Summer planning feels easier when we stop trying to fill every day and instead build a light structure kids can count on. We share cheap and free ways to make summer fun, protect downtime, and even use boredom to spark creativity.
• brainstorming summer activities that fit our time and budget
• using a simple weekly theme calendar to reduce daily decisions
• creating activity jars and digital lists for at-home, go-somewhere, and rainy day options
• exploring low-cost places like libraries, kids-bowl-free programs, and summer discount movies
• finding parks and rec options like concerts, movie nights, and pools
• toddler-friendly water play using frozen toys and a DIY water table

If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at Be Their Parent.
If you found this episode helpful, follow setup automatic downloads, review, and share.

Bowling- https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/all_centers.php

AMC- https://www.amctheatres.com/events/summer-movie-camp

Regal- https://www.regmovies.com/promotions/summer-movie-express

I wrap Season 1 by running through the topics from all 13 episodes so you can quickly find the help you need right now. We revisit the foundations like routines and boundaries, plus practical parenting tools for sleep, screen time, playdates, and staying steady when kids disobey. 

Go follow along on social media. I use BeTheir Parent on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Most days there are new videos that give a quick parenting tip or idea.

We talk about how to adjust sleep schedules for summer vacation and how busy school days can exhaust our kids. We share practical ways to keep routines steady, prevent late-day naps, and adjust bedtime so everyone rests better. 
• keeping bedtime and morning routines during summer while shifting times 
• watching total sleep to avoid grumpy, uncooperative behavior 
• handling the after-school nap that leads to being awake at night 
• spotting triggers like stress, activities, growth spurts, illness, or medication changes 
• remembering each child is different and parenting takes trial and error 

If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at BeThereParent. 
If you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it. 

Play dates feel harder now that we don't always know other kids' parents like we did in the past, but we can still make them work with a simple plan and a little courage. We share how we can set play dates up well so our children can build friendships safely. 
• why play dates feel more complicated today and why they are still worth it 
• questions we ask our child at home to understand the friendship 
• how we balance compassion with trusting our child’s gut 
• why we prefer hosting first, keeping kids in sight, and skipping screens 
• using a safe phrase for our child and a separate safe phrase for us to end early 
• benefits of play dates for social skills, sharing, and problem solving 
If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at BeThereParent. 
If you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it. 

We unpack why child disobedience can feel like rejection or disrespect and why both reactions are extreme and wrong. We choose a calm middle ground that keeps boundaries solid and the relationship safe. 
• taking disobedience personally and why it backfires 
• how fear of rejection leads us to back down 
• separating the child from the disobedient action 
If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at BeThereParent. 
If you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it. 

We share a simple parenting idea: teach gratitude first and generosity follows. We walk through practical ways to help kids show real appreciation at home, at parties, and out in the world. 
• starting with basic thank you skills
• teaching tipping and small acts of appreciation in service settings 
• modeling gratitude so kids learn by watching 
If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at BeThereParent. And if you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it. 

We talk about why positive reinforcement helps but cannot be the only discipline strategy if you want real cooperation at home. We share a simple way to find what your child truly values so consequences actually land and boundaries finally stick. 
• using specific praise to reinforce cooperation with new routines
• finding your child’s “currency” and using it wisely 
• adjusting consequences when old punishments stop working 
• brainstorming creative consequences and letting kids help choose them 

If you have any questions or need a sounding board, you can message me on Instagram at BeTheirParent. And if you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it.

We break down why consistency is the real key to getting kids to cooperate more often, even when they are not naturally compliant. We share clear signs that your child may be learning entitlement and give you a simple plan to reset boundaries without backing down.
• consistency as the foundation for cooperation and regulation  
• what giving in teaches kids at home and in public   
• five questions to gauge entitlement and defiance patterns  
• how to talk with your child about new expectations  
• why follow-through matters more than the exact consequence  

If you need some input, you can message me at BeTheir Parent on Instagram.  
And if you found this episode helpful, follow, set up automatic downloads, review, and share. I'd appreciate it.

 

We talk about screens before bed and why the last hour of the day can make or break kids’ sleep. I share what to change first, why content matters as much as minutes, and how to taper screen time without turning nights into a fight. 
• choosing a screen time plan that fits your family 
• focusing on what kids watch not just how long 
• avoiding overly stimulating shows near bedtime 
• making gradual changes and swapping in calm activities 
If you found this helpful, set your app to automatically download the newest episode, review, and share it. Also, come follow along on Instagram at BeTheir Parent.

We shift from bedtime wins to the next daily challenge: the morning routine. We lay out a practical way to plan, prep, and motivate so your family has less stress and you get out the door on time.

• Making a morning checklist for breakfast, teeth, clothes, backpacks and lunches
• Ordering the steps to match your child’s age and morning energy
• Estimating total time and fixing gaps by adjusting sleep or moving tasks to evening
• Tips to make the morning run smoothly and get everything done
If you find this podcast helpful, subscribe, share, and come follow along on Instagram.

We build a bedtime routine that helps kids get into bed on time and stay there without turning the evening into a negotiation. We walk through how to pick the right steps, put them in a smart order, and handle common problems like stalling, water requests, and pushback. 

• choosing a bedtime routine that meets our needs and our kids’ needs 
• keeping the routine simple enough to maintain 
• using visual schedules and written plans for consistency 
• setting up our kids for success

If you have questions, reach out on Instagram at BeTheir Parent. 
And if you're finding the content from these episodes helpful, please like, subscribe, and share. Thank you!

We share a simple plan to set a workable bedtime by starting from wake time, matching age-based sleep needs, and making small, steady shifts. We explain how naps, growth, and morning behavior signal when to adjust.

• age-based sleep ranges and how to use them
• working backward from wake time to set bedtime
• checking wake-up ease as a key signal
• moving bedtime 15–30 minutes earlier when needed
• adjusting gradually during time changes
• handling nap drops and consolidating night sleep

Please reach out to me on Instagram, be their parent, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

American Academy of Pediatrics Sleep Chart: https://tinyurl.com/mtkt5xym

This episode is all about routines. Kids thrive when their days are predictable. Not rigid—predictable. Using the school day as a practical model, we show how clear routines shrink decision fatigue, lower anxiety, and give children the confidence to act on their own. 

We walk through how routines actually grow independence, rather than smother it. You’ll hear why replicability matters too—how a sitter, a grandparent, or a co-parent can follow your plan so kids feel secure regardless of who is on duty. From the classroom lens to the living room reality, we connect structure to smoother transitions, fewer power struggles, and calmer nights.

But structure alone isn’t the goal. We add the missing ingredient: planned flexibility. We share how to blend steady anchors with occasional variations so kids learn to handle change. 

If you’re ready to swap friction for flow and raise confident, adaptable kids, press play. Then follow the show for our next guide: crafting a bedtime routine your family can keep. Share this episode with a friend who needs a calmer evening, and leave a quick review to help more parents find us.

A quick introduction to Be Their Parent and Sheila. Please join us on this journey into parenting.