Is your child often called “shy”? In this episode, we explore why that label can be misleading—and even limiting. Instead, we’ll unpack the unique strengths of kids who are quiet, observant, and slow to warm. These children often take in the world with deep awareness, think before they speak, and form strong, meaningful connections in their own time. We'll talk about how to reframe the narrative around “shyness,” offer practical strategies to support these thoughtful children, and celebrate the ...
Jun 25, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 137
In this episode, we welcome Jon Fogel—parenting educator, father of four, and author of Punishment-Free Parenting —to explore a transformative approach to raising children with empathy and connection. Jon shares his personal journey from frustration to understanding, revealing how traditional punishment-based methods can undermine trust and emotional growth. Together, we delve into: The distinction between punishment and natural consequences, and why this matters. The power of curiosity over ang...
Jun 18, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 136
In this inspiring episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Josette Calleja, co-founder of Unplugged Canada, a grassroots, parent-led movement advocating for healthier childhoods in an overconnected world. Josette shares the personal story that sparked this national initiative and dives into Unplugged Canada's mission: to delay smartphone access until at least age 14, encourage tech-free play and connection, and protect children's mental health and developmental wellbeing from the har...
Jun 11, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 135
In this enlightening episode of the Child Psych Podcast, co-host Tammy Schamuhn sits down with the pioneering voice in play science—Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play and author of the groundbreaking book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Together, they explore why play is not a luxury but a biological necessity for children and adults alike. Dr. Brown shares compelling research and surprising insights on how play is essenti...
Jun 04, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 134
When Brandon and Whitney Cawood discovered their child’s life-altering sensitivity to synthetic dyes, their world changed overnight. In this powerful episode, we follow the Cawoods—parents turned first-time filmmakers—as they dig deep into the science, health risks, and corporate practices surrounding synthetic food dyes. What began as a personal journey evolved into a nationwide investigation, exposing just how little we know about the additives in our everyday foods. Join us for a conversation...
May 28, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 133
Talking to kids about puberty can feel awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we dive into the essential conversations every parent needs to have—covering everything from body changes and hormones to emotional shifts and social pressures. We’ll explore how to approach topics like erections, periods, and personal hygiene with confidence, sensitivity, and age-appropriate language. Whether your child is just starting to ask questions or already going through puberty, this episode with...
May 21, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 132
In this powerful episode, we’re joined by educator, author, and trauma expert Jen Alexander to explore what it truly means to build a trauma-sensitive school. Drawing from her influential book, Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools , Jen walks us through how educators can create emotionally safe, connected, and predictable environments where every student can thrive. We unpack the core principles of trauma-informed education, including the importance of regulation, relationships, and resilience in t...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 131
What are screens really doing to our kids’ brains—and what can we do about it? In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, bestselling author of Glow Kids, to unpack the neurological, emotional, and social toll of growing up in a screen-saturated world. From the dopamine feedback loops of gaming and social media to the subtle ways technology reshapes attention, identity, and development, Dr. Kardaras doesn’t hold back. Whether your child is just startin...
May 07, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 130
Rebecca Geshuri, LMFT, explores practical strategies to help moms recognize—and break free from—the exhausting and often invisible mental loops created by competing “Mom Parts.” Drawing from her expertise as a licensed therapist and her experience working with mothers, Rebecca guides listeners through compassionate, insightful conversations that bring clarity, healing, and empowerment to the parenting journey. This podcast is a supportive space for moms who are ready to understand their inner wo...
Apr 30, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 129
Sleepovers can be a cherished childhood memory—or a source of anxiety for both kids and parents. In this episode, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson unpack the risks and benefits of sleepovers through a trauma-informed lens. They explore important developmental, emotional, and safety considerations to help caregivers make informed decisions. Whether you’re feeling pressure from your child to say yes or struggling with lingering concerns, this episode offers guidance on: * What ...
