Growth doesn’t follow a script, and neither should we. As kids move from the magic years to the driver’s seat, their brains, emotions, and needs change fast—and that’s where developmental parenting becomes a game-changer. We sit down with clinical child psychologist and parenting coach Dr. Peter Montminy to map out how love, limits, and letting go shift from early childhood through adolescence, and how small, consistent adjustments create big, lasting gains in resilience.

We start with the foundations: safety and attachment in early childhood. You’ll hear how the Circle of Security helps us act as a secure base kids can launch from and return to, why “love and limits” is the essential pairing, and how simple language and predictable routines wire emotional safety. Then we head into the elementary years, where concrete thinking and fairness take center stage. Dr. Montminy explains how love plus logic fuels skill building, how to use feedback that grows self-efficacy, and why belonging at home and school protects kids as they stretch.

Adolescence raises the stakes: identity, autonomy, and intense emotions move to the front. We break down a practical roadmap for widening guardrails as teens demonstrate readiness, shifting from directing to coaching to co-piloting. Expect clear scripts you can use to replace lectures with curiosity, plus a simple framework for helping teens earn the two things they want most—freedom and privacy—through responsible choices. Across home and classroom, we return to the same core: connection before compliance, empathy plus accountability, and follow-through that is calm, clear, and consistent.

If you’ve ever wondered why last month’s strategy suddenly stopped working, this conversation will help you ask a better question: What does this child need at this stage? Listen, share with a fellow caring adult, and if the episode helps, subscribe and leave a review so more families and educators can find it.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support.

This podcast is brought to you by Jana Marie Foundation and A Mindful Village.

Jana Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in State College, Pennsylvania which harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations build connections, and promote mental health and wellbeing among young people and their communities. Learn more at Jana Marie Foundation.

A Mindful Village is Dr. Peter Montminy's private consulting practice dedicated to improving the mental health of kids and their caregivers. Learn more at A Mindful Village | Holistic Mental Health Care for Kids.

Music created by Ken Baxter.

(c) 2025. Jana Marie Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

This podcast was developed in part under a grant number SM090046 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA, HHS or the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.