Episodes

Feb. 19, 2026

When a Parent Abandons an Adult Child

In some cases, adult kids are the ones who've been wronged by their parents. When that happens, how do you trust God to restore the relationship? Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman give the adult child some practical guidelines for reaching out to an estranged parent. Then, Danny and John will encourage you that it's not too late for a parent-child relationship to be mended. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Ch...
Feb. 17, 2026

If Your Child is Living an LGBT Lifestyle

Some Christian parents sadly are dealing with the reality that their child identifies with an LGBT lifestyle. Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman address how a parent can respond in a Christ-like manner in that situation. Then, Danny will provide some encouragement, even if your son or daughter is currently in a same-sex relationship. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children an Adult Child for your donation of...
Feb. 12, 2026

Object Lessons to Encourage Their Faith

What are some creative ways for you to share about God with your kids? Jim Daly talks with Tim Shoemaker about a few creative ways he's taught his boys some godly principles. Also, Danny will offer some encouragement for if your child isn't understanding something. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your donation of an...
Feb. 10, 2026

You the Parent, Will be There

You, the parent, are the most important spiritual influence in your child's life. Danny opens up about how he and Heather brought different strengths to their children's spiritual development. Also, Jim Daly talks to Tim Shoemaker on how a mom and dad can share responsibilities as you teach them about God. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids...
Feb. 5, 2026

Entertainment & Teen Dating

The teenage years are a wonderful opportunity to grow in discernment. Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer talk with Jim Daly about how your teens can develop discernment with entertainment and dating. Also, Danny and John will remind you to not parent from a place of fear, and why facing challenges is good for a teenager. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount! Take the ...
Feb. 3, 2026

Set Boundaries with Your Teen’s Phone

How do you set a good example with screen-time? Danny and John share some sobering statistics on how much teens are on their phones. Plus, Jim Daly talks to Jessica Pfeiffer and Dr. Ken Wilgus on some practical boundaries to set with your teenagers and screens. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Common Teen Issues...
Jan. 29, 2026

When Self-Esteem is a Bad Message

Self-esteem is important. But fixating too much on how your kids feel about themselves is not good for their development. Danny and John share why we need to focus on teaching resilience more than self-esteem. Also, Jim Daly and Jill Garner discuss why healthy self-esteem comes when kids realize life is not all about them. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book StrongHeart for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effectiv...
Jan. 27, 2026

What’s Inside Matters Most

How do you encourage your kids to do what's right, even when the world doesn't? Jim Daly and Jill Garner discuss how an elementary school commencement address inspired her to teach kids about true character. Also, Danny shares about how he's tried teaching his kids to do the right thing, even when it's inconvenient. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book StrongHeart for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Paren...
Jan. 22, 2026

When Your Adult Child Makes a Poor Choice

It's one of the hardest things to swallow - when your adult son or daughter makes a decision you strongly disagree with. Dr. Gary Chapman joins Jim Daly to encourage you to not blame yourself if your adult child has made a bad choice. Also, John and Danny will give you some encouragement if your adult son or daughter is struggling. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children an Adult Child for your donation...
Jan. 20, 2026

If an Adult Child Moves Back In

Many parents have an adult child who has moved back in. Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman offer some constructive thoughts for parents in that situation. You'll also hear from John and Danny on how a parent can set healthy parameters for an adult child who's living at home Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children an Adult Child for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assess...
Jan. 15, 2026

Passing Down Your Faith

Giving your child a legacy of faith needs to be your top priority. Danny and John address why it's critical to help your kids know who God is. You'll also hear Jim Daly interview Tim Shoemaker on how Psalm 78 inspired him to focus on spiritually training his kids. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your donation of any...
Jan. 13, 2026

Devotional Lessons Your Kids Understand

How do you teach your kids about God when they're little? Danny describes some times where his kids struggled to understand certain concepts in the Bible. Plus, Jim Daly speaks with Tim Shoemaker on how a trip to a stock car race became a powerful spiritual lesson for his sons. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your d...
Jan. 8, 2026

Talking to Your Teens About Money

Conversations about money are some of the most critical discussions you'll have with your teens. Danny opens up about when he started talking to his kids about finances. Also, Jim Daly speaks to Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer about how you as a parent can encourage your teens to manage their finances. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effe...
Jan. 6, 2026

“Where Do I Send My Kids to School?”

