Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron

Send us Fan MailMarion and Cindy are back and chatting about toys and play again!  What does play look like in their homes? What do they bring with them during long car rides and at the doctor's office to keep their 3 kids busy? Which toys and apps do they recommend (you might be surprised at their answers). Lastly, are singing and flashing toys really educational, and do they support sensory development in babies? Drs. Hovington and Van Horn will answer all of these questions and more. Want to know how to support your child's development using simple play ideas? Get 25% off our Play and Brain Development course until January 15th. Use code PODCAST25 at checkout. https://www.curiousneuron.com/playcampSupport the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we are giving you TONS of tips to help you teach your child how to manage their emotions. Get ready to take some notes and to listen to this episode more than once! Dr. Tina Montreuil, psychologist and McGill University professor discusses her research around emotion regulation skills in children. We discuss the importance of regulating yourself first (as well as the reality that it is hard to always do this as a parent). This episode will leave you feeling confident and empowered the next time your child has a tantrum or big emotions. If you would like to read Dr. Montreuil’s research please click the links below to visit our website.Please rate our podcast and leave a review for your chance to win a coffee on us! 3 winners will be announced next episode. Thank you to the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro for supporting our podcast.Join our free Monthly Family Meetings:https://www.curiousneuron.com/familymeetingsJoin us on Instagram @curious_neuronAccess Dr. Montreuil's research studies and publications on our website:https://www.curiousneuron.com/podcast/2021/12/8/ep-40-confidently-help-your-child-manage-their-emotions-with-dr-tina-montreuilDid you know that you could join a research study from labs around the world by visiting our website? Find out more below:https://www.curiousneuron.com/participate-in-a-research-study Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I chat with Emmanuel, the founder of the Bronch Club and a dad of 2. He shares with us the trauma from his past and how this was having an impact on his life as a husband and a father. He discusses the importance of therapy and of creating a safe space where men can be vulnerable and open up about their experiences. “By creating a safe space for men to be vulnerable, we are creating a safe space for women to be free”. Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a rating and review!Read some research related to this topic on our website:https://www.curiousneuron.com/podcast/2021/11/24/ep-39-raising-children-while-working-on-child-traumas-emmanuels-storyGet 35% off our courses between November 25-28th with code CURIOUS35https://www.curiousneuron.com/curiousneuronacademyFollow us on Instagram @curious_neuronSupport the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailSocial skills take time to develop and children need our guidance. In today’s episode, Dr. Cara Goodwin explains how a child develops social skills as well as what to look for in children who might have social anxiety. Dr. Goodwin also explains shyness and offers us tips to help our children if they are shy. We discuss the opposite case when a child isn’t shy at all and is very outgoing with strangers. I asked her about Selective Mutism and how a parent can differentiate this vs shyness. Lastly, she answers questions from parents including if we could help a child with social skills by placing them in daycare or preschool. Thank you to the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro for supporting our podcast. Join our free Monthly Family Meetings HERE and join us on Instagram @curious_neuron.Schedule a coaching call with us here or visit the Curious Neuron Academy here.The full episode can be found on our YouTube Channel. Visit our website to read science articles linked to this episode HEREDid you know that you could join a research study from labs around the world by visiting our website? Find out more HERE.Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we chat with Ashleigh, a new mom that struggled with connecting with her baby. She walks us through her difficult pregnancy and sheds light on how we can support our partners and our friends after they had a baby. Please note that this episode may have some triggers for parents that experienced a difficult pregnancy or who struggled with bonding with their baby.Share your experience with us in the comments below or thank our guests for helping all of us feel less alone in our parenting journey.Thank you to the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro for supporting our podcast. Join our free Monthly Family Meetings HERE and join us on Instagram @curious_neuron.Schedule a coaching call with us here or visit the Curious Neuron Academy here.The full episode can be found on our YouTube Channel. Visit our website to take the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire HEREDid you know that you could join a research study from labs around the world by visiting our website? Find out more HERE.Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we discuss how to see, guide and trust our child with Mr. Chazz, an educator, and parent coach. We begin our conversation by discussing spanking and how we could be more mindful of these generational cycles. We then get into a beautiful conversation about behavior and discipline. What does it mean to discipline? How should we discipline a child that is hitting? Our conversation moves to the parent and how we may have been taught to suppress our emotions, which then makes it harder to teach our children how to handle their own emotions. Sometimes, parents are not on the same page when it comes to parenting. Mr. Chazz discusses how we need to remove judgment in our conversation with our spouse when having these types of conversations. Lastly, what should you do if you do not agree with how you were raised and your parents want to babysit your child?  