The Rising Parent Podcast
The Rising Parent Podcast

The Rising Parent Podcast

Tim Vartko + Edna Vartko | Parenting Coaches

Overview
Episodes

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Master toddler tantrums, navigate screen time, and survive the fourth trimester without losing your mind. The Rising Parent Podcast is a practical guide to positive parenting and child development, hosted by Certified Parenting Coaches Edna and Tim. Ditch the rigid rules and parental guilt. Tune in twice a week for actionable hacks on emotional intelligence, newborn essentials, postpartum mental health, and stress-free discipline. Go from surviving to thriving—subscribe today to build a calm, connected, and emotionally supportive home.

Recent Episodes

5 Tips for Helping Preteens Navigate Friendship Drama
JUL 3, 2026
5 Tips for Helping Preteens Navigate Friendship Drama
<p>Is your sweet child suddenly caught in a web of middle school group chat drama? You aren't alone.</p><p>In this episode of the Rising Parent Podcast, hosts Tim and Edna tackle one of the most terrifying transitions for any parent: the preteen friendship jungle. As kids shift from guided playdates to navigating intense social hierarchies, peer pressure, and digital group chats, parents often feel blindsided and powerless. But jumping in to fix it is usually the exact wrong move. This episode provides you with a practical, step-by-step guide to helping your tween build social resilience without being an overbearing parent.</p><p>We dive deep into five actionable tips for navigating preteen friendship drama. You will learn how to help your child redefine what a true friend looks like in the digital age, shifting the focus from social status to safety. We discuss the crucial difference between facilitating growth and "fixing" problems, helping you know exactly when to intervene and when to step back. You will also discover the magic of dinner-table roleplay for peer pressure, how to normalize shifting friendships without using toxic labels, and the ultimate strategy for creating a zero-pressure safe harbor at home for a lonely middle schooler.</p><p>If you want to support the outreach mentioned in today's episode, please visit Selfless Outreach, our non-profit mobile food bank, at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://selflessoutreach.org">selflessoutreach.org</a>.</p><p>Subscribe for new episodes every Monday and Friday!</p><p></p><p></p><p>#ParentingTips #PreteenDrama #MiddleSchool #ParentingPodcast #TweenLife #RaisingKids #SocialResilience #TheRisingParentPodcast</p>
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22 MIN
5 Gentle Parenting Tips to Tame Preschooler Tantrums & Teach Emotional Regulation
JUN 29, 2026
5 Gentle Parenting Tips to Tame Preschooler Tantrums & Teach Emotional Regulation
<p>Picture this: you are standing in the checkout line, your cart is full, and your preschooler spots a candy bar. You say no, and the wailing begins. If you are breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it, you are not alone!</p><p>Welcome to the Rising Parent Podcast! In this episode, 5 Gentle Parenting Tips to Tame Preschooler Tantrums &amp; Teach Emotional Regulation, hosts Edna and Tim dive deep into the chaotic, emotionally charged world of preschooler meltdowns. Discover the brain science behind why your three-to-five-year-old loses control and learn how their amygdala hijacks their developing prefrontal cortex. Instead of reacting with frustration, you will leave this episode armed with empathy, confidence, and respectful tools to help your little one navigate big feelings.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:</p><p>- Looking behind the behavior using the HALTO method to identify hidden triggers like overstimulation.</p><p>- The crucial role of parent-child co-regulation before expecting self-regulation.</p><p>- A foolproof, three-step script for confidently handling public meltdowns.</p><p>- How to ditch the traditional timeout chair and set up a soothing calming corner.</p><p>- The secret to practicing emotional regulation through play outside of the tantrum moment.</p><p>Support Our Cause:</p><p>We created this podcast to help families thrive and to raise funding for our non-profit mobile food bank, Selfless Outreach. To support the under-served in our communities, please visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://selflessoutreach.org">selflessoutreach.org</a> to donate.</p><p>Subscribe to the Rising Parent Podcast for new episodes every Monday and Friday, and please leave us a 5-star review to help other parents find the support they need!</p><p></p><p></p><p>#GentleParenting #ToddlerTantrums #ParentingTips #EmotionalRegulation #PreschoolerMom #ConsciousParenting #TheRisingParentPodcast #ParentingHacks</p>
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18 MIN
5 Fun Tummy Time Activities for Infants Who Hate It
JUN 22, 2026
5 Fun Tummy Time Activities for Infants Who Hate It
<p>Is your baby's tummy time a tear-filled battle? You are not alone!</p><p>Welcome to the Rising Parent Podcast! In this episode, Tim and Edna tackle one of the most stressful newborn milestones: tummy time. If your infant screams the second they touch the play mat, this episode is your ultimate survival guide. As licensed childcare professionals and certified parenting coaches, Tim and Edna share five game-changing, tear-free tummy time activities designed for babies who absolutely hate the floor. Discover how to build your baby's core and neck strength without the daily meltdowns.</p><p>Key topics covered in this episode include:</p><p>- Baby wearing and chest-to-chest bonding as a biomechanically approved tummy time method</p><p>- Using water mats for captivating sensory distraction</p><p>- How to make cheap, easy, and safe DIY sensory bags</p><p>- Elevating your baby with an incline prop like a rolled-up towel or nursing pillow</p><p>- The power of eye-level connection, face-to-face bonding, and mirror play</p><p>Plus, learn why breaking these sessions into frequent, short bursts is the real secret to infant motor development success. We also discuss finding grace for both yourself and your baby during the difficult first year.</p><p>To learn more about our mission and support our non-profit mobile food bank, Selfless Outreach, please visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://selflessoutreach.org">selflessoutreach.org</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p>#TummyTime #ParentingTips #NewbornCare #BabyDevelopment #SensoryPlay #InfantMilestones #RisingParentPodcast</p>
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15 MIN
The Importance of Play: Unlocking Creativity and Development
JUN 19, 2026
The Importance of Play: Unlocking Creativity and Development
<p>You walk into the living room and it looks like a toy store exploded. Panic sets in, but what if this messy, chaotic moment is actually your child doing the most important work of their life?</p><p>Welcome to The Rising Parent Podcast with Tim and Edna! In this episode, The Importance of Play: Unlocking Creativity and Development, we unpack why play isn't just a break from learning—it is the learning. We dive deep into the modern pressure of structured parenting and flashcard mentalities, explaining why unstructured, child-led play is the ultimate brain-builder. From decoding the hidden meaning behind throwing objects to understanding how rough-and-tumble play builds empathy, we are here to help you embrace the mess. We also discuss why boredom is an absolute gift and how setting up simple play invitations can save your sanity while boosting your child's independence and executive function.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:</p><p>- The myth of the parent as the 24/7 cruise director.</p><p>- Decoding behavioral challenges as unfulfilled biological play schemas.</p><p>- The benefits of independent play and the developmental magic of boredom.</p><p>- How rough-and-tumble play teaches emotional regulation, spatial awareness, and empathy.</p><p>- Using unstructured play as a child's first language for processing big emotions and life changes.</p><p></p><p>Have a specific parenting struggle you want us to cover? Request an episode topic by visiting our website at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://risingparent.org">risingparent.org</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p>#ParentingPodcast #ChildDevelopment #PlayBasedLearning #TheRisingParent #ToddlerLife #UnstructuredPlay #ParentingTips #Motherhood #Fatherhood</p>
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16 MIN