The PAWsitive Choices Podcast

Welcome to The PAWsitive Choices Podcast, where we explore practical, brain-based strategies to promote resilience and collaborative problem-solving in children. Whether you are a parent or an educator, each episode bridges the gap between neuroscience and everyday life, giving you actionable tools to help kids thrive.

You can check out the show notes and listen to each episode directly on this page, or find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Be sure to subscribe to The PAWsitive Choices Podcast so you never miss a show! Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram or Facebook to take part in our weekly podcast polls and help us make each episode more meaningful for you.

Episode 12 Show Notes

We continue our conversation about using social stories to teach children valuable life lessons and build social skills. In this episode, we discuss the role of egocentrism in childhood and explore ways to help children build empathy in light child development research.  

Episode 11 Show Notes

In this episode we explore how you can use social stories to teach children lessons and build social skills. We discuss how social stories can create curiosity, engagement, and an intrinsic motivation for learning.  

Episode 10 Show Notes

In this episode we continue our series about productive problem solving in adulthood. I'm joined with Thomas Kealey, my husband, as we explore how establishing a common language is essential to problem solving and strengthening relationships. We also share how this information has transformed our marriage over the years. The Glitter Brain Frame is a helpful tool we reference to communicate when someone feels upset and is not ready to collaborate. 

This video for children (and adults) explains the Glitter Brain Frame in depth. 

Episode 9 Show Notes

In this episode we begin a new series about productive problem solving in adulthood. In this first episode of our new adulthood series, we explore the importance of curiosity and generosity when trying to understand where other adults are coming from when there’s a problem at hand.

Listen to episode #3 of The PAWsitive Choices Podcast to learn more about the 3 Cs of positive connection.

Tips for Practicing Curiosity and Generosity:

Tip #1. Add to Your Mental Generosity Bank- Whenever you find yourself arriving late to work, not being friendly to others, or other situations in which you’re not being your best self due to factors outside of your control, add these factors to your “mental generosity bank.” The next time someone cuts you off in traffic or arrives late to a meeting, you can extend them grace and think that their actions might be due to the very situations that you’ve experienced in your own life.  
  
 Tip #2. Communicate Curiosity- When someone is acting in a way that is outside of their usual behavior or if someone says something that is unkind, you can express curiosity to better understand where they are coming from and ultimately solve the problem. Examples of curiosity in conversations include:

• “I’m curious why you ___”

• “Help me understand what you mean by ______”

• “Can you say more about _____?”

Research Citation

Moskowitz, G. B., & Gill, M. J. (2013). Person perception. In D. Reisberg (Ed.), Oxford library of psychology. The Oxford handbook of cognitive psychology (p. 918–942). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376746.013.0058 

Episode 8 Show Notes

In this episode we explore how you can take a productive approach, rather than a punitive approach, to solving problems with children. You can purchase the Problem-Solving Reflection digital download on our website for only $4.99 or practice the tips that are shared throughout the episode. 

Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! 
Problem Solving Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/van2WS2tkYM 
Listen to episode #5 of The PAWsitive Choices Podcast to learn more about various approaches to discipline. 

Episode 7 Show Notes

In this episode we explore ways to build shame resilience through practicing positive self-talk. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook so you can take our poll and make our next episode more applicable to you! You can watch our Positive Self-Talk Youtube Video with children to teach them the main ideas and listen to episode #3 of The PAWsitive Choices Podcast to learn more about ways to practice calming techniques.  

Tips for practicing positive-self talk: 

Tip #1 for adults- Pause and connect with how you feel. Hold space for any and all emotions and withhold judgements. All emotions are good and healthy! 
 
 Tip #1 for supporting children- Connect with your child to acknowledge how they feel and hold space for all their emotions without judgement. 

Tip #2 for adults- Reframe how you interpret your situation and practice using positive self-talk. Extend grace and compassion to yourself. 
 
 Tip #2 for supporting children- After connecting with your child and validating their emotions, encourage them to practice positive self-talk. Be sure to practice using positive self-talk in times of calm and in times of difficulty. 

Tip #3- If you're wondering how to practice using positive self-talk in a given situation, ask yourself, "What would I tell my best friend if they were facing a similar challenge?" 

