Peace at Home Parenting Podcast

Screen time can become one of the biggest sources of tension in family life—but the goal doesn’t have to be finding the “perfect” number of hours or fighting over devices every day.In this episode, Peace At Home Parenting founder Ruth E. Freeman, LCSW, joins Aaron Weintraub, MS, and Tanika Eaves, PhD, LCSW, IMH-E® to explore a different way of thinking about technology: focusing less on fear and more on connection, development, and how kids are actually using their screens. The conversation emphasizes that children’s need for a secure relationship with caring adults remains important from infancy through adolescence.You’ll hear practical, compassionate ideas for reducing screen-related power struggles, including how to create routines and family agreements, protect sleep and screen-free downtime, make room for boredom and unstructured play, and help kids transition away from devices with less conflict. The experts also discuss why parents’ own technology habits matter—and how small moments of undivided attention can strengthen connection.One especially helpful reframe: think beyond “screen time” to “screen usage.” Making music, FaceTiming Grandma, or playing a game together aren’t developmentally equivalent to endlessly scrolling or hours of solo video game play, simply because they all happen on a screen. The bigger question is what technology is adding to—or crowding out of—your child’s life.You’ll learn how to:Reduce power struggles around turning screens offBuild technology limits collaboratively instead of relying only on rigid rulesUse routines and rituals to make transitions easierProtect sleep, quiet time, play, and family connectionConsider your child’s age, development, needs, and actual screen usageModel healthier technology habits without expecting perfectionStrengthen the parent-child connection that helps kids develop self-regulation over timeWhether you’re parenting a preschooler who never wants the tablet to go away, a teen who seems permanently attached to their phone, or anything in between, this conversation offers a reassuring place to start.Progress, not perfection. Connection first.👪 About Peace At Home ParentingWe’re a team of 40+ parenting experts in child development, mental health, and education. Our mission is to help families strengthen connections and create more peace at home. Explore all resources by topic🛠️ What we offer:Quick Video SolutionsLive Workshops1:1 Parent ConsultingFull Access Parenting Subscriptions💼 Productivity at Work Begins with Peace at HomeSupport working parents and boost employee wellbeing. Our corporate programs reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and increase retention. Bring us to your workplace!

Back-to-school season can bring fresh notebooks, new routines…and a whole lot of worry. Will my child make friends? Like their teacher? Keep up with the work? What if they’re already saying they don’t want to go?In this episode, Peace At Home Parenting founder Ruth Freeman, LCSW, talks with Dana Asby LaBranche, MA, MEd, about helping kids navigate the worries and uncertainty that come with starting a new school year.Whether your child is heading into a new classroom, making the leap to middle or high school, or facing another big school transition, you’ll hear practical ways to recognize anxiety and respond without accidentally adding to it. The conversation explores how parents can help kids feel safe while still building the confidence to face uncomfortable feelings and new experiences.You’ll learn how to open conversations about school worries, create routines that make transitions feel more manageable, and help your child build resilience instead of trying to make every anxious feeling disappear.Because confidence doesn’t mean your child never feels nervous. It grows when they discover, with your support, “I can handle this.”In this episode, you’ll learn:How back-to-school anxiety may show up in childrenWays to talk about worries without making them biggerHow your own anxiety can influence your child’s experienceSimple ways to bring more optimism and connection into the transitionHow predictable routines can help kids feel saferWays to support confidence while allowing kids to work through manageable challengesHow to help your child approach a new school year with greater resilience👪 About Peace At Home ParentingWe’re a team of 40+ parenting experts in child development, mental health, and education. Our mission is to help families strengthen connections and create more peace at home. Explore all resources by topic🛠️ What we offer:Quick Video SolutionsLive Workshops1:1 Parent ConsultingFull Access Parenting Subscriptions💼 Productivity at Work Begins with Peace at HomeSupport working parents and boost employee wellbeing. Our corporate programs reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and increase retention. Bring us to your workplace!

