
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    26 mins
  • How To Get Your Kids to ACTUALLY Listen (Without Yelling)

    How To Get Your Kids to ACTUALLY Listen (Without Yelling)
    Mar 17 2026

    If you’ve ever wondered how to get kids to listen, you’re not alone. Parents often feel like they are repeating themselves over and over, asking their child to put on shoes, clean up toys, or get ready for school. In this episode, I share simple strategies that can dramatically improve how to get kids to listen by making small changes to the way we communicate with our children.

    In my clinical work, I often see that the issue isn’t that kids refuse to cooperate. Instead, the problem is that our instructions for kids are unclear, indirect, or overwhelming. When parents focus on clearer instructions for kids and strengthen positive communication with your child, cooperation becomes much easier. These simple shifts can make a huge difference in how to get kids to listen during everyday routines.

    In this episode, I talk about:

    1. Why kids sometimes ignore directions and what parents misunderstand about how to get kids to listen
    2. How clearer instructions for kids can increase cooperation and reduce frustration
    3. The role of positive communication with your child in helping kids respond the first time
    4. Why vague directions often fail, and how better instructions for kids solve the problem
    5. How strengthening positive communication with your child can reduce yelling and power struggles
    6. Why are strategies like these frequently discussed on the best parenting podcasts focused on practical parenting tools
    7. How improving positive communication with your child helps children understand expectations more clearly

    If you enjoy learning practical strategies from the best parenting podcasts, this episode will give you simple tools you can use immediately to improve cooperation at home. Conversations about how to get kids to listen are common across the best parenting podcasts, because small communication changes can transform everyday parenting moments.

    LET'S CONNECT:

    Thriving Child Center

    PCIT Experts

    Calm and Connected Program

    Instagram

    Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.

    Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!
    Show more Show less
    19 mins
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