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What terrifies parents more than anything? The thought of their child experiencing sexual abuse. Yet this fear often prevents the very conversations that could protect our children. In this powerful episode, attachment specialist Eli Harwood joins Jordan to share essential strategies for preventing and responding to childhood sexual abuse.

This episode goes over:
• Using anatomically correct language for all body parts from infancy to normalize discussions about bodies
• Teaching body safety rules to children around ages 2.5-3
• Believing children when they disclose abuse and reassuring them they will be protected
• Building secure attachment as your strongest protection against abuse by creating open communication
• Practicing "cooperative" rather than "compliant" parenting so children feel safe defying inappropriate authority
• Continuing regular check-ins about body safety throughout childhood

Visit Eli's website for free resources and check out her Instagram @attachmentnerd for thoughtful takes on parenting and creating strong attachments with your children!

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

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Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

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What if the greatest threat to your child's wellbeing isn't lurking outside your home, but sitting in their pocket? Clinical psychologist Dr. Johann D'Souza delivers a wake-up call about what he calls "digital destruction" - the devastating impact of smartphones and social media on young people's mental health, development, and happiness.

We discuss:
• Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality have doubled or tripled among youth in wealthy, English-speaking countries since 2010
• The average age of pornography exposure is now 10 years old, with approximately 85% of young men struggling with addiction
• Parents vastly overestimate physical dangers (like kidnapping) while underestimating digital dangers to children
• Children raised with healthy technology boundaries ultimately appreciate their parents' firm guidance

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with other parents and check out Dr. D'Souza's speaking services at valuesfirstcollective.com/about or listen to his Virtuous Leaders podcast.

Follow Dr. D'Souza on X: @drjohanndsouza

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

What would you do if you noticed something wasn't quite right in your neighborhood? When off-duty firefighter Garrett Golish spotted smoke drifting through his yard while chatting with his sister-in-law about campfires, he could have dismissed it as someone grilling or burning yard waste. Instead, he trusted his instincts and took immediate action – a decision that likely saved a family with a sleeping baby who had no idea their backyard swim spa was fully engulfed in flames.

In this episode, Garrett shares:

• Why recognizing danger signs quickly can make the difference between safety and tragedy
• Why smoke inhalation is more deadly than burns in most fire situations
• Family emergency preparedness essentials
• Practical safety tips
• The importance of escape ladders for second-story rooms and practicing their use
• The value of After Action Reviews (AARs) to evaluate what went well and what could improve
• Using family dinner conversations to help children develop awareness and response skills

Visit our website for more resources on building character and preparedness in your family.

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

What would you do if violence erupted while your family was having a picnic in the park? Do your children know what to do in an emergency, or would panic take over? These aren't comfortable questions, but they're essential ones in today's world.

Former Navy SEAL Jimmy Graham shares his expertise on family emergency preparedness and the importance of having a coordinated plan that includes children. He explains how his military and CIA protection experience shapes his approach to family safety and community building. We speak about:

• Importance of having a family emergency plan where everyone knows their role
• How to train children to respond to danger without creating fear
• Building discernment in children so they can handle situations when parents aren't present
• Creating a culture of excellence and responsibility within the family
• How to model intervention when witnessing problematic behavior

Find more information about Jimmy Graham's family emergency readiness programs at AbleShepherd.com or check out their YouTube channel to see the heart of the organization.

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

What if the secret to raising virtuous children isn't found in lectures or lessons, but in the stories we share? When educator and father Jeff Minnick recalls the tale of "The Countess and the Impossible" – a story about a boy striving for excellence in lawn-mowing that shaped his work ethic for six decades – we glimpse the extraordinary power of literature in character formation.

In this episode we discuss:
• Stories serve as powerful examples children naturally want to emulate
• Reading aloud to children for just 15 minutes daily creates crucial bonding time while building language skills
• Classic books like Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables teach virtue without preaching
• Parents can find quality book recommendations through resources like "Honey for a Child's Heart", "Honey for a Teens Heart", and "Books Children Love"
• Poetry helps develop language patterns and moral lessons that stay with children throughout life
• It's never too late to start reading aloud with children, even with teenagers

Reclaim your role as the primary educator of faith and morals by sharing great stories with your children today.

Be sure to check out Jeff Minick's articles on The Epoch Times website and Intellectual Takeout.

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

Ever feel like you and your spouse are playing completely different games when it comes to discipline? One moment you're calmly coaching your child through a tantrum, the next your partner swoops in with strict consequences, leaving your kids confused about the rules and possibly learning to play you against each other.

Creating a united front in discipline is essential for raising secure, respectful children who understand boundaries and feel emotionally safe.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Four parenting quadrants
• Parents often swing between authoritarian and permissive styles depending on stress levels and their own upbringing
• Many couples have one partner who leans authoritarian and another who leans permissive, creating confusing mixed messages
• In loving guidance, power isn't used against children but rather alongside them to co-create solutions
• Children notice when parents model humility, repair, and emotional regulation
• The goal is to raise children with internal motivation rather than external control

Visit Kyle and Sarah Wester at artofraisinghumans.com to learn more about their coaching programs for parents and to sign up for a session with Kyle! Also, be sure to check out their FREE parenting guide!

Make twice the impact on marriage and families this October with a donation to Families of Character. Your donation goes directly to helping subsidize tuition for couples who can't afford 100% of our already discounted couples coaching, the Thriving Family Accelerator. Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

The after-school hours between 3-6 PM represent a crucial transition time when children often experience emotional meltdowns after holding it together all day at school.

When kids fall apart after returning home, it's actually a sign they feel safe with you, and by implementing the "three R's" routine—Refuel, Regulate, Reconnect—parents can transform this challenging window into an opportunity for meaningful connection.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How research shows the 3-6 PM window is when behavioral outbursts most commonly occur
• Consistent after-school routines lower cortisol levels in both parents and children
• Meltdowns indicate trust, not misbehavior—home is their emotional exhale
• Refuel, Regulate, Reconnect
• Creating unstructured play time in the evening for better emotional regulation

Remember to stay intentional, stay playful, and keep leading your family with love. God's mercies are new every afternoon, especially at 3:45 when someone's crying about grapes.

Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website

Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

The Family Huddle is a simple yet powerful 20-minute weekly family meeting that can transform household chaos into calm and share the mental load that often falls on one parent. Studies show families who meet regularly report better communication, fewer behavioral issues, and children who are more emotionally secure and less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

In this episode, we discuss:
• A simple, repeatable format: prayer, calendar review, family goal, family cheer
• Creates a space for connection, predictability and problem-solving as a team
• Gives kids a sense of belonging and ownership in family life
• Starts building leadership skills through participation in planning

Check out our Huddle Up Digital Bundle in our Families of Character shop for a more robust version of the family huddle, complete with videos and printables.

Please share this episode with someone in your network, and give us a rating and review on Apple or Spotify to help our show move to the top of the charts for parenting podcasts.

Support the show

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website