In this episode of Connected Parenting, I discuss the dynamics of the "good child" in families where a sibling—often a more challenging "gladiator child"—demands most of the parental attention.

Listen in as I explore how the "good child" may suppress their needs to avoid adding stress and share strategies from one-on-one time to using play for emotional expression in order to support these children while balancing family dynamics.

Visit connectedparenting.com for more resources, and thank you for tuning in!

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Coping mechanisms in families with difficult children (00:00 )
• Managing emotions & needs in a family with uneven dynamics (03:42 )
• Parenting strategies for a "super coping" child (08:25 )
• Managing two children with different emotional needs (12:03 )

Meet Jennifer Kolari

Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).