Getting Kids to Listen – Episode 229 [Encore]

If you’re like me (April), you often confront parenting challenges that don’t have an “easy answer.”

That’s because good parenting isn’t necessarily intuitive.  We can be good, kind people who love our children, but that doesn’t mean that we know the best thing to do when a child speaks disrespectfully or throws tantrums at the check-out.

Amy McCready is one of my parenting heroes.  She teaches positive parenting methods simply, beautifully, and respectfully.  Her programs are based on thorough scientific research, they’re delivered in a way that makes sense to me as a busy mom.

I was excited about this podcast.  Very excited.  Amy McCready has been featured on the TODAY Show, ABC News, Martha Stewart, and more–and now we’re thrilled to have her here on our Power of Moms podcast.

A few basic ideas from our conversation?

• We’re not “trying to get control over the kids” or simply trying to “come up with consequences.”

• Our real goal is to strengthen our relationships with our children and provide an environment where we can grow together.

• As deliberate mothers, we need to make “Mind, Body, and Soul” time a priority with each of our children (Amy will explain how to do that). We also need to take time to train our children (which will prevent many of the misbehaviors from happening in the first place) and help them behave for the right reasons.
• There are better parenting methods available to us than yelling.  And as we learn those methods, the entire feeling in our homes will change. (I shared a personal experience where I applied Amy’s methods to a parenting dilemma involving my son–and how I was elated when it worked.)

 All podcasts are also available on iTunes.

Positive Parenting Solutions (Amy’s Website)

Full Program Sign-Up Page (use power10 for a discount!)

Why do children really misbehave?  (Featured on TODAY Parenting–includes the 5 Rs discussed in the podcast.)

Click here to view a PDF summary of this podcast.

About Saren Eyre Loosli

Saren adores her five energetic, adventurous, precocious children but doesn't totally adore the mess and busyness and bickering that that comes with them! She grew up all over the world, got her Bachelor's degree at Wellesley College and did her Masters in Education at Harvard University (these days, the diplomas on her wall mostly serve as visual aids when she's trying to convince her all-too-smart teenagers that she DOES know a thing or two!). She went on to design and implement enrichment programs for kids and training programs for teachers. But it was only after she finally found her Mr. Right, Jared, and had five children in five years, that her education and work experience began in earnest!

When she's not trying to answer five - or six - different needs and questions at once, she works on this website (she's Co-Director and Co-Founder of Power of Moms).

She currently lives in Ogden, Utah and loves reading, hiking, and biking with her family (or by herself when possible!). She often struggles with balance but finds joy in being involved in many things that are meaningful to her.