Connected Parenting

Have you ever noticed that the more you try to calm your overwhelmed child, the more upset they seem to become?

In this episode of Connected Parenting, Jennifer takes a deeper look at co-regulation and what happens in both the parent's and child's brain and body during moments of emotional distress.

Whether your child is having a meltdown, struggling with a friendship, or your teenager is spiraling with anxiety, our natural instinct is often to jump into problem-solving mode. We ask questions, offer reassurance, share advice, and try to make everything better. But sometimes, all that talking can actually make things worse.

Jennifer explores why co-regulation is one of the most powerful tools parents have for helping children navigate overwhelming emotions. Rather than rushing to fix the problem or explain why everything will be okay, she encourages parents to focus on finding calm within their own bodies and creating a sense of safety through their presence.

Sometimes, the most effective response requires very few words at all.

Listen to this episode of the Connected Parenting Podcast to discover why less talking, less fixing, and more calm connection can make such an important difference when your child is struggling.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

The Power of Co-Regulation (00:00)
Lessons from Emotional Presence (02:04)
Nervous Systems and Connection (05:48)
Building Self-Regulation Skills (08:19)
The Importance of Silence (13:58)
Managing Parent Self-Regulation (16:32)

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)

How do we raise girls who are confident, compassionate, and comfortable being themselves in a world that often sends them conflicting messages?

In this episode of Connected Parenting, Jennifer explores the pressures girls face growing up. From being encouraged to speak up but not be too loud, to being strong without being difficult and kind without putting everyone else's needs ahead of their own. These mixed messages can leave girls questioning themselves, seeking approval, and struggling to trust their own feelings and decisions.

Jennifer opens an important conversation about helping girls develop a strong sense of self, healthy boundaries, and the confidence to use their voices without fear of rejection or judgment.

She challenges parents to consider how they respond when their daughters speak up, disagree, or express strong opinions, reminding us that we cannot encourage girls to have a voice while constantly discouraging them from using it.

Listen to this episode of the Connected Parenting Podcast as Jennifer explores how we can help raise emotionally healthy girls who know their worth, trust themselves, and feel confident being exactly who they are.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

Raising Emotionally Healthy Girls (00:00)
Distinguishing Kindness From Compliance (01:41)
Navigating Disagreement and Voice (04:10)
The Role of Anger and Assertiveness (07:29)
Supporting Friendships and Belonging (10:28)
Modeling Body Image and Worth (13:16)
Teaching Boundaries and Self-Worth (15:44)

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).

What does healthy masculinity really look like, and how can we help boys grow into strong, kind, and emotionally healthy men?

In Part Two of raising emotionally healthy boys, Jennifer continues the conversation by exploring the messages boys receive about what it means to be a man. From TikTok and social media to influencers promoting concerning ideas about masculinity, boys are constantly exposed to messages that can shape how they see themselves, their emotions, and their relationships with others.

In this episode of connected parenting, Jennifer turns the focus toward helping parents think more intentionally about the kind of men they are raising. Building on Part One, she introduces the importance of understanding healthy masculinity and guiding boys toward a version of strength that includes kindness and emotional well-being.

This conversation encourages parents to look beyond cultural expectations and consider how they can help their sons develop a healthier understanding of what it truly means to be a man.

This is Part Two of a two-part conversation about raising emotionally healthy boys and the men they will become, so if you have not heard Part One, I would encourage you to go back and listen to it now.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

Redefining Healthy Masculinity (00:00)
Preparing Boys for Peer Pressure (02:45)
Navigating Relationships and Sexuality (08:23)
The Power of Modeling and Connection (12:14)
Accountability Versus Shame (16:01)
Raising Future Men With Empathy (19:50)

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).

How do we raise boys who are emotionally strong, empathetic, and accountable for their actions?

In this episode of Connected Parenting, Jennifer explores why raising emotionally healthy boys goes beyond teaching good behaviour. From family expectations and peer influences to cultural messages about masculinity, boys are constantly learning which emotions are acceptable to express and which ones should be hidden. Jennifer explains why helping boys recognize and name feelings like sadness, fear, jealousy, shame, and rejection is essential for developing emotional regulation, empathy, and healthy relationships.

From learning to respect another person's “no” to managing rejection without becoming aggressive or defensive, this episode explores how we can raise boys who are confident in themselves, considerate of others, and capable of navigating difficult emotions.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation about raising emotionally healthy boys and the men they will become, so please join again next week to hear Part Two.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

The Societal Impact of Masculinity (00:01)
Building Emotional Literacy in Boys (03:01)
Mirroring and Naming Emotions (04:54)
The Importance of Empathy (07:37)
Connection and Accountability (11:52)
Navigating Frustration and Boundaries (14:27)

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).

What if the challenging behavior you're seeing isn't really the problem, but a sign of what's happening underneath?

In this week's guest episode of Connected Parenting, Jennifer sits down with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a therapist, certified school psychologist, author, podcast host, and Mom who has spent more than 30 years working with children and families. Together, they explore dysregulation, the nervous system, and why understanding what's driving a child's behavior can completely change the way we respond to it.

Dr. Roseann shares insights from her work and her book, The Dysregulated Kid, helping parents understand why talking, correcting, and giving consequences may not work when a child's nervous system is already overwhelmed.

This conversation offers parents a practical and compassionate way to understand difficult behavior while helping children build the regulation skills they need to navigate stress, emotions, and everyday life.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation (00:00)
The Importance of Co-Regulation (10:12)
Strategies for Building Regulation Capacity (12:12)
The COMMS Framework for Regulation (22:37)
Modeling and Reinforcing Skills (25:58)
Managing Anxiety and OCD Patterns (30:02)

Meet Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

Website: https://www.drroseann.com/

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).