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough to help your child with anxiety, emotional outbursts, or challenging behavior, you're not alone. Many parents feel caught between trying behavior charts, considering therapy, and simply wanting to understand what's really going on beneath the surface.In this thoughtful conversation, Peace At Home founder Ruth Freeman, LCSW, is joined by child psychologist Marianne Barton, PhD, and parenting expert Aaron Weintraub, MS, to explore why connection is often the missing piece when children are struggling. Rather than asking, "How do I stop this behavior?" they invite parents to ask, "What is my child trying to communicate?"Together, they discuss how a strong parent-child relationship creates the foundation for emotional growth, why many behaviors are signs of immaturity rather than defiance, and how evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can work alongside attachment-based parenting—not in competition with it. The conversation is filled with relatable examples, practical strategies, and compassionate guidance for responding to children with curiosity instead of conflict.You'll also hear answers to real parent questions about disrespect, school behavior, sibling conflict, ADHD, transitions, emotional regulation, and supporting children through everyday challenges.Whether your child is struggling with big feelings, anxiety, challenging behavior, or simply having a hard time, this episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of what helps children grow—and how your relationship with them can be one of the most powerful tools you have.👪 About Peace At Home ParentingWe’re a team of 40+ parenting experts in child development, mental health, and education. Our mission is to help families strengthen connections and create more peace at home. Explore all resources by topic🛠️ What we offer:Quick Video SolutionsLive Workshops1:1 Parent ConsultingFull Access Parenting Subscriptions💼 Productivity at Work Begins with Peace at HomeSupport working parents and boost employee wellbeing. Our corporate programs reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and increase retention. Bring us to your workplace!

Originally recorded June 11, 2026.Co-parenting isn't about agreeing on everything—it's about helping your child feel safe, secure, and loved, even when the adults don't see eye to eye.In this thoughtful conversation, Peace At Home founder Ruth Freeman, LCSW, sits down with relationship researcher Brian Doss, PhD, to explore what decades of research tell us about the powerful connection between parent relationships and children's emotional well-being. Together, they discuss how the way adults communicate, handle disagreements, and support one another has a lasting impact on children's mental health, behavior, and resilience.You'll hear practical, compassionate strategies for navigating parenting disagreements, reducing conflict, and working as a team—even if your parenting styles differ. The discussion also tackles real-life questions from parents about toddlers' tantrums, blended families, divorce and separation, handling disagreements in front of children, and repairing family relationships after periods of conflict.Rather than striving for perfection, this episode offers reassurance that small changes in how parents communicate with one another can make a meaningful difference for the whole family. You'll come away with research-backed ideas to help you approach difficult conversations with more curiosity, less blame, and a renewed focus on what matters most: your child's sense of security.Learn more about today's experts:Ruth Freeman, LCSW: peaceathomeparenting.com/our-expertsBrian D. Doss, PhD: ourrelationship.com/team👪 About Peace At Home ParentingWe’re a team of 40+ parenting experts in child development, mental health, and education. Our mission is to help families strengthen connections and create more peace at home. Explore all resources by topic🛠️ What we offer:Quick Video SolutionsLive Workshops1:1 Parent ConsultingFull Access Parenting Subscriptions💼 Productivity at Work Begins with Peace at HomeSupport working parents and boost employee wellbeing. Our corporate programs reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and increase retention. Bring us to your workplace!

Every parent has questions—and sometimes the most reassuring answer is knowing you're not alone.In this special Ask Ruth Anything episode, Peace At Home Parenting founder Ruth Freeman, LCSW, responds to real parenting questions from families navigating everyday challenges. Drawing on decades of experience and research, Ruth shares practical, compassionate strategies that help parents build stronger relationships with their children while reducing conflict and stress.The conversation covers some of the most common parenting concerns, including getting children to cooperate, responding to emotional meltdowns, supporting independent and strong-willed kids, reducing power struggles, and helping children develop important life skills like organization and problem-solving. Rather than focusing on control or punishment, Ruth explains how emotional safety, connection, predictable routines, and collaborative problem-solving help children thrive.Whether you're parenting a preschooler, school-age child, or teenager, you'll find reassuring guidance grounded in child development and evidence-based parenting practices.In this episode, you'll learn:Why cooperation grows from connection—not complianceHow emotional safety helps children regulate their behaviorA simple "when...then..." approach that encourages responsibility without threatsWhy reflecting feelings often works better than asking lots of questionsHow to support spirited, independent children without damaging your relationshipBetter alternatives to punishment and repeated naggingHow to coach children through organization and executive functioning challengesStrategies for responding to emotional meltdowns with both kindness and clear limitsWhy routines and positive attention can dramatically improve cooperationHow your own stress and childhood experiences can shape your parenting responses👪 About Peace At Home ParentingWe’re a team of 40+ parenting experts in child development, mental health, and education. Our mission is to help families strengthen connections and create more peace at home. Explore all resources by topic🛠️ What we offer:Quick Video SolutionsLive Workshops1:1 Parent ConsultingFull Access Parenting Subscriptions💼 Productivity at Work Begins with Peace at HomeSupport working parents and boost employee wellbeing. Our corporate programs reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and increase retention. Bring us to your workplace!