Reflective Parenting Podcast
What if one book could help you see yourself more clearly as a parent?
As parents, we're constantly learning. We listen to podcasts, read books, and consume endless advice online, but real growth happens when we pause long enough to reflect on what we're learning and what it means for our own lives.
Welcome to The Reflective Parenting Podcast, a parenting book club led by neuroscientist, international speaker, mom of three, and founder of Curious Neuron, Dr. Cindy Hovington.
Each month, we'll explore a new book together and reflect on the ideas that can help us better understand ourselves, our emotions, our relationships, and our parenting. Every week, I'll share reflections, insights from neuroscience, and practical takeaways to help you become more self-aware, manage stress more effectively, navigate conflict with greater confidence, and show up as the parent you want to be.
This isn't a book summary podcast. It's an invitation to slow down as parents, think more deeply, and grow alongside your children.
Because becoming a better parent isn't about consuming more information; it's about reflecting on it with me by your side.
Find out which book I will be covering next month:
https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/
Join the private group on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcast/
Start training your emotional awareness for FREE:
https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2
Purchase my course The Emotionally Aware Parent.
https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/
Follow us on Instagram @drcindyhovington or Facebook @curiousneuronparenting
Episodes
256 episodes
3 reflections on how you experience unpleasant emotions
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 want to be more aware of.&nb...
3 reflections on what my grandma taught me about parenting
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 l...
3 reflections on self-love (and how this will nourish your happiness)
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...
Why self-care isn't working for you
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 know...
You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Untangling a Tricky Family Dynamic with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Family dynamics can feel especially intense around the holidays and one of the most challenging patterns many parents face is the triangle between you, your partner, and your mother-in-law. In today’s episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish returns...
Your Triggers Aren’t a Parenting Failure — They’re a Signal
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. Because those intense reaction...
The reason you snap at your kids (and what you can try instead)
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 to therapy. You are not faili...
Why parenting advice won't help you stop snapping at your kids
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 pattern:We are drowning...
What all dads need to hear about emotions and their son's future mental health
Today on the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I’m sitting down with Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski-Hartman to talk about something many parents quietly wonder about:Why do boys sometimes pull away emotionally and how can we support them without...
Are you having unhealthy conflict? Here's what science says.
This episode will change how you see conflict.We’re talking about the proven communication patterns that destroy connection and how to replace them with healthier ones.You’ll learn:the Four Horsemen (with real examples...
Understanding your nervous system in conflict with the authors of Beyond Difficult
If you’ve ever wondered why you become a different version of yourself during conflict… this episode is going to change the way you see those moments forever.I’m sitting down with psychologists and authors Rachel Samson and Dr....
Relational Savoring: The Neuroscience of Calm and Connection
Ever wonder why some moments with your child feel effortless and deeply connected — while others leave you drained, reactive, or misunderstood? In this episode, we break down the science behind why.Dr. Jessie Stern and psycholog...
What Many Parents Get Wrong About Toddler Behavior
In today’s episode, Devon Kuntzman and I dive deep into what’s really happening inside your toddler’s brain when they lose it — and how you can respond without spiralling yourself.We unpack why your child’s meltdowns aren’t your...
The missing skill that helps parents and kids stay calm: Interoception
Last week, we uncovered how your child’s behaviour is really their nervous system communicating.Today, we’re going deeper, inside the body, to explore the science of interoception, the hidden sense that helps us feel and ...
Why understanding your nervous system helps you with your emotions
You’ve heard the advice: “Teach your child to name their emotions.”But what if the real secret to helping your child (and yourself) regulate emotions starts deeper inside the body?In this episode, I sit down with pedia...
How do we build resilience in our kids without being harsh or overprotective
Do you ever hear your child say things like, “I’m such a bad kid” or “I’ll never be good at this” and your heart sinks because you don’t know what to say?You’re not alone. And this episode is about to change the way you...
The Science of How Discipline and Punishment Impact a Child’s Brain Differently
Parents, this one is big.Today we’re breaking down punishment vs discipline, what science says, how it impacts your child’s brain, and why so many of us feel stuck in the cycle of punishing even when we don’t want to.If y...
How to connect with a child that shuts you down (without losing your cool)
This episode will change how you see your child’s moods and how you respond to them.If you’ve ever tiptoed around your child in the morning, worried the “wrong” cereal bowl or shirt will set off a meltdown, this conversation is ...
How music can lower stress and anxiety (for you and your child)
This episode will inspire you to see music as a powerful tool for connection, healing, and everyday parenting.It’s an invitation to play, sing, and create moments of joy with your children while learning how music can also soothe anx...
Replay: Looking beyond your child's behaviour with Dr. Mona Delahooke
I am going to be taking a short break. Meanwhile, enjoy this replay of one of my favourite episodes with Dr. Mona Delahooke. If you have a young child that has tantrums or that acts out in ways you don't know how to support, this ep...
Is my child ready for kindergarten readiness? (emotionally)
Is your child ready for kindergarten from an emotional perspective?In this episode, Cindy discusses the emotional aspects of kindergarten readiness, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in children. She...
A science-based tool that helps you shift your perspective (and build your resilience)
In this episode, we explore the idea of “shifting your lens” — a powerful metaphor grounded in science that helps parents understand how their interpretation of a situation shapes their emotional response. Drawing on the work of psycho...
Can Parenting Style Differences Hurt Your Child? Here's What the Science Says
Are you following positive parenting but your partner is more authoritarian? This is a common question I receive from parents and so in today's episode, I share a study that was fascinating to me. In this solo episode, I...
How does your child respond to stress in conflict?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? In today's episode, I give you a different perspective on your child's behaviour....understanding how they respond to conflict. This is important because it impacts their behaviour in conf...
I wish I were a more playful parent
In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, host Cindy Hovington delves into the transformative power of playfulness in parenting. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, Cindy explores how embracing play can enhance par...