The Blissful Parenting Podcast

Are board games too old to play? Board games are not just for post-thanksgiving, reunions or just for occasions, it is a game for families to play. Why is it important to take back board games to our family time? How can families benefit from playing board games together? Steven Lentz, the author of the book The Guide to (Board) Gaming: Getting Past Candy Land, talks about the benefits of playing board games as a family. Do you have no idea about what board games work for your family? Michelle & Steven will give us some board games ideas and recommendations that you can play during your family time. It is the time to think about having a game night in your home - it’s a great opportunity for your family to enjoy and learn at the same time. “The goal is to make board games a safe place for your kids, and not just safe but fun and enjoyable. Taking the game framework and molding it to your kids will change how they interact with, and bring them back to the table again for more.” - Steven Lentz

We often see our kids with these devices in front of their faces all the time. We are worried that they might lose interest in a lot of other important things because of this. Parents, it is now more vital than ever to get our kids back into the natural world to expand their minds, and let them learn how to connect and communicate with others. This is one of the many reasons why camps are so important to be there for our kids. With powerful principles, Kathy Farley has taught many young adult leaders about the true essence of leadership. Kathy’s 650 trained leaders have served more than 350,000 young adults. In this episode, she talks about her book Krushing It!, and how camps help grow and nurture the next generation of leaders. Don’t miss her inspiring story on how she ended up being the owner of the huge summer camp in Southern California as a single mom. “It (camps) promotes self esteem, they learn a sense of community, they learn a sense of commitment and connection which is so lacking these days. Their connectivity with one another, as well as their confidence just booms. The things that they were afraid of when they stepped off the bus on Monday are no longer a fear by Friday.” - Kathy Farley

Bullying is very rampant in our society. Unfortunately, it has been part of schools for many years. Getting our kids bullied is something that we are really worried about. We all know its danger - it can tear our kids apart. How about the bullies? Have you been called in school because your kid was engaged in bullying? Is there something we can do to make them stop? Suzanne Jean is on the mission of stopping bullying by creating healthy, confident kids that have no need to control other people to meet their needs. In this episode, she will shed us some light on why bullying exists, and how we can stop it by not just taking care of the bullied, but by taking care of the bullies as well. Suzanne also talks about her unique anti-bullying program called PowerEd, where she teaches self-defense to a bully. Sounds odd to you? Listen and understand why Suzanne created this unique and amazing program. “I can't stress this enough that to deal with bullying, you have to acknowledge it as being there. It's amazing how conflict-averse people are, they don't want to deal with it. You've got to acknowledge it, and it takes having everybody involved to be part of the solution.” - Suzanne Jean

There’s a lot of things going on with the lives of our teenagers - physically, emotionally, socially and psychologically. This is a crucial time to have a conversation with them, and know what’s going on with their lives. How can we best support our teens right now? How can we start a conversation that would make them feel heard, understood and valued? The best way to be able to do that is to have courageous conversations with them. What does it mean? "Teen Genie", Elizabeth Bennett, will walk us through some ways on how we can connect and understand our teens as much as we can, so we can help them build self-confidence and create resiliency. NOW is the best time to start courageous conversations with your kids, and be their safe haven in this difficult time. “That's the space that kids really appreciate, if they feel like they're being valued, if they feel like they're being listened to, and they're worth something. In the trauma that they're facing right now, it's mind blowing… So that's where the conversations are going to be important - to find out what's going on with them, and asking not necessarily always questions, but engaging in extensions of conversation.” - Elizabeth Bennett

Parents who have children with special needs, oftentimes don't know where to go when they need support. Where can parents of children with special needs find support for their child and for themselves? Why is it important to act as soon as you recognize that there is something different about your child? In this episode, Dr. Rolanda Fabien talks about the ways that parents can advocate for their children, and how advocating helps parents to take care of themselves and do a better job as parents. Parents, you’re the expert in guiding your child. It doesn't take training to know your child, your child is your training. Learn how you can be a strong voice for your child to get the services they deserve and need. “I want to make sure that my children have access to every opportunity as they're going through life, so that when they become adults, they become contributing members of this larger society…That's the number one goal of a parent to raise a child who is successful, who is independent, who's able to take care of themselves. That all starts at the early stage of getting the right help and the right support for them and for you as a parent.” - Dr. Rolanda Fabien