In this episode of "Just One Thing for Parents," host Bettina Hohnen delves into the crucial topic of building healthy resilience in children with guest Dr. Netali Levi, a clinical psychologist. They explore how modern parenting has rightly emphasized emotional support for children, but sometimes to the extreme of centering family life entirely around children's happiness.

Netali introduces the concept of "family-centric parenting," which balances the needs of all family members and encourages age-appropriate contributions from children. This approach aims to foster resilience by avoiding overprotection and allowing children to face and overcome challenges. The discussion offers practical strategies for implementing this balanced parenting style, highlighting its benefits for both children's development of coping skills and parents' well-being.

It’s a great episode for parents seeking to nurture emotionally healthy, resilient children while maintaining a harmonious family dynamic.

In our latest episode of "Just One Thing For Parents," I welcomed back Leonie Kenny to explore the challenges autistic children face in developing friendships and how parents can support them. Leonie delves into the complexities of social interactions for autistic kids, explaining how their weaker shared imagination, tendency towards black-and-white thinking, and reduced flexibility in interpreting others' behavior can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. She also highlights how social anxiety and sensory processing difficulties, common in autism, can overwhelm these children, affecting their ability to respond appropriately in social situations.

This insightful discussion offers parents valuable perspectives on why their autistic children might struggle with friendships and provides practical tips on how to nurture their social skills. Tune in to discover what parents can do to support their autistic child in navigating the often tricky terrain of friendships.