Phases - A Parenting podcast with Dr Courtney

How to Feel Like a Couple Again After Kids

Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, discuss the reasons why it's important for parents to build in time for each other in the thick of parenting. They talk about: * Why relationships often take a back seat when parenting. * Why your relationship matters for your child's development. * Signs your relationship may need some attention. * Easy, practical ways to stay connected to each other.  * Action steps to take if it still feels hard. Have a question for Dr. Courtney? Head over to https://phases.fm/questions and we may answer it in the next Q&A.

Q&A #2 - Infant/Toddler Phases; Sensory Overwhelm; How to Help Your Child Stay Flexible & More.

In this Q&A episode, Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, will tackle your biggest parenting challenges at home. We cover: * Tips for raising resilient and well rounded kids.  * How to navigate sensory overwhelm. * Managing challenging behavior with toddlers. * Parenting advice for the newborn phase. * How to set your child up for success when switching between 'fun' and 'less-fun' activities. * Ways to support your child when another sibling is often having a hard time.  Resources Mentioned: - What To Expect The First Year [https://amzn.to/4eeAB21] - Happiest Baby on the Block [https://amzn.to/4a7sZMp] - Simplest Baby Book in the World [https://amzn.to/4uLVPsR] Questions for Dr. Courtney? Submit them at Phases.Fm [https://phases.fm/questions] and we may cover them in the next Q&A episode.

Is This Behavior Normal? What Parents Often Misread.

In this episode, Dr. Courtney and her husband, Scott, unpack common behaviors that kids may show at all developmental phases and determine what is "normal" and what's not. We talk about the ways that parents often misinterpret these behaviors, how to reframe your expectations and when to get support if needed. Topics discussed include:  * Is it normal when your little kids don't listen to you?  * Is it normal if your younger kids are lying to you?  * Is it normal that my kid is an excellent, well behaved student at school but an emotional wreck at home?  * Is it normal that my teen is lazy and unmotivated?  * Is it normal if my older teen is closed off or seems annoyed all the time?   Tools Mentioned: Visual Timer [https://amzn.to/4fehK85] White Board for Chores or Tasks [https://amzn.to/4vf6RaK] Questions for Dr. Courtney? Head over to Phases.fm to submit your question for the podcast!

Why Kids Melt Down on Vacation - and How to Make it Easier

Dr. Courtney Tolinski and her husband, Scott, share their top tips that make traveling with kids a breeze. Whether you're going on an overseas trip or staying close to home, these tips will help to make summer travel easier and more fun for your family.  * Why summer travel can go wrong, but also why it's still amazing and we do it anyway! * How to prep and plan with your kids even before the vacation starts.  * Why it's important to not over schedule your trip.  * What to pack (i.e. not just the clothes) and why it's so important.  * How to think about travel activities for kids and why we let go of screen time worries.  * Top tips for the day of travel (think busy airports or long car tips).  * How to manage big behaviors on the trip while staying calm.  * Remembering to think about adult time too!  Questions for Dr. Courtney? Head over to Phases.fm to submit your question for the podcast!

6 AI Tools That Make Parenting Easier

Dr. Courtney and her husband, Scott, talk about six incredible tools that you can make for your kids in minutes. These tips are not your standard AI slop. They are all created with your unique family's needs in mind - either to use your child's imagination and creativity, to promote structure or communication in your family, or to enhance your child's confidence. We discuss prompts that you can easily enter (included below) and talk about ways to trouble shoot working with AI to make the process smoother.  1. Creating coloring pages for kids (ideal for preschool - 2nd grade).  Prompt: "A children's coloring page, featuring a "cute bunny, rainbows, unicorns and/or candy," thick clean black lines, minimalist, flat white background, no shading, no grayscale, whimsical and fun style, high resolution." **Tip: Will only do 1 page at a time. To create more, prompt with "Make another one" for as many as you need.** 2. Make a visual schedule for your family (works for any age - adjust for your kid's developmental level). Prompt: "Make me a visual schedule for my family to use. It should have images and a chart easy to read." Then go into specifics... e.g. "We have 2 kids, ages 6 and 8. At 9am, we eat breakfast. At 10am, we play outside. At 12pm, we eat lunch. At 1pm, we take a nap. At 2pm, we play or go to the park. At 4pm, we read a book. At 5pm, we eat dinner. At 7pm, we take baths and get ready for bed. At 8pm, we go to sleep." 3. Create a chore chart for your kids to help around the home (works for any age - adjust for your kid's developmental level). Prompt: "Make me a visual chore chart that my kids can check off each day. Chores include (specify here): e.g. walking the dog, emptying the dishwasher, making their bed, putting clothes away, taking out the trash and brushing their teeth." 4. Make a specialized feelings chart for your child to help them connect with and talk about their feelings. Prompt: "Make me a feelings chart with 15 different feelings for a 7 year old. Add a script in the chart that says "I feel___ when ___. I need ____". 5. Create a boredom menu for kids to look at when they're feeling bored or need ideas on what to do. Prompt: "Make me a chart that gives 10 different options my kids (age 6 and 8) can do when they are bored. Include visuals and the following ideas: read a book, draw, trampoline, marble run, eat a healthy snack, etc." 6. Develop an affirmation poster with your child that uses their words to describe their strengths and interests. Prompt: "Can you create us a cool affirmation poster for a 9 year old boy? Here are his strengths: Playing Video Games, Coding, Making Funny Comics, Good at math & science, I'm nice, Im very funny, i'm a good doodler, extremely good friend." **Tip: Tweak as needed to make it look/sound like your child or have the aesthetic your child likes.  Questions for Dr. Courtney? Head over to Phases.fm to submit your question for the podcast!