Local Area Woman Launches Parenting Podcast for All

Parenting for the Future Podcast (PFTF), hosted by Petal Modeste, J.D., MBA, Associate Dean of Student Affairs Administration at Columbia Law School, has launched. As a parent, I plan to tune in and as a human being I plan to tune in. Here's why: this podcast is not just about parenting techniques and advice, it offers ideas to make the world a better place, and the people in better people.

Each week on PFTF, Petal will engage with leading minds in developmental psychology, science, education, positive psychology, sociology, religion, public policy, business and technology. The discussions will focus on the phenomena shaping the world of the future as well as on the science and best strategies for raising children to thrive and make their unique impact on that world. Petal and her guests will explore concepts like resilience, grit, mindset, human learning, creativity, greed, competition, problem solving and the meaning of love, safety and happiness. Petal will also talk to children who are already working to shape their futures and to other pioneers paving the way for every child to thrive, find happiness and make their special contribution.

Patch.com exclusively spoke to Petal:

§ What are the unique challenges of raising children of different generations?

o Finding activities that both children can fully enjoy

o Creating a lasting bond between the children

o Making each child feel valued, loved and respected

§ Can you share a specific example(s) from your own experience?

I have found several practices helpful in overcoming all three of the challenges above and I recommend the following:

o Be Intentional about Creating Time for Kids to Play and Learn Together

At least twice a week, find playful activities your children can engage in together or let each child take turns suggesting ideas. Activities can range from playing games in the house or garden to art projects to baking to dance offs to putting on a fashion show, dramatizing a story you’ve read to them or building Magnatiles, Legos and puzzles.

As the younger children get older, encourage older siblings to partner with them in their learning/understanding of the world. Some ideas for older siblings include:

· Doing fun drills to practice letter, color, number or shape recognition

· Playing “tour guide” at museums and aquariums

· Reading to their younger sibling and defining new words they see in stories

· Describing the diet or life cycle of animals they see on a visit to the zoo

Playing together not only allows your children to have fun, it helps them get to know each other better and learn to compromise, rely on and trust each other. Learning together supports the intellectual development of all your children and strengthens the role of your older children as “champions and cheerleaders” of their younger siblings.

o Teach Support

Teach your older children how to support your younger children by helping with age appropriate tasks.

§ Great tasks for older toddlers include: stacking the changing table with pampers, putting toys in the bath, being quiet when the baby is asleep and gathering books for parents to read to the baby.

§ Tweens and teens can help select clothing for their younger sibling, read or sing to their sibling and help keep the room or play spaces uncluttered and safe. If the younger sibling is a baby, tweens and teens can also help change the baby, prepare bottles and take inventory of baby supplies.

§ You can also brainstorm with your older children about challenges you need to overcome with respect to their younger siblings like getting them to eat vegetables or pick up after themselves. Discuss the pros and cons of each idea and implement the ones that you both agree make sense.

It is important when teaching support to emphasize to your older children that in supporting their younger sibling, they are also playing a crucial role in supporting the entire family.

o Make Time for Alone Time

Commit to spending some time alone with each child every week doing an activity the child enjoys. This creates space for each child to verbalize their plans, fears, ambitions, or to just get their parents to themselves. It also reinforces their sense of belonging in the family and in the hearts of their parents.

§ What is your best parenting advice?

o Be the person you want your children to become; live the values you want them to embody.

§ What can listeners expect when they tune into your podcast, Parenting for the Future?

o They can expect to learn about the phenomena shaping the world in which their children are coming of age and how they can prepare their children to thrive in, and positively impact that world.

Episodes feature conversations with the leading minds in education, science, technology, business and other disciplines, exploring: (i) old and emerging phenomena shaping the world and (ii) the science and best strategies for raising children to find their unique voices, thrive in and impact that world.

Through story sharing and synthesizing scientific and empirical knowledge, the Parenting for the Future Podcast will help all of us raise the next generation of powerful, purposeful people, prepared to lead positive change in the world. Again, parent or not, this is worth the listen! To tune in: https://www.petalmodeste.com/p....