Apr 23, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 128
When we feel seen, we rise. In this sneak peak from our upcoming summit, Dr. Carrington explores how we are wired for connection and how the disconnection we are facing is hurting our families. She offers simple, practical steps to putting connection at the centre of our lives again. Refreshing, packed with personal stories, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Dr. Jody Carrington is a clinical psychologist, speaker, author, and game changer. As a child psychologist, she has assessed, tre...
Apr 16, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 127
In this podcast, Dr.Paul Sunseri offers practical tools and strategies to help families though conflict, disrespect, and melt-downs with kids and teens! He walks us though different examples of how to reduce conflict and increase family connection. His book "Gentle Parenting Reimagined: How to Make it Work with Oppositional and Defiant Kids" is refreshing, practical, and highly engaging. Paul Sunseri, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and father of four who treats children and adolescents with ...
Apr 09, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 126
In this heartfelt episode of the Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists and moms Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson explore how to support children during times of global uncertainty. Drawing from both their clinical experience and personal lives, they discuss how stress and unpredictability can impact children—and how parents can create a sense of safety and connection at home. Tammy and Tania offer practical, compassionate strategies for helping kids feel grounded. This episode is a warm remin...
Apr 02, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 125
Today's episode is a sneak peak from our upcoming summit. We speak with Drs. Lindsay and Lexie Kite, authors of More Than a Body , about how parents can help their children develop a healthy body image in a world that often prioritizes appearance over well-being. We explore the concept of self-objectification and how societal pressures, especially through media, can lead kids—particularly girls—to view their bodies as ornaments rather than instruments. The Kites emphasize body image resilience, ...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 124
Today's episode is a sneak peak of one of the workshops from our upcoming Parenting and children's mental health summit. Play isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful tool for connection, regulation, and raising confident, resilient kids. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, renowned parenting expert and co-author of The Whole-Brain Child, to explore the insights from her latest book, The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids. Dr. Bryson d...
Mar 19, 2025•59 min•Ep. 123
Perhaps in no previous time has it become more obvious that boys are struggling. Their mental health challenges have become severe. Boys are behind girls in education and maturation. Screen time and social media have become an affliction. Many of our sons grow up courting violence. Many others live in quiet desperation. While arguments about the politics of masculinity abound, there is little help today for parents, schools, and communities to raise, educate, and nurture boys. In this podcast we...
Mar 12, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 122
In today's podcast, Jessica Joelle Alexander - best-selling author and Danish Parenting Expert - talks about "Raising Digital Citizens . " Research shows that having open conversations around digital safety and awareness is by far the best and most protective measure parents can take. The reality is, while we all must constantly confront an ever changing technological landscape of apps, games and social media, the basic foundation of what it means to be a good citizen doesn´t change. This is wha...
Mar 05, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 121
With just a few exceptions, most parenting advice focuses on the role of the parent in shaping a child's world. This ignores the fact that genetics shape almost every aspect of human behaviour. In today's podcast, Dr. Dick debunks the myth that parenting techniques alone determine a child's future. She looks at how Extraversion, Emotionality, and Effortful Control underline each child's predisposition and how the key to raising a child isn't to try harder to mold them, but rather to adapt your p...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 120
There are two major camps on getting babies to sleep through the night. These methods are hotly debated, and their oppositional ideas can leave parents feeling frustrated and confused. 1. Cry it out! - Deal breaker for many parents. 2. Do whatever it takes, all day and all night long - Deal breaker for those of us who need to function in the real world. There are other approaches that offer the much coveted “NO Cry” result. The "no cry" unicorn baby, sorry to report, is a mythological creature. ...
Feb 19, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 119
In the second part of this series, we interview Dr. Michael Pluess , a leading researcher on Highly Sensitive Children. Dr. Pluess talks about the latest research on how educators can identify Highly Sensitive Children in the classroom, tips for the classroom, wellness and high sensitivity, parenting, environment and optimal practices. For the latest research on Highly Sensitive Children, this is an episode you don't want to miss! Michael Pluess, PhD, is a chartered psychologist and Professor of...
