BYU radio

World’s Awaiting radio interview

I was interviewed for over an hour on BYU radio’s new program called “World’s Awaiting” about Children’s Books, Reading, and cultivating a Culture of Literacy in our Families. It will be airing this Saturday, September 10 at 11:30am Mountain / 1:30pm Eastern. You can hear it on BYU Radio at SiriusXM Channel 143, on the tunein app, and at http://www.byuradio.org.

You can listen to the audio of the interview on our website at 12:00 noon MST / 2:00pm EST after the show airs at http://www.byuradio.org/show/afc8b335-4272-4bf4-a192-9f850d0fe390/worlds-awaiting.

Bringing the Arts Home

I contributed to the Matt Townsend show on BYU radio about how the arts enrich home life. I give research about how the arts make your child smarts and practical ideas for creativity in the home.

https://www.byuradio.org/episode/99ef58c5-9885-446c-9521-3f52ab57fad5/the-matt-townsend-show-political-social-media-why-diets-make-us-fat-art-and-kids?playhead=6346&autoplay=true

School Success: BYU radio interview

School started today. *Sigh* It’s a bittersweet time.

Bitter:
No more relaxed, sunny days by the pool.
No more PBJ picnics.
No more late night star gazing and movie watching.
No more spontaneous UNO card games.
No more vacation from homework, alarm clocks, carpooling, and science fair projects.
No more shorts, T-shirts, flipflops and bedhead worn every day.

Sweet:
Adult alone time!
One word: schedules!
Mushy brains turn into learning brains again.
Not hearing “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom” 868 times a day.
As my neighbor sang in a lilted, Christmas-y tone yesterday: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

But the transition from summer to school can seem abrupt at best and often very difficult. It’s like living on planet Earth all summer and then being shipped to Mars. How can we help kids adjust easier and outfit them to thrive in that harsh climate? Here’s the BYU radio program I was interviewed for about preparing kids for school success.
https://www.byuradio.org/episode/bef82490-c5ad-4fa2-8453-0340424735f6/the-matt-townsend-show-public-space-crisis-smartphones-and-adhd-back-to-school?playhead=6518&autoplay=true

Benefits of Reading to Children

I was on BYU radio Sept 8th talking about the amazing benefits of regularly reading to your children. I followed such eclectic topic as China and Oil and Vocal Fry.

Here are a few statistics to blow your mind. Just how important is the small yet profound act of regularly reading to your children?

Regular reading to children from birth through five years old is strongly linked to kindergarten readiness. Furthermore, reading proficiency by third grade is the most important predictor of graduation from high school and career success. In an international study of 150,000 fourth-graders, those whose parents “often” read to them scored 30 points higher than their peers who were only “sometimes” read to. In another study, the breakdown of minutes read at home correlated with academic status. On standardized reading tests, students who were read to for 2 minutes a day outside of school scored in the 30th percentile; those who were read to for 5 minutes a day scored in the 50th percentile; those who were read to  for 10 minutes a day scored in the 70th percentile; and those who were read to for 20 minutes a day scored in the 90th percentile.

So reading daily for 20 minutes translates to an “A” grade. Who wants a child to receive any less in life?

So pick up a book tonight when you tuck your child in for bed. Read for 20 minutes, talking about the book and discussing your day together. Make it a daily ritual…like brushing your teeth.

Or brushing the cobwebs out of our brains.

Stay tuned for my next post on my FAV-or-ite books to read aloud to young children.

BYU Radio Interview: Post-Wedding Blues

wedding

Is it just me, or are we having a rash of weddings this summer? I’ve counted 8 just in my neighborhood alone (including my daughter’s which will be in 2 weeks–gulp). The hype and stress of wedding and reception planning can create a huge let down afterward so I was interviewed on BYU radio about how to avoid the post-wedding blues.

http://www.byuradio.org/episode/5beda7ba-fe7a-46d1-893a-4a8447d645ca/the-matt-townsend-show-happiness-violent-disorders-unhelping-post-wedding-blues

The Importance of Fathers

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Image ID: 281622 Stockxchange

An expert on the issue of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was interviewed on BYU Radio’s Matt Townsend show on May 26th. Here are some teasers:

Do you think our country does enough for mothers (and what about new fathers?) to leave work to spend time with their newborn and then return if they choose?

Are they penalized if they leave and come back after 6 weeks-3 months?

Does the employer suffer economic consequences for extending paid maternal leave?

Did you know that the US is the only industrialized nation that does not have paid leave for mothers?

Does paid leave have long-term negative or positive ramifications for our economy, the family, and the couple?

This expert covers some of these issues in this program.

If follow at the end of the program in a segment called “The Role of Fathers in the Development of Children.” I bring research and reason to the topic of dads bonding with their young, and how their style of play helps children develop socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Here is the link:

http://www.byuradio.org/episode/3665a59d-e77f-429b-aaca-0ad1aca688ec/the-matt-townsend-show-parental-leave-smart-is-the-new-rich-the-role-of-fathers-in-development-of-children?playhead=6247&autoplay=true

BYU radio show: Communicating with Children in Distress

I contributed on the Matt Townsend show on BYU radio on Jan 21, 2015.

The topic was communication and I came on after the first guests to discuss how to communicate with a child in distress.

http://www.byuradio.org/episode/9cb0ae24-b2c6-489e-8d4a-b5205946490a/the-matt-townsend-show-relationship-communication

Media Matters

Here is a link to stream the Matt Townsend BYU radio show where I spoke on Jan. 7, 2015. The topic was media perceptions and I was interviewed the last hour about role model influences in the media on children.
http://www.byuradio.org/episode/3d0b49f2-26c1-4936-962b-256a1402b218/the-matt-townsend-show-media-perception

The main talking points were:

Tips for parents of young kids

Limit screen time.

Find age-appropriate content.

Tips for parents of elementary-aged kids

Avoid stereotypes and antisocial role models.

Search out good programming together.

Avoid role model consumerism. 

Tips for parents of older kids

Embrace what they like to hold influence with them.

Educate them with unrealistic ideals, including reality TV, soaps and unnatural body figures.

Sibling Relationships

Here is a link to the BYU radio program on Nov. 6th about difficult adult sibling relationships and strengthening good ones. I come on after the first guest, about 1 hr. 15 min. into the program.

http://www.byuradio.org/…/e…/the-matt-townsend-show-siblings

Child Anxiety

Most parents are familiar with childhood fears. It is common for kids to be scared of the dark and have difficulty going to bed. But these fears could also be manifest with separation anxiety, adjusting to new situations, or fear or the unknown.
On BYU radio “The Matt Townsend Show,” I follow the first interview that lasts 1 hr. on Jan 6, 2014. After that topic, I share with the host 3 different strategies in helping children overcome their fears. Listen now.

http://www.byuradio.org/episode/0c5243ab-c2b2-4af2-9469-e6752ee353d0/the-matt-townsend-show-child-anxiety