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.

Teen emotions can feel like tidal waves—fast, loud, and all-consuming—while adult logic stands on the shore holding a towel. We dig into why that happens and how to turn everyday friction into growth by understanding the science of adolescent brain development.

With clinical child psychologist Dr. Peter Montminy, we unpack the “under construction” brain: a limbic system fueled by reward and social feedback, and a prefrontal cortex still wiring up skills like planning, impulse control, and long-term thinking. We explore why peers matter so much, why risk-taking is adaptive for identity formation, and how dopamine and stress hormones amplify both excitement and anxiety. Rather than treating behavior as defiance, we reframe it as development; and that shift opens doors to better conversations, safer choices, and real learning.

You’ll hear practical strategies you can use right away. Start with the power of the pause to steady yourself. Use connection before correction to keep the channel open. Swap blame for clarity with I‑statements that align expectations to values. Coach instead of control by asking appreciative questions that help teens connect thoughts, feelings, actions, and outcomes. Teach circles of control, co-create guardrails, and repair after conflict to strengthen trust. These small moments of curiosity, accountability, and support are not just nice—they’re the experiences that sculpt neural pathways for resilience.

If the teenage years have you second-guessing your approach, this conversation offers a grounded roadmap: clear boundaries, warm connection, and skill-building in the calm. Share it with a parent, teacher, or caregiver who could use a little science and a lot of relief. Subscribe, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: what’s one strategy you’ll try this week?

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.

What if the fastest way to help kids bounce back isn’t more advice, but more care they can feel? We sat down with clinical child psychologist Dr. Peter Montminy to unpack compassion as a teachable skill—empathy plus the intention to help—and how it strengthens resilience at home and in the classroom. From the first minutes, we connect the science to the everyday: mirror neurons tuning into others’ emotions, the vagus nerve shaping the “vibe” of a room, and the dopamine and oxytocin shifts that turn caring into a virtuous cycle of calm and connection.

We share how compassionate attention opens kids up to coaching on coping, communication, and self-regulation. You’ll hear a guided loving-kindness practice you can try tonight—wishing safety, health, happiness, and ease for a loved one, yourself, a struggling child, and the wider community. Then we get tactical: morning intentions that take 60 seconds, end-of-day reflections that take two, gratitude jars that keep small wins visible, and kindness walls that change classroom culture. These small routines build social-emotional skills, reduce isolation, and create safer spaces for learning.

We also tackle a common myth: compassion isn’t rose-colored denial. It’s a clear-eyed response to real stress that balances hard truths with purposeful care. By modeling that stance—“things are tough, and we can still choose kindness”—we give kids a resilient mindset they can carry into conflict, setbacks, and growth. If you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator looking for evidence-based tools to make compassion a daily habit, this conversation offers both science and steps you can use right away.

If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with one compassion ritual you’ll try this week. Your small actions create ripples.

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.