Episode 002 · Oct 20, 2026 · 54 min
It’s Never Too Late to Raise Resilient Kids | Child Psychologist Dr. Tovah Klein
Audio only
Are we making our kids less resilient by trying too hard to protect them? Child psychologist Dr. Tovah Klein reveals why rescuing kids from discomfort can backfire — and the one question every parent should ask before stepping in: “Whose discomfort am I fixing — mine or my child’s?”
Show notes
We get into how kids actually build grit, confidence and resilience; why we’re often hardest on our firstborns; when to step in and when to back off; what to do when you don’t like your kid’s friends; why every playdate should have a basket by the door; how to stop whining; and how to build the kind of trusting relationship that makes your teenager call YOU first when something goes wrong. Whether you’re raising a toddler or a teenager, it’s never too late to prepare your kids for the road ahead.
What You’ll Learn
00:00 - What Raising Resilient Kids Really Means
08:10 - The Truth About Parenting in the Information Age
09:08 - The Homework Dilemma: When Rescuing Your Child Actually Weakens Them
10:08 - Whose Discomfort Are You Fixing?
14:11 - Why It's Never Too Late to Course Correct Your Parenting
16:45 - Birth Order, Firstborn Pressure, and Why Your Standards Are Probably Too High
17:55 - Parenting the Child You Have (Not the One You Wish You Had)
32:28 - What to Do When You Don't Like Your Kid's Friends
43:10 - Parenting in the Digital Age
45:37 - Building Trust So Your Teen Calls You First
48:27 - Rapid Fire
53:10 - Final Takeaways: Listen and Let Them Know You Trust Them
Featured Guest
Dr. Tovah Klein is a leading child psychologist and expert on children’s social and emotional development. She is the author of How Toddlers Thrive and Raising Resilience, and has spent decades studying what children need from their parents to become capable, confident adults.
Resources Mentioned
Raising Resilience by Dr. Tovah Klein - https://go.shopmy.us/p-93903432
How Toddlers Thrive by Dr. Tovah Klein - https://go.shopmy.us/p-93911713
DopamindKids, an organization that empowers schools and families to build healthier technology habits - https://www.dopamindkids.org
The Tech Parenting Rulebook: 100 Simple Tips to Raise Digitally Healthy Kids by Aniko Hill (forward by Dr. Tovah Klein) - https://go.shopmy.us/p-94662028
Find Tovah on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tovahklein/
Dr. Tovah Klein’s Website - https://howtoddlersthrive.com/author/
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