11 - Guest Expert: Larry Forletta, Former DEA Agent and Private Investigator, Connecting w/ Your Kids in a Chaotic World

Cast:
Dr. Tara Egan
Anna, teenage co-host
Larry Forletta, former DEA agent, private investigator

Discussion: How to best support your kids and keep them safe in this chaotic world by having a high quality relationship with them.

Larry says the key to success is the family home. He begins by sharing the biggest issues that families face is when the family structure is broken down- whether it is from the children being exposed to their parents illegal activities, such as selling drugs from the home, parents that are divorcing, domestic issues, or even just parents that work a lot and are not around. Often the children does not feel secure, lacking consistency - they can find themselves getting caught up in bad behaviors.

It is important to note that this is happening everywhere, in poorer communities and the more influential communities, it just may look differently.

Another big concern now for our kids is safety around technology, particularly social media. Larry shares a story of a mom that had been monitoring her teenage daughters apps and found out she was unknowingly communicating with a sexual predator. This predator claimed to be her age and she felt comfortable enough to believe this person enough to share and be vulnerable with him.

Ways to keep your kid safe:

 1) Be mindful of the apps that your kids are on
2) Be connected with ALL of their friends and the people who they associate with
3) Start utilizing the many tools that are available to parents now to monitor your kids online presence
4) Make sure to educate your kids on the many risks out there today

Other discussion points:
- Tips when communicating online
- How video games influence behavior
-  Risk factors
- Autism/anxiety/ADHAD
- How to discipline
- New security in school system

Learn how to stay CONNECTED with your kids, know who their friends are, who they are communicating with, what is going on in their life so that they know you are there and involved.

To learn more about Larry, visit his website: https://fcisllc.com/

This episode is sponsored by Sparent, a company that "helps ambitious women create time to grow their amazing companies." Book your discovery call HERE to find out more. Mention this podcast episode and get one free hour of service.

To learn more about Dr. Egan's online mini-course called "Managing Your Family's Technology and Social Media", created to help parents eliminate power struggles, keep your family safe from internet misuse, and reconnect with your family, please click RIGHT HERE.

I just want to remind you to visit our Facebook page and Instagram page.

If you'd like to try BARK, a dashboard that monitors content on your child's technological devices, please use the code QSG7JBW to get 20% off. If you'd like to try Circle Home Plus to set guidelines around when and where your kids spend their online screen time, use THIS LINK to get $20 off. I use both of these tools to protect my children.

To learn more about Dr. Tara Egan, visit www.drtaraegan.com
To learn more about Dr. Tara Egan's private therapy practice, visit www.charlotteparentcoachi