Episodes

Nov. 27, 2025

Offering vs. Demanding to Give Advice

It's challenging when your adult child is making decisions you disagree with. You may wonder, "Will my son or daughter ever ask for my opinion?" Danny shares how you can be a good friend when giving advice, without being a control freak. Also, Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman offer some encouragement if there's emotional distance between you and your adult kids. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children for ...
Nov. 25, 2025

If Your Adult Child is Irresponsible

What if your adult child is not as responsible as you raised them to be? John and Danny bring up common frustrations parents of adult kids have today. Then, Jim Daly talks to Dr. Gary Chapman, who tells an encouraging story of a couple, Steve and Linda, whose daughter went from struggling to thriving. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effectiv...
Nov. 20, 2025

Starting Family Devotions

Getting your kids to focus during family devotions is NOT easy. John and Danny discuss some of the ways they tried to implement things like reading the Bible and praying with their children. Also, Jim Daly talks with Tim Shoemaker about how he went from struggling with devotion times, to getting his kids to love 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 Activiti...
Nov. 18, 2025

Using Wisdom with AI

How do you teach your kids to navigate the world of technology and AI, when we're surrounded by them? Danny shares how parents can set a better example for not being on your phones all the time. Also, Arlene Pellicane and Jim Daly address some of the pitfalls with using AI too much. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Screen Kids for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment How Your Family C...
Nov. 13, 2025

Planned Emancipation’s Goal

Letting go of your children is a challenging process as they get older, but it's a necessary part of parenting. John and Danny open up about how they learned to let go in the teen years. Plus, Jim Daly talks to Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer, who share what the goal is for something called Planned Emancipation. 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 Trai...
Nov. 11, 2025

When Your Teen Needs Independence

How do you avoid putting your identity in your kids' behavior? Jim Daly speaks with Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer on how children need to face consequences for their choices, and a concept called Planned Emancipation. Also, John and Danny explain why it's hard but necessary to let your kids suffer if they make bad decisions. 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! ...
Nov. 6, 2025

Don’t Shut Down their Feelings

What should you say when your child says, "I'm scared?" John and Danny bring up some of their experiences of helping their kids overcome fear. Plus, Jim Daly and Michelle Nietert discuss what patterns you should pay attention to if your kid seems afraid. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Bundle for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Cultivating Health...
Nov. 4, 2025

When the Worst Has Happened

What do you do if tragedy strikes? Jim Daly interviews Melissa Hannigan on how God comforted her after her son died. Also, Danny shares how he's seen others trust God, even during a difficult time. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Inconvenient Parenting for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Instilling God-Given Qualities into Your Children Contact our Counseling Team How to Help ...
Oct. 30, 2025

“If My Kids Are Like Me?”

How do you keep your relationship with your kids strong when they reach adulthood? Dr. Gary Chapman and Jim Daly provide a few perspectives on what it looks like to be a successful parent of young adults. Then, Danny brings up how you can be there for your kids, even when they're fully independent. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective P...
Oct. 28, 2025

Screens and the Messy Now

How can we find beauty in life when our world is consumed by screens? Jim Daly speaks with Justin Earley on how he and his wife navigate the overuse of screens today. Also, John and Danny provide encouragement to parents who feel exhausted right now. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Habits of the Household for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Creating Spiritual Habits in Your Fami...
Oct. 23, 2025

Teaching Kids Appreciation & Anger Management

Can we really teach our kids to be thankful, even if they're upset? Jim Daly and Arlene Pellicane share about teaching your children to be people of appreciation. Also, Danny and John will encourage you to recognize when your child is developing an ungrateful attitude. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Screen Kids for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment How Your Family Can Manage Tech...
Oct. 21, 2025

A+ Social Skills for Your Child

Every child needs good social skills, but are you helping your children develop them? Jim Daly and Arlene Pellicane discuss something called the 5 A+ Social Skills. Then, Danny shares how he tried teaching his kids to focus on what's in front of them. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Screen Kids for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Conta...
Oct. 16, 2025

