If you have ever sweated through your child's full meltdown at a store and wondered if it could have been prevented, this episode is for you. We are talking with Dr. Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist about navigating stressful moments with your child by practicing emotional regulation and positive discipline. The conversation also gets into how to respond to aggression and why tantrums can sometimes get louder before they get better. Host: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions. Links:  Guest: Kristin Carothers, PhD

Are you wondering if your child is on track with their milestones?  In this episode, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is joined by Peggy Peixoto, Program Manager for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). They cover what happens during a screening, why early intervention is key, and how Arizona parents can access these services. Host: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions. Links:  Guest: Peggy Peixoto CDC Milestone Tracker App ASQ: Ages and Stages Questionnaire Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) AZ Strong Families Community Services

Today we’re talking about early childhood literacy AKA the difference between being able to sound out words and making context connections.  In this episode of The Parenting Brief, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Cynnamon Woodberry from Make Way for Books to discuss how Arizona parents can build foundational literacy skills through simple, everyday interactions like talking, singing, and playing.  Host: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions. Links:  Guest: Cynnamon Woodberry Make Way for Books Harvard Center on the Developing Child Zero to Three The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) First Things First

Ever feel judged for your parenting choices? We're talking with Dr. Charissa Chamorro about where parent shaming comes from and how to navigate the cultural shift toward "perfect parenting" in our hyper connected world.  Host: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions. Links:  Guest: Charissa Chamorro, PhD

Find out how pregnancy hormones affect oral health, what to watch out for if your gums look unhealthy, and why taking care of your teeth while pregnant is important for your baby's future oral health.Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Laurie Clark, a Registered Dental Hygienist with the Dignity Health Early Childhood Oral Health Program, to answer all your questions about oral health and going to the dentist while pregnant. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Guest: Laurie Clark, BADH, RDH, APHealthychildren.orgArizona Sliding Fee Scale Providers - DentalReduced Fee and Community Dental Clinics in Arizona

Toddlers have big feelings but haven't learned how to talk about them yet. Hitting, biting, and throwing are normal for their age and usually stop as they get older and better at communicating. Parents play a huge role in teaching their children how to handle their emotions. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is joined by Mirna Tomic, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a child therapist at Arizona Child Psychology, to discuss these behaviors, how working together (co-regulation) can teach kids to manage their own feelings (self-regulate), and more!Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZ Host: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez Guest: Mirna Tomic, MAS-IFP, MSW, LCSW Circle of Security International Blog and other parent resources Birth to Five Helpline - resources, referrals Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) - developmental screenings and evaluations Book: “Emotional Life of the Toddler” by Alicia Lieberman Book: "The Whole Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind" by Daniel Siegel  Book: "No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind" by Daniel Siegel  Book: “Parenting from the Inside Out: How A Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive” by Daniel Siegel (the title says it all) Book: “Raising a Secure Child” (Circle of Security) by Hoffman, Cooper, & Powell

Primitive reflexes are involuntary responses that a newborn is born with to help them survive. These reflexes naturally disappear as your baby’s brain matures. In cases of injury, these reflexes can show back up and are a sign of a larger issue.Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Karen Pryor, a physical therapist, to cover what parents need to know about primitive reflexes.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez Guest: Dr. Karen Pryor List of Primitive Reflexes

Strep is more than just a sore throat. Today we’re talking about Group B Strep (GBS), which usually isn’t serious for adults, but it can hurt newborns. Learn what it is, how to test for it, and the importance of treatment.Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Sarah Sams, a family physician and American Academy of Family Physicians board member, for a comprehensive guide to prepare moms for the safest possible delivery.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Dr. Sarah SamsFamilydoctor.orgThe American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 

Infants and children can experience brain injuries in many ways.What signs can parents keep an eye out for and what can you do to prevent traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)? Tune in to hear Jessica talk about childhood brain injuries with Dr. Sue Wolf, an Educational Psychologist with Empowerment Research. Learn about causes, signs, prevention, and recovery. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Dr. Sue WolfEmpowerment ResearchEncircle FamiliesBrain Injury Association of ArizonaAZ Department of Education: TBI Training 

What is child care licensing and why is it important for families? Today’s episode covers how licensing keeps kids safe, how to make sure your child care facility is licensed, and practical tips for parents like what to look for during a tour and how to report any concernsJessica chats with Margaret Bernal, the Chief of the Bureau of Child Care Licensing for the Arizona Department of Health Services, about all this and more in this final episode of our childcare series.Don’t miss our previous episodes on transitioning back to work after having a baby and early childhood education, available now on our channel.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez Guest: Margaret BernalAZDHS: Child Care Facilities Licensing AZ Care Check Licensing Services Online Complaint Forms Bureau of Child Care Licensing Top Ten Citations – 2024 Transitioning Back to Work After Having A Baby Early Childhood Education