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Parents of the YearAuthor: Caroline & Andrew
We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year. Language: en-ca Genres: Kids & Family, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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205. Are We Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids to Perform?
Episode 205
Tuesday, 31 March, 2026
What helps kids learn, keep trying, and bounce back after a hard moment?In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline sit down with educator, author, speaker, and chess coach Kevin Cripe to talk about what truly helps children thrive at school, in sports, and at home. With more than 27 years in education, Kevin shares what he learned from teaching in high-mobility classrooms, building an after-school chess programme for students from low-income communities, and helping kids grow through encouragement, challenge, and steady support.This conversation gets into why children learn better when they feel safe and relaxed, why praise for effort and improvement matters more than constant focus on results, and how parents can respond when kids lose, struggle, or shut down. Kevin also shares powerful stories from the classroom and from chess tournaments that show what can happen when adults stop pushing for perfection and start making room for growth.You’ll hear practical ideas for supporting children and teens through school stress, competition, mistakes, and self-doubt, plus a refreshing reminder that kids do better when they know they are valued no matter the outcome.In this episode, you’ll hear about:how emotional safety affects learningwhy effort, improvement, and success all deserve recognitionhow to help kids after a loss without making things worsewhy some children learn more slowly at first, then take offhow teaching others helps kids learn betterwhy pressure around grades can damage connection at homehow parents can support resilience in children and teensAbout Kevin CripeKevin Cripe is a motivational speaker, author, and educator with more than 27 years of experience supporting students, teachers, and communities. As an elementary school teacher in Modesto City Schools, he created an after-school chess programme that changed the lives of hundreds of students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. His work centres on helping students succeed without frustration and building compassion across diverse communities. He has spoken internationally, including at the Innovative Schools Conference in Atlanta and the Chess in the Schools Conference in London.http://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.cripe.31https://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com/#booksHomework activities for adults to support children and teens1. Notice effort out loud for one full weekReplace result-based praise with comments about persistence, courage, preparation, recovery, and trying again.Say:“I noticed you stuck with that even when it got frustrating.”“You kept going.”“You handled that hard moment really well.”“I saw how much effort you put in.”Resource needed: A notes app or small notebook to track what you noticed each day.2. Practise the “say less” response after a hard momentWhen your child loses, freezes, cries, or shuts down, do less talking. Sit nearby. Offer a hug if they want one. Let them settle beforeSend us Fan MailEnjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
