Curfews, Dating, and Clothes: Hot Topics for Parenting Teens with Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy discuss some hot topics parents face when raising teenagers. They explore three main areas: curfews, dating, and clothing/hair choices, and provide practical tips for minimizing conflicts about those topics. Sharing personal anecdotes and expert advice, they emphasize the importance of flexibility, open communication, problem solving, values-driven decision making, and mutual respect in these contexts. They also touch on the impact of technology on parenting and maintaining trust with teens.

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Political Differences in a Cancel Culture: Are We Helping or Hurting Our Kids and Teens? with Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy discuss the nuanced impacts of the election and cancel culture on our youth. We raise concerns about how some colleges are responding to election results, questioning whether these reactions might be hindering the development of resilience in students. By fostering respectful debates and exposing young people to multiple perspectives, we aim to nurture essential executive function skills. This episode is a call to action for parents and educators, encouraging them to guide children through political conversations without succumbing to the divisiveness that cancel culture breeds and without making assumptions that all youth are mourning the results. Join us in exploring some ways of navigating politics and media with kids. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply curious about the intersection of politics and youth development, this conversation may leave you with plenty to ponder.

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Holiday Stress & Anxiety: Tips from Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis

What if you could navigate holiday stress with a little more ease? This episode of the Brainy Moms podcast promises to equip you with insightful strategies for beating those seasonal pressures. 

Holiday family dynamics can be a minefield, but Dr. Amy and Sandy have got you covered with thoughtful approaches to a little more harmony. As families expand and evolve, coordinating plans can become more challenging, especially when loved ones are absent. We talk about fostering meaningful connections, managing grief, and ensuring everyone feels included. Plus, we tackle the topic of holiday indulgences, offering tips for moderation and meeting dietary needs to keep celebrations joyful and stress-free.

We share our personal experiences and solutions, from the practical benefits of a Christmas share account to the art of mindful budgeting, ensuring you minimize the dreaded post-holiday debt. Discover cost-saving ideas such as gift exchanges and the three-gift rule, and learn how to strategically use Black Friday and Cyber Monday to your advantage without losing sight of what truly matters.

Embracing intentional holiday planning can transform how you experience this festive season. We explore how balancing activities and downtime can enrich children’s school vacations. Redefining traditions to reflect personal desires allows for a more authentic celebration filled with gratitude and kindness. By prioritizing what truly brings joy, you can shape a holiday season that strengthens relationships even amidst inevitable challenges. Join us! 

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Picky Eaters, Nutrition, and Mealtime Strategies for the Developing Brain with Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and cognitive specialist Sandy Zamalis share how dietary choices can significantly impact brain development and cognitive performance in your children. From the powerhouse omega-3 fatty acids to essential proteins and carbohydrates, we break down the crucial nutrients your kids need for their growing brains. Learn practical ways to incorporate these brain-boosting elements into everyday meals and what to avoid for brain health.

For parents wrestling with mealtime battles and picky eaters, we tackle these challenges, too! Sensitivities to textures or tastes and a child’s desire for independence doesn’t have to be a source of stress. We share personal anecdotes and expert advice on creating a positive mealtime environment. Avoid the pitfalls and learn effective tactics to encourage them to explore new foods without resorting to making separate meals for each family member.

Lastly, turn your kitchen into a hub of creativity and learning by involving your children in meal preparation to foster autonomy and enthusiasm for healthy eating.

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Inattentive ADHD: Support for Your Child, Teen, and Spouse with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore chats with Sandy Zamalis about inattentive ADHD in children, teens, and adults. This subtype of ADHD is often overlooked and underdiagnosed because it manifests in behaviors that are less disruptive to a learning environment than the hyperactive subtype of ADHD. They share the criteria used to diagnose the inattentive type of ADHD inattentive, along with some strategies and techniques for supporting and communicating with a loved one with inattentive ADHD. Whether it’s a child, teen, or spouse with ADHD in your life, you can reframe your thinking to help from a place of empathy.

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Managing School Anxiety: Tips for Parents of Kids and Teens with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, cognitive psychologist and counselor Dr. Amy Moore chats with Sandy Zamalis about back-to-school anxiety at different ages and stages. You’ll learn how some of the most common fears typically manifest in elementary, middle, and high school and how you can help support your child or teen. You’ll also hear tips on framing discussions about school and which behaviors may indicate more than “typical” anxiety, perhaps requiring an intervention such as therapy, medication, or an intervention for learning struggles. This is a jam-packed episode with useful tips from host and parents who are also professionals in their fields so you don’t want to miss out!

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Slow Processing Speed as a Root Cause of Learning Struggles, Anxiety, and More with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and board-certified cognitive specialist Sandy Zamalis break down a vital learning skill called processing speed. Tune in to find out what this cognitive skill is all about, how processing speed can impact everything from academics and sports to driving and following instructions. You’ll hear examples of how slow processing speed might manifest in your child or teen, potential causes for low processing speed, and simple ways you can help at home. Dr. Amy and Sandy also explain how cognitive training is designed to remediate processing speed deficits and what to look for when choosing interventions. Don’t miss this final episode in our special series on cognitive skills.

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Parenting an ADHD Child When You Have ADHD, Too with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy get real about raising a child with ADHD when you have it yourself. See, Dr. Amy is not only a cognitive psychologist and brain training researcher, but also an ADHD mom and a mom with ADHD. Touching on subjects like self-regulation, nutrition, the effects of ADHD on relationships, and the cognitive skills that often tend to underperform (beyond just attention!), you’ll learn about some of the strategies Dr. Amy has implemented in her own life, as well as what she’s learned about adult ADHD in her research.

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How Visual Processing Impacts Learning and Life with guest Kim Hanson

Continuing our series on cognitive skills, Dr. Amy and Sandy welcomed LearningRx CEO Kim Hanson to the Brainy Moms podcast. Kim explains for our listeners what visual processing is (hint: it’s more about the brain than the eyes), why we need it to be strong learners and readers, and how parents can help boost the skill at home. Kim shares examples of ways that weak processing skills can impact everything from driving and reading comprehension to using maps and doing math problems. Tune in to learn what red flags may indicate that your child or teen has challenges with visual processing and a potential intervention to target and train the skill to help your student live up to their full potential in school, work, sports, and life in general.

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Understanding Auditory Processing: How to Help the Brain “Hear” Better with Dr. Jody Jedlicka and Sandy Zamalis

If your child or teen has every struggled in school, your first instinct might have been to enroll them in tutoring. It makes sense, as that’s the intervention most parents are familiar with. But there are two parts to smart: the knowledge you acquire (e.g., history facts or math formulas) and how we process that information (e.g., learning, memorizing, understanding how and when to apply that math formula). Brain training helps with the latter. Today, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and board-certified cognitive specialist Sandy Zamalis sit down to explain how to determine which intervention might best help your student based on their specific struggles, as well as how cognitive skills training addresses the root cause of learning challenges. They also offer some insight to help boost cognitive skills at home, including some free resources being offered to listeners. Whether you’ve tried tutoring with little (or temporary) results or are just starting your research into interventions to help your struggling student, you won’t want to miss this important episode.

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