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Parenting shouldn’t be defined by stress, guilt, and self-doubt. Yet for 94% of parents, that’s what our days feel like. As a neuroscientist and mom of three, I know firsthand how easy it is to end the day overwhelmed, wishing you’d been calmer, more present, or more patient with your child. That’s why I created The Reflective Parenting Podcast—a place where we pause, reflect, and discover a new way forward.
Join me every Monday as we explore science-backed skills that replace guilt with confidence and stress with calm so that you, and your child, can thrive. Some weeks, I’ll share my own reflections as a parent who’s still learning, just like you. Other weeks, I’ll bring in experts from psychology, neuroscience, and beyond to dive into the research and uncover practical ways we can make parenting feel lighter, less overwhelming, and more connected.
Parents don’t need more advice or another education-heavy podcast. What they truly need is a space to pause, reflect, and grow. Reflective parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about noticing what drives our reactions and choosing to show up with intention. This podcast is about building resilience, trust, and connection, and joining a movement to reimagine what parenting can feel like—for us, and for our kids.
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245 Episodes
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Send us a text Ever wonder why some moments with your child feel effortless and deeply connected — while others leave you drained, reactive, or misunderstood? In this episode, we break down the science behind why. Dr. Jessie Stern and psychologist Rachel Samson join Cindy to explore relational savoring — a simple yet powerful way to strengthen your bond by intentionally remembering moments of warmth, safety, and love. You’ll learn how this practice calms your nervous system, reduces stress, a...
Send us a text In today’s episode, Devon Kuntzman and I dive deep into what’s really happening inside your toddler’s brain when they lose it — and how you can respond without spiralling yourself. We unpack why your child’s meltdowns aren’t your fault, what they’re trying to tell you through their behavior, and the simple mindset shift that will change how you see tantrums forever. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is my child doing this to me?” or “I said no… why can’t they just listen?” the...
Send us a text Last week, we uncovered how your child’s behaviour is really their nervous system communicating. Today, we’re going deeper, inside the body, to explore the science of interoception, the hidden sense that helps us feel and understand our emotions. My guest, Laura Petix, is back to break down how learning to tune into your body’s internal signals can transform the way you regulate emotions, set boundaries, and parent with calm. We’ll explore what the research says including new s...
Send us a text You’ve heard the advice: “Teach your child to name their emotions.” But what if the real secret to helping your child (and yourself) regulate emotions starts deeper inside the body? In this episode, I sit down with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (The OT Butterfly) to uncover what’s really going on when kids have meltdowns, get overstimulated, or shut down. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being “bad” or “defiant.” Laura explains how your child’s behavior is actually ...
Send us a text Do you ever hear your child say things like, “I’m such a bad kid” or “I’ll never be good at this” and your heart sinks because you don’t know what to say? You’re not alone. And this episode is about to change the way you respond. Today, I’m sitting down with award-winning science journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer to talk about her latest book Hello, Cruel World, a toolkit for raising confident, resilient kids in today’s messy, complicated world. Here’s the truth: ➡️ Yo...
Send us a text Parents, this one is big. Today we’re breaking down punishment vs discipline, what science says, how it impacts your child’s brain, and why so many of us feel stuck in the cycle of punishing even when we don’t want to. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t want to yell, spank, or threaten…but it just slips out when I’m overwhelmed,” you are not alone. Here’s what you’ll learn today: What studies reveal about how spanking and harsh discipline change the way your child’s brain process...
Send us a text This episode will change how you see your child’s moods and how you respond to them. If you’ve ever tiptoed around your child in the morning, worried the “wrong” cereal bowl or shirt will set off a meltdown, this conversation is for you. Joining me is Dr. Alex Reed, pediatric clinical psychologist and mom of two, who has spent years helping families understand temperament, moodiness, and emotional regulation. Together, we pull back the curtain on what’s really happening when yo...
Send us a text This episode will inspire you to see music as a powerful tool for connection, healing, and everyday parenting. It’s an invitation to play, sing, and create moments of joy with your children while learning how music can also soothe anxiety, ease transitions, and strengthen emotional bonds. And it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the real science of music therapy – far beyond entertainment and how it can transform lives across every age and stage. Joining me is Tanya Lavoie, a cer...
Send us a text I am going to be taking a short break. Meanwhile, enjoy this replay of one of my favourite episodes with Dr. Mona Delahooke. If you have a young child that has tantrums or that acts out in ways you don't know how to support, this episode will help you understand how to support your child in these challenging moments. Learn more from Dr. Delahooke below: https://monadelahooke.com/ Support the show Join our Reflective Parenting Program to learn the science-based ski...
Send us a text Is your child ready for kindergarten from an emotional perspective? In this episode, Cindy discusses the emotional aspects of kindergarten readiness, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in children. She introduces the tripartite model of parental socialization, which highlights how parents' emotional coping, parenting styles, and conflict resolution impact children's emotional development. The conversation also covers practical strategies for...