Such an important conversation for all parents! I hope you enjoy today’s episode. Get 50% off an entire year of Pok Pok Playroom with code CURIOUSNEURONRedeem offer here: https://bit.ly/3AensyCPok Pok Playroom is a digital playroom filled with open-ended toys, each designed to spark imagination, creativity and learning while leaving kids feeling calm. There are no rules, ads or menus—it’s a completely safe, self-guided experience that kids can play with entirely on their own.Follow Pok Pok @playpokpok on InstagramGet access to the research articles and links to connect with Mr. Chazz on our website:https://www.curiousneuron.com/podcast/2021/10/11/ep-36-does-spanking-really-discipline-a-childFollow us on Instagram @curious_neuronWatch this episode on YouTubeThe Curious Neuron podcast is supported by the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro. The Neuro is the first health sciences institution in the world to commit to Open Science, an approach to research that ensures scientific knowledge is shared widely and transparently.Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, we chat with 2 moms who experienced trauma during pregnancy and during delivery. This is a new series we are launching called "Am I the only one?". Please note that this episode might be a trigger. Katherine opens up about her emergency c-section when her epidural was no longer effective and Christine talks about her serious health issues during pregnancy that put her life at risk. If you enjoyed this episode and our podcast, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Access the science and join the conversation on our website here. Thank you to the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro for supporting our podcast. You can support the Curious Neuron Podcast by joining our Patreon account here.Join our free parent support group here.Schedule a coaching call here or visit the Curious Neuron Academy here. Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we chat with actor, director, producer, father, and author of Man Enough to discuss masculinity and fatherhood. We need to make it ok for our boys to express emotions and to be vulnerable. This starts with us, in our home. We need to do the work so that dads can express themselves and feel that they are man enough. Join the conversation and comment on our website (link below) about how these topics have impacted you or your family. https://www.curiousneuron.com/podcast/2021/9/16/ep-34-fatherhood-and-masculinityYou can support the Curious Neuron Podcast by joining our Patreon account here.Watch the video of our interview with Justin on our Facebook page.Thank you to the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro for supporting our podcast. Follow us on Instagram @curious_neuron or @curiousneuronpodcastSupport the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailYour child doesn't need all the best "educational toys" for their development and wellbeing. In fact, in this episode, we argue that you, the parent, are the best educational toy. Being present with our babies and responding to them when they coo or babble. Going for walks with our newborns and stimulating their senses. Teaching them about the world they live in. How do things move, sound, bounce, feel, taste is the type of play that should guide us. Want to learn more? Listen to the season 2 finale to get some advice about play for ages 0-5 years old. Thank you to the Sponsors of the Curious Neuron Podcast, the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro. To learn more, click HERE.If you would like to learn how to support your child's development through play, register for our Parent Play Camp by clicking (here)Want a free PDF about play and development? Click here.Join us on Instagram @curious_neuronEnjoyed what you heard in season 2? Please take a moment to rate our podcast and to leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! Have a topic request or ideas for us for season 3? Email Cindy at info@curiousneuron.comSupport the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan MailWhat questions should I ask myself to raise a more conscious human being? What if a family member is teaching my child values that I don't agree with? My child is older, is it too late to start having such conversations? What if the conversation is uncomfortable to me? What are the gender stereotypes in my home? Where is the line between pushing an agenda and raising an open-hearted boy? Should I speak to girls and boys differently about gender? The COVID pandemic has affected my child's behavior, what do I do? How can we help my child to develop awareness and empathy towards others? Join us as we answer these and other questions in our chat with clinical psychologist Bobbi Wagner, author of the book Raising Feminist Boys. We talked about building trust with our children, supporting them in their socio-emotional development, and raising them to be self-aware, empathetic, and emotionally healthy human beings.To read our show notes or to access the links to research studies and other resources mentioned in this episode visit our website: https://www.curiousneuron.com/podcast/2021/7/2/ep-32-raising-good-humans-with-dr-bobbi-wegnerThank you to the Sponsors of the Curious Neuron Podcast, the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro. To learn more, click HERE.If you would like to learn how to support your child's development through play, register for our Parent Play Camp by clicking (here)Want a free PDF about play and development? Click here.Join us on Instagram @curious_neuronPlease take a moment to rate our podcast and to leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!Support the showDo you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sOr purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/