Anxiety in young children can be a real challenge for parents, and today we're diving deep into this important topic. Jenny Pitcher, Lower School Director at Detroit Country Day School, along with Caitlin Quenneville, our Lower School Mental Health Counselor, who brings over 15 years of experience working with kids and families. We’ll explore what anxiety looks like in children, how it manifests, and the difference between normal anxiety and clinical anxiety. Caitlin shares insights on how parents can help their kids manage anxiety, emphasizing the importance of modeling healthy coping strategies, and fostering open communication. Our conversation is packed with practical tips and reassurance for parents navigating their child's anxious feelings.

Finding balance in our children's lives is a crucial theme we dive into today, exploring how families can shift their focus from screens or overscheduling activities to more meaningful interactions and more downtime. Jenny Pitcher, Lower School Director at Detroit Country Day School, along with three amazing lower school parents, highlight the importance of integrating playtime, downtime, and family time into daily routines. Shawn, Irina, and Sharon share their own experiences and strategies for fostering a healthier, more balanced environment at home. Join Jenny and friends as they share practical tips and heartfelt stories to remind you that achieving balance is more about the journey than the destination.

Toilet training can be a challenging milestone, and in this episode, Jennifer Pitcher along with Lisa Mando, a board certified behavior analyst and co-Founder of Blooming Pathways Behavior Consulting Services dive deep into what it really takes for both kids and parents to navigate this process successfully. Lisa emphasizes that readiness isn't just about the child—it's about the whole family being prepared, too. As they explore the signs of readiness and common pitfalls, Lisa shares practical strategies that empower families to approach toilet training with confidence and patience. They discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations and how to tailor methods to fit each child's unique needs. By the end of the conversation, Jenny hopes to ease some of the pressures that come with this critical step in children's development, reminding us that it's all about progress, not perfection.