Feb 12, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 117
In this episode, Tammy and Tania explore the unique temperament of sensitive children and how to nurture their gifts in a way that allows them to thrive. They discuss the profound impact that relationships and environment have on these children, emphasizing the importance of emotional safety, connection, and support. Sensitive kids often experience the world more intensely, making it crucial to foster high-quality relationships that provide validation and understanding. Tammy and Tania share ins...
Feb 05, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 117
First time jitters are normal, but when they turn into tears and outright refusal, the world shrinks in problematic ways. In this podcast Tammy interviews Dr. Dawn Huebner, a Clinical Psychologist and Parent Coach specializing in childhood anxiety. Dawn will walk you though teaching children to manage uncertainty about new experiences. This podcast is based on her children's book: "Facing Mighty Fears About Trying New Things" Interested in more from the Institute? The Parenting Handbook: Your Gu...
Jan 29, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 116
In this enlightening episode, Tanya Johnson is joined by Michael McLeod, a speech and language pathologist turned executive functioning specialist and founder of GrowNOW ADHD. Together, they delve into the complex world of ADHD and executive functioning, offering actionable advice and evidence-based insights for parents, educators, and caregivers. The conversation sheds light on what ADHD really is—beyond hyperactivity and inattentiveness—and emphasizes the importance of understanding, parenting...
Jan 22, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 115
In today's podcast, Tania interviews Elaine Taylor-Klaus, CPCC, MCC, and Co-Founder of ImpactParents. This podcast explores a parenting dilemma that many parents face- what happens when parents have different parenting styles? What if one parent prefers to gentle parent, while another has a more traditional parenting style? Elaine offers tips and strategies on how to co-parent- even when your styles collide- so that family harmony stays intact. Find out more about Elaine's incredible work here ....
Jan 15, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 114
In this episode Tammy interviews actress Mena Suvari to talk about her experiences with childhood trauma and her inspiring and transformative pathway to healing. Mena is author of the book “T he Great Peace ” which speaks to her experiences in this interview. Mena is most well known as her role in American Beauty & American Pie, She is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. The accolades she has received include a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with a Primetime Emmy Awa...
Jan 08, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 113
Have you had a “mom brain” moment? Your heart is racing, your palms are sweaty, and your mind is spinning with anxiety, self-doubt, and whether or not you remembered to pack the diaper cream. Becoming a mother is a joyful rite of passage, but it can also be overwhelming--physically and emotionally. How can you calm the worries, quiet the guilt, and be present with yourself and your kids? Psychologist and mom Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco specializes in the myriad issues that women with young children str...
Jan 01, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 112
Every year, thousands of children are sent against their will – often ripped out of their beds in the middle of the night by strangers – to private facilities to be treated for various mental illnesses, addiction issues, and perceived behavioral problems. Due to inconsistencies in the definition of what a therapeutic program is and a lack of regulatory oversight, the exact number of these centers and children in them is not known but it is estimated that there is over 120,000+ children kept in o...
Dec 18, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 111
In today's episode, Tammy and Tania speak about what to do when kids ask if Santa is real. We look at how to navigate this conversation in a way that stays aligned and true to your family's values while holding onto the magic of Christmas. As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to share some of my favorite gift ideas that have made a big impact in our family—Big Life Journal products! These award-winning, parent-recommended, and psychology-backed journals, affirmation cards, and conversatio...
Dec 11, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 110
In today's episode, Tania interviews Paris Goodyear Brown about how parents can help their children heal from frightening experiences. Paris offers strategies based on the latest trauma research, explains how parents can be more involved in working with their child's therapist, and offers strategies that foster resiliency and wellness. Parents and mental health professionals will love the richness of this episode! Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S, is the creator of the TraumaPlay™ model, the fo...
Dec 04, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 109
When your child lies, it can be incredibly triggering. In today's podcast Tammy and Tania share the research on lying, explore lying from a developmental perspective and offer concrete strategies to navigate this tricky part of parenting! If you have loved today's podcast, come and join us on December 7th at our live online "Fostering Emotion Regulation workshop ". You will get to talk to Tammy and Tania live, and leave feeling equipped, empowered and ready for all of parenting's challenges. Reg...
Nov 27, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 108