Send us a text In this episode, we explore the idea of “shifting your lens” — a powerful metaphor grounded in science that helps parents understand how their interpretation of a situation shapes their emotional response. Drawing on the work of psychologist James Gross and his research on cognitive reappraisal, we break down how the lens you’re wearing (like blame, control, or shame) can fuel conflict and dysregulation, especially in moments of parenting stress. You’ll learn how to identify th...
Send us a text Are you following positive parenting but your partner is more authoritarian? This is a common question I receive from parents and so in today's episode, I share a study that was fascinating to me. In this solo episode, I talk about how you can address parenting differences with your partner without making them feel bad, I chat about the different parenting style and I answer the question of what the long-term impacts are to having different parenting styles. S...
Send us a text Have you ever asked yourself this question? In today's episode, I give you a different perspective on your child's behaviour....understanding how they respond to conflict. This is important because it impacts their behaviour in conflict (which is what we see when they "misbehave"). I hope you enjoy this solo episode! SOURCES: I look back at my conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett as well. You can listen to this episode below in case you missed it: https://podcasts.ap...
Send us a text In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, host Cindy Hovington delves into the transformative power of playfulness in parenting. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, Cindy explores how embracing play can enhance parent-child connections and support emotional development. Discover practical tips to integrate play into daily routines, even when it feels challenging, and learn why joining your child's world can be a game-changer. Tune in for a he...
Send us a text In this podcast episode, I delve into invalidation and its significant impact on romantic relationships. I highlight common invalidating statements such as "Why are you upset?", "You're overreacting," or "Calm down," explaining that these make a partner feel their emotions are wrong, unjustified, or excessive. This can lead to increased frustration, shame, and a sense of being alone in their struggle, mirroring the hurt children feel when invalidated. I emphasize the importance...
1Send us a text Do you ever wonder why your child’s big emotions feel so overwhelming—or why small conflicts with your partner can spiral? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Dr. Caroline Fleck to unpack the skill of validation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can radically change the way you connect with yourself, your kids, and everyone you love. We explore what invalidation really sounds like (it’s often subtle) and why even well-meaning parents can accidentally shut down th...
Send us a text with Amy Chiu In today’s fast-paced world, it can be tough to slow down and truly let kids be kids. We often get caught up in schedules, expectations, and the pressure to “make learning happen.” But what if the most powerful learning happens when we pause, play, and simply show up with presence? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington speaks with early childhood expert Amy Chiu about the magic of free play and the importance of slowing down. Amy explains how play isn’t just fun—it...
Send us a text In today's solo episode, I share a little more of my personal story with the hopes of helping you feel validated, less alone or even empowered. Father's Day (or even Mother's Day) can be difficult when you have a parent that is alive yet you have no idea where they are because they left your family decades ago. They knew you existed and they chose to leave you. I share a little more about my childhood and about how that impacted me later when I became a parent...
Send us a text with Daisy Dowling Balancing work and parenting feels impossible sometimes, doesn’t it? Between deadlines, meetings, and the constant demands at home, many working parents feel overwhelmed, guilty, and stretched too thin. In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington talks with Daisy Dowling, author of Work Parent, about redefining what work-life balance really means — and why aiming for a perfect “straight line” isn’t the goal. Instead, Daisy shares practical “hacks” to help working pa...
Send us a text Hi dear friends, From the number of you that downloaded our last grounding meditation, it seems like you enjoyed it! I decided to created another one for you, this time it is to help you on a day when you feel like you are failing. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reflective-parenting-by-curious-neuron/id1440533170?i=1000709341181 If there is a specific moment you struggle with, tell me in the form below and I will create an audio for this moment. https://curio...
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Curious Neuron is a great podcast for parents with science backing the advice given.
Awesome podcast. I had a few daycare kidlets heading off to kindergarten last week. on the last day for them it seemed that with the overload of excitement they forgot the basic rules of the daycare... clean up time, no running around, quiet at nap. It was frustrating for me... but after listening to the podcast, I had a sigh of "ah-ha! yes!"
Yes...Yes...Play is primordial for kids! 😍 I love watching and participating in the role playing with my daycare kidlets. They're so imaginative!!
YES!!!! Children learn from play and it always makes me laugh and smile when I observe my daycare 4-5 yr olds role playing. Their creativity is amazing!!
I really enjoyed this podcast. As an ECE, I think that positive reinforcement is important to develop confidence in the child and helps them to be able to slowly develop their autonomy when you progressively move away from constantly affirming each good behavior. I also agree that empty praise can confuse a child...saying simply "good job!" is ambiguous and doesn't provide a connection to the specific thing that you're reinforcing.