Sunshine Parenting

Camp Director, Mom, Author, and Speaker Audrey Monke and other youth development experts discuss summer camp, family life, raising thriving kids, and ideas for living more connected and happier lives.

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Episodes

Ep. 8: A Camp-Grown Parenting Style with Scott & Sally Whipple

"Sometimes we feel like salmon swimming upstream, but camp has really made us feel comfortable when we've made those decisions that go against the current in our community." -Sally Whipple In Episode 8 of the Podcast, I talk with Scott and Sally Whipple, the owners of three Bay Area (California) camps: Mountain Camp Mountain Camp Woodside Plantation Farm Camps The Whipples share five intentional decisions they've made that have shaped their parenting style: #1 Embrace failure #2 Value authentic,...

May 09, 2017•33 min

Ep. 7: Family Pace and Space with Sara Kuljis

“A moderately paced schedule serves our children better.” -Sara Kuljis In Episode 7 of the podcast, I'm talking again with my good friend Sara Kuljis. Sara is the owner and director of Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp and Emerald Cove Day Camp . Sara offers popular parenting workshops in Southern California. One of Sara's favorite workshop topics is about family "pace and space." In the podcast, she explains the research behind why it's important for us to step back and look at our family's schedule ...

Apr 26, 2017•30 min

Ep. 6: Staying Underwhelmed with Erica Jameson

“Not WHO you are but HOW you are.” -Erica Jameson I learned a lot talking with Erica Jameson, the third-generation owner and director of Jameson Ranch Camp , a sustainable, working ranch in California's southern Sierras. Campers at Jameson learn how to take care of animals, live simply, and, as Erica says, "play in the dirt." We covered a lot of topics in our conversation about both her own experience growing up at camp, what she focuses on now at Jameson, and her own parenting. Community/Belong...

Apr 12, 2017•23 min

Ep. 5: Using a Growth Mindset with Jeff Cheley

In Episode 5 of the Sunshine Parenting Podcast, I interview Jeff Cheley, the 4th generation director of Cheley Colorado Camps , a world-renowned summer camp founded in 1921 in Estes Park, Colorado, by Jeff's great-grandfather. Jeff is in his 18th year as director at Cheley and with his wife Erika is parenting three young sons. He has a business degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and serves in volunteer positions at the American Camp Association and with several Denver-based youth organ...

Mar 27, 2017•21 min

Ep. 4: Giving Kids' Phones a "Vacation"

"We want this party to be with all the girls being present and in the moment with their friends." -Ashley, Parent Ashley's Facebook post caught my attention - it was a photo of the text she had sent to the parents of the 22 (yes, you read that correctly, TWENTY-TWO!) girls invited to her 12-year-old daughter's sleep-over swim party. I am sharing Ashley's ideas here so that other parents can decide if a "phone vacation" might be a good idea for a future social event. Perhaps we can start a trend ...

Feb 20, 2017•21 min

Ep. 3: Raising Resilient, Independent Kids with Sara Kuljis

In Episode 3 of the Sunshine Parenting Podcast, I interview my good friend Sara Kuljis about raising resilient, independent kids. Sara is a 20-year veteran camp director and parenting trainer who has great insights and ideas about parenting and counseling kids. Sara, with her husband Steve, owns and directs Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp , a Christian adventure camp for children ages 8 to 16 years old founded 44 years ago by Sara's parents Jim and Marna Slevcove. Together, the Kuljises also direct ...

Feb 13, 2017•23 min

Ep. 1: Raising Happiness with Christine Carter

In episode 1 of the Sunshine Parenting podcast, I talk with best selling author Christine Carter, Ph.D., about her book, Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents . We discuss two of the tips from her book, including "put on your own oxygen mask first" and family dinner. We also address a listener question about teaching children how to handle unkind kids. Visit Christine's website at christinecarter.com for more information about Christine's books, online class...

Oct 10, 2016•28 min

No Time for Family Dinner?

Back in 2012, I wrote about how much I treasure our Family Dinner . That was a precious, memorable year for our family, the final one before our oldest daughter left for college. Now our family dinners include just four of us (myself, my husband, and our two boys), but they are still my favorite part of the day - and often the only time we really talk and connect. The post No Time for Family Dinner? appeared first on Sunshine Parenting ....

Sep 27, 2016•56 sec

5 Steps to Help Kids Resolve Conflicts

The Conflict Resolution Wheel I’ve always considered myself non-confrontational and I do my best to avoid conflict. In researching ways to teach kids conflict resolution skills, I’ve discovered that avoidance is actually a choice on the "Conflict Resolution Wheel." I’m primarily a “walk away” or “go play with somebody else” conflict resolver. And, perhaps because I try to “use kind words and a friendly voice” most of the time, I’m able to steer clear of many conflict situations. I know that my t...

May 08, 2015•16 min

The List: My Best Parenting Tip

Before I had kids, there were several things I said I would never let my kids do. Once I was actually a parent, however, many of the “nevers” evaporated in the reality of my day-to-day parenting challenges. My kids did occasionally end up sleeping in my bed, eating fast food, and watching too many cartoons instead of… The post The List: My Best Parenting Tip appeared first on Sunshine Parenting ....

Oct 09, 2014•2 min

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