Dr. Dave Podcast

Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh tackle cyberbullying in their third podcast on the bullied brain. In this podcast you will learn about: The relationship between cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying The power of parents as role models The role of bystanders More resources: Cyberbullying tips Be a Powerful Bystander Setting Parental Controls Beyond “Lock Down and Hands Off:” Parenting For Digital Citizenship Fantastic Internet Safety Videos

You can’t open the newspaper today without seeing a headline describing the devastating impacts that bullying is having on kids and schools. Is that because kids are bullying more today than in years past? Not necessarily. We are, however, learning more about the long terms consequences of bullying on children and youth. Learning a bit more about the “bullied brain” helps us understand why national attention is warranted and our kids need safe places to live and learn. Read Dr. Dave’s article the “The Bullied Brain” in the Huffington Post for more. Visit stopbullying.gov for evidence based information and best practices.

In the first of this three-part series, Dr. Dave Walsh and Erin Walsh describe the difference between bullying and cruelty and give parents signs to look for if they are worried about their child being bullied. Now that you know a bit more about bullying – what do we do about it? Talk to your child about being a Powerful Bystander and these Anti-Bullying Action Steps for Parents by our friends at ParentFurther. What to look for in our upcoming podcasts – The Bullied Brain Parts 2 and 3: What is brain science telling us about the academic consequences of bullying and the long-term impacts? What is cyberbullying? How is it different from face-to-face bullying?

Following the Sandy Hook school shooting, Dr. Dave Walsh and Erin Walsh acknowledge that there are multiple, complex factors that create the conditions for such a tragedy. In this podcast, they tackle just one of these factors and explore the impact of media violence on kids. They suggest ways to build protective factors for kids in a culture awash in screen violence. Buying video games for your kids?  Check out these Tips When Buying Video Games for Kids first. For more reading, check out: Media Influence: Whoever Tells the Stories Defines the Culture Born to Copy: Media Violence and Mirror Neurons Protecting Tots from Screen Violence  

The holidays are a season for family time, giving, and…stress! Dr. Dave and Erin talk about the importance of paring down your obligations and creating positive emotional memories for your kids around the holidays. It is not always easy at the time, but these memories are what your kids bring into adulthood. Learn more ideas for creating positive emotional memories through holiday traditions and togetherness. Feeling the holiday stress? You might also be interested in this post on Taming the Gimmes.

Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh describe how difficult it can be for kids to pay attention in the digital age. They describe the difference between focused and reactive attention and suggest ways to help strengthen kids’ capacity to focus. Check out our parent tips for managing the multitasking generation. Looking for practical ideas and games to boost attention? One book we like is Attention Games. Suggest games or activities that you like!

Tired kids aren’t just sleepy, their brains are suffering too. Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh describe the importance of sleep for learning, memory, and mood. Unfortunately, data shows us that there are a lot of tired kids out there: Age:            Goal:         Actual: Elementary  10-11 hrs    9.5 Pre-teens     9.5              8.0 Teens           9.5              7.5 Have a sleepy child or tired teen? Click here for more information on sleep and school performance and tips for helping your kids sleep.

Dr. Dave Walsh and Erin Walsh answer a question posed by a parent – what is the right balance of media use for my teenage sons? Dr. Dave and Erin contrast the “lock down” approach with the “hands off” approach and suggest a middle road that maintains limits while letting kids take advantage of incredible digital opportunities. For more specific tips check out our posts on cyberbullying, digital discipline, digital citizenship, and video game addiction.  

Dr. Dave Walsh and Erin Walsh begin to help us answer the age-old question: “Why do they act that way?” Blending examples, stories, and science, this father-daughter pair explain why lots of baffling teenage behavior isn’t unique to this generation – it has been going on for thousands of years. It’s what is going on in their brains. Feel like you are hungry to know more? Check out some of our blog posts on the teenage brain or listen to Dr. Walsh deliver the entire lecture based on his book, Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen now on MP3.

Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh describe the four myths of the self-esteem movement and why praise is a double-edged sword. Want to hear the entire talk? Listen to Dr. Dave’s hour-long lecture based his best selling book, No, Why Kids – of All Ages – Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It, now on MP3!