Is there a truly best option for where to send your kids to school? What if one environment works well for one child, but doesn't pan out for another child? Danny and John open up about how they made the best education choices for their own kids. Jim Daly then chats with Dr. Ken Wilgus on how parents can help a kid who's struggling in school. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of a...
Jan. 1, 2026

Appropriate Praise for Managing Their Emotions

How much praise should you give your kids? Danny talks with John about how to know if the ways you're praising your kids are helpful. You'll also hear from Michelle Nietert, who talks to Jim Daly about why proper forms of praise can encourage them to process their emotions. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Asses...
Dec. 30, 2025

When Your Kid Has an Emotional Meltdown

How do you respond well when your child has a meltdown? Michelle Nietert tells Jim Daly about a time she navigated an emotional outburst with her young daughter. Plus, Danny gives you some tips for how to deal with a whining child. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Cultivating Healthy Emotional Habits...
Dec. 25, 2025

Confronting an Adult Child

Every parent has had a moment where you didn't agree with a choice your kid made. But how do you handle a time where you need to confront an adult son or daughter? Danny talks with John about how he's seen this be a common problem in his counseling practice. Also, Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman address why you must give your adult kids freedom to make their own decisions. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with an Adul...
Dec. 23, 2025

You Can’t Control an Adult Kid

One of the more challenging aspects of parenting adult kids is you can't control their choices. Jim Daly and renowned author, Dr. Gary Chapman, will encourage you to focus on being a good influence on your adult son or daughter. Then, John and Danny will remind you that subtle changes to how you interact with an adult child can go a long way. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with an Adult Child for your donation of ...
Dec. 18, 2025

Keeping Your Kids’ Attention Through Visuals

How do you keep your kids' attention in an age that's so distracted? Tim Shoemaker shares with Jim Daly that kids today are hungry for real analogies. Plus, Danny talks about some visual lessons that he taught his children, and how those have stuck with them. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget for your donation of any amou...
Dec. 16, 2025

The Value of Object Lessons

When your kids are little, sometimes it's best to teach them spiritual principles through visuals. Tim Shoemaker joins Jim Daly to talk about how he electrocuted a pickle to teach his kids a powerful lesson. Also, Danny offers some thoughts for helping your son or daughter who's not a visual learner. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will ...
Dec. 11, 2025

Tell Them Who’s Responsible

One of the worst things you can do is bail your teen out when they make a poor choice. Danny and John open up about times their kids learned some hard lessons, and how they were tempted to bail them out. Also, Jim Daly chats with Jessica Pfeiffer and Dr. Ken Wilgus on communicating with your teens about their need to take responsibility. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any am...
Dec. 9, 2025

Transitioning to a Young Adult

It's a massive adjustment when your child becomes a teenager. Danny opens up about how he and his wife had to approach things differently when their kids reached the teen years. Also, Jim Daly joins Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer, who explain why it's the right thing to start treating your teens like they're adults. At the end, John and Danny will address what to do if you don't like the person your teen is dating. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FA...
Dec. 4, 2025

Listening Well, Even if Your Parents Didn’t Teach You How

Is it possible to be a good listener, even if that wasn't modeled for you growing up? Jim Daly joins Michelle Nietert, who encourages you to listen to your kids with your eyes. Plus, Danny addresses what to do if you find yourself repeating the same mistakes your parents made. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting As...
Dec. 2, 2025

Get on Their Level

How do you respond well when your kid asks, "why did this bad thing happen?" Jim Daly talks to Michelle Nietert about getting on your children's level, and helping them deal with fear. Also, John and Danny will help you encourage your kids when they're struggling with imagining the worst-case scenario. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits...