Should I hug my child or ignore them during a tantrum?

Should I hug my child or ignore them during a tantrum?

Author: Cindy Hovington, Ph.D. May 5, 2025 Duration: 1:01:35
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I chat with Albiona Rakipi who is a parent coach. I love her work and it is well-aligned with the research I read around co-regulation and teaching kids how to regulate emotions. If you are a parent that often questions what to do DURING a tantrum, then this episode is for you. You will learn her simple method that makes it easy to know what to do and what to say to your toddler. You will also learn about the i...

Parenting is often described as a series of reactions, but what if the real work happens in the quiet moments before the reaction? Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron moves beyond simple tips to examine the internal landscape of a parent's mind. Hosted by Dr. Cindy Hovington, a neuroscientist and mother of three, this podcast digs into the core idea that overwhelm isn't about one bad moment, but the gradual accumulation of unchecked stress. Each episode is a journey into understanding the 'why' behind our feelings-why a child's behavior can trigger such intensity, and why that flash of insight often comes too late. Dr. Hovington uses her scientific background not to offer rigid prescriptions, but to provide a framework for self-awareness. You'll hear her personal reflections alongside conversations with clinicians and other experts, making complex neuroscience accessible and immediately relevant to daily family life. The goal is to build a space for curiosity about your own triggers and patterns. This isn't about achieving perfect calm, but about recognizing your own emotional signals sooner, creating a buffer between feeling stressed and reacting from that place. Tune into this podcast for a thoughtful, evidence-informed companion on the path to becoming a more present and regulated parent, one reflective moment at a time. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to parent from a place of understanding, rather than from sheer exhaustion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron
Podcast Episodes
Reflections on Radicalization: Could It Happen to My Child? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:32
Send us Fan Mail When we hear the word radicalization, we often think, "That could never happen to my family." But what if radicalization begins with something much more human—a need to belong, to feel understood, or to…
3 reflections on how you experience unpleasant emotions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:37
Send us Fan Mail How do you allow yourself to feel, experience and move past unpleasant emotions? In this episode, I share how unpleasant emotions like worry, sadness, or even boredom can lead to some behaviours we might…
3 reflections on what my grandma taught me about parenting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:22
Send us Fan Mail This was a hard episode for me to record but I needed to honour my grandmother who passed away yesterday. Today's reflections are: Does my child feel loved and respected by me?Does my child feel like the…
3 reflections on self-love (and how this will nourish your happiness) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:43
Send us Fan Mail This week, we are reflecting on our self-love. This week's reflections are: How do I nourish my happiness?Do I see my body and mind as my home?How do you feed your mind and body?As parents I think we nee…
Why self-care isn't working for you [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:28
Send us Fan Mail I'm Back! After five months away from the microphone, I'm finally back. If you've been wondering where I've been, thank you for checking in. Your emails, messages, and support meant more to me than you k…
Your Triggers Aren’t a Parenting Failure — They’re a Signal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever ended a night thinking, “Why did I snap again?” — this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into what’s really happening in your brain and body when your child pushes your buttons. Beca…
The reason you snap at your kids (and what you can try instead) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:34
Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents! This week, we are talking about something I keep hearing from parents which is snapping at our kids even when we are working on ourselves by learning about parenting or even going…
Why parenting advice won't help you stop snapping at your kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:30
Send us Fan Mail If you keep snapping, shutting down, or feeling guilty, even though you “know” what to do... this episode will finally make it make sense. After speaking with more than 200 parents, I’ve noticed the same…