Episode 6 Show Notes

In this episode we continue to our conversation about discipline by exploring how shame, guilt, and empathy impact how we parent and teach. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn tips you can implement today. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode. 

Brain Break Video: https://youtu.be/odZe5jI7whU 

Tips for reflecting on shame, guilt, and empathy:

#1: Pause and ask yourself these questions:

• Is what I'm doing or saying to children causing shame (the feeling that they are bad) or guilt (the feeling that what they did was bad)?

• If shame is present in my interactions, how can I shift the focus to changing the behavior and building empathy?

#2: If you're not sure if what you're doing or saying is causing shame, ask yourself this:

• How would I feel if my spouse/partner/parent said that to me in front of my peers or family or treated me in that way?

• Would I feel unworthy of connection or bad about myself if I experienced a similar situation?

#3.  Talk with children about why certain behaviors are a problem, help them think about how their actions impact others (to develop empathy), and brainstorm ways for children to repair with others when problems arise.  

Episode 5 Show Notes
In this episode we unpack the definition of discipline and explore different parenting styles and how these affect our children's lifelong wellness. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn two tips you can implement today to help you develop a discipline philosophy and be intentional about how you parent and teach. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and/or Facebook so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode. Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode.  

Episode #3 is about brain structures associated with calming strategies and emotions 
Episode #4 covers productive and collaborative problem solving 

Link to purchase Problem-solving Tool Kit: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store/problem-solving-tool-kit    

Tips for developing a discipline philosophy and defining your parenting/teaching style: 

#1: Reflect on how you and your partner define discipline. 

• What comes to mind when you hear the word discipline?

• How were you disciplined growing up?

• How can you teach, rather than punish, your children when it comes to addressing misbehaviors in discipline moments?

#2: Reflect on your parenting/teaching style. 

• What parenting style did your parents take (each parent could have taken a different approach)?

• What style do you lean toward in your parenting/teaching?

• How can you take a more authoritative approach by using connection/emotional responsiveness as well as boundaries and limit setting?

Episode 4 Show Notes
In this episode we continue to unpack the 3 C's to building positive relationships and focus on the third C (collaborate). We explore how practicing collaboration strategies helps children strengthen their executive function skills, allowing them to think critically, control impulses, and solve problems. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn the 3 tips you can implement today to help you collaborate with children. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode. Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode. 

Link to purchase Problem Solving Tool Kit: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store/problem-solving-tool-kit  

Link to Problem-Solving YouTube Video (you can watch this with kids!) : https://youtu.be/van2WS2tkYM

Collaboration Practices

#1: Give children choice.

#2: Get their perspective.

#3: Make a plan.

Episode 3 Show Notes
In this episode we continue to unpack the 3 C's to building positive relationships and focus on the second C (calm). We explore how practicing calming strategies helps children and adults connect and build emotional intelligence. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn the 4 tips you can implement today to help you children feel calm and thrive. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode. 

Link to purchase Glitter Brain Frame: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store/glitter-brain-frame  (see Calming Practice #3 to learn more about this resource) 

Calming Practice #1: Calming Breaths- Calming Breaths Video & Free Activity

Calming Practice #2: Healthy Choices- Healthy Choices Video & Free Activity

Calming Practice #3: Brain Breaks- Video #1, Video #2 & Free Activity

Calming Practice #4: Talk About Feelings- Feelings Video & Free Activity

Episode 2 Show Notes

In this episode we unpack the three C's to building positive relationships and focus on the first C (connection). We explore why using research-based strategies to strengthen relationships is important and how you can approach any situation in a way that helps both children and adults feel like they are on the same team. Be sure to listen through the end of the episode to learn the three special tips that are designed to help you connect with others in meaningful ways. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you! Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode.

Video about taking Brain Breaks: https://youtu.be/odZe5jI7whU
Let's Talk Activity- Click the link and scroll down to the activity entitled "Let's Talk with Kids": https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/freebies

Episode 1 Show Notes

In this episode we describe why we created PAWsitive Choices, who we are, and the key ingredients to helping children and adults build resilience. To learn more about PAWsitive Choices, visit https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/about , follow us on social media, and check out the PAWsitive Choices YouTube channel. For questions and topics you'd like us to cover, email info@pawsitivechoices.com.