Healthy Boundaries with a Teen

How do you have healthy discussions with your teens about freedoms and boundaries? Dr. Ken Wilgus addresses that very topic with Jim Daly. Also, Danny and John share how to recognize if your teenager is developing an entitled mentality. 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 That Drive Parents Craz...
Oct. 14, 2025

Letting Go in the Teen Phase

Learning to let go is one of the most important things you'll do when your child becomes a teen. Jim Daly joins Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer to discuss common ways parents have to let go and give their teens freedom. Then, John asks Danny about how you can respond well if your teenager has an unclean room. 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...
Oct. 9, 2025

Why Humor Matters

When was the last time your kids got a great laugh? Danny and John recall times where their children enjoyed laughing, and why that brought them joy. Also, Melissa Hannigan and Jim Daly share why you and your kids need to laugh regularly. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book "Inconvenient Parenting: Activate Your Child's God-Given Traits" for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Instilling ...
Oct. 7, 2025

"Where Did That Emotion Come From?"

Has your child ever had an outburst you didn't expect? John and Danny share moments where that happened with some of their kids. Plus, Jim Daly speaks to Melissa Hannigan on lessons she learned about emotions from working in a women's correctional facility. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book "Inconvenient Parenting: Activate Your Child's God-Given Traits" for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Ass...
Oct. 2, 2025

Mountain or a Molehill?

When you feel frustrated with your kids, it's important to not overreact. Jim Daly and Justin Earley discuss how to discern whether a present frustration is really important or not. Then, John and Danny share how including other people in your kids' lives goes a long way in helping them develop into healthy people. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Habits of the Household for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effec...
Sept. 30, 2025

Your Dinner Table is Your Mission Field

Having dinner regularly with your kids can lead to some beautiful conversations. John and Danny open up about times they had meals with their children, and why that was so meaningful. Then, Jim Daly asks Justin Earley about some of the dinnertime traditions he's started with his four sons. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Habits of the Household for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment ...
Sept. 25, 2025

Phones vs. Real Relationships

When you're getting constant notifications on your phone, how do you take time to look at real people? Jim Daly and Arlene Pellicane address how many young people feel lonely. Plus, John and Danny share why one of the best ways to get your kids off a screen is to encourage them to serve others. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Screen Kids You for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment H...
Sept. 23, 2025

A Better Replacement for Screens

How do we find a way to break away from the constant use of screens? John and Danny cover how depression and anxiety have gone up since smart phones became the norm. Then, Jim Daly talks with Arlene Pellicane about training your child to find pleasure outside of social media and screens. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Screen Kids You for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment How Your...
Sept. 18, 2025

Planned Emancipation Over Control

One of the worst decisions you can make with your teens is trying to control them. Jessica Pfeiffer and Dr. Ken Wilgus talk to Jim Daly on why trying to sway all of your teen's choices is a recipe for disaster. Also, John asks Danny how parents can respond well if their teen was given some freedom, but they violated that privilege. 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! ...
Sept. 16, 2025

When Will it Be Up to Me?

When your son or daughter reaches the teen phase, it's common for him or her to want independence and to speak his or her mind. John and Danny open up about times their kids became more opinionated in the teen years. Plus, Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer address the main battle that parents of teens face. 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 E...
Sept. 11, 2025

Learning from Your Mistakes

Every parent makes mistakes, but the key is owning them when you make one. John and Danny share about times they messed up as parents, and how they learned from those situations. Then, Melissa Hannigan talks to Jim Daly about how volunteering in a correctional facility helped her let go of perfectionism. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Inconvenient Parenting for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parent...
Sept. 9, 2025

The Need for Intentionality & Wisdom

To be a great parent, you need to be focused. Melissa Hannigan and Jim Daly explain why not being intentional is bad for your parenting. Also, John and Danny bring up why you also need God's wisdom to help you parent well. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Inconvenient Parenting for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Instilling God-Given Qualities into Your Children Family Reading o...