Summer Skills Series: Master the Art of Active Listening

Ever noticed how family conflicts spiral when everyone's talking but nobody's listening? Welcome to the Summer Skills Series on the Stress Nanny Podcast, where today we're diving into the transformative power of active listening.Most of us think we listen well, but during heated moments with our children, we're often just waiting for our turn to speak or formulating rebuttals rather than truly hearing what's being said. This episode uncovers the neuroscience behind why active listening is so much more than just a communication technique—it's a bridge that connects a child's emotional brain center (amygdala) with their logical problem-solving center (prefrontal cortex). When children feel genuinely heard through phrases like "What I'm hearing you say is..." or "If I understand correctly...", something magical happens: their defensive posture softens, and real problem-solving becomes possible.The beauty of summer is that it gives us the perfect low-pressure environment to practice emotional intelligence skills before they're needed during the more structured school year. Learn practical phrases that demonstrate active listening, understand why sequencing events helps children integrate different brain regions, and discover how to model this skill so effectively that your children naturally begin using it themselves. This isn't about perfect parenting—it's about creating moments of connection that reduce stress and build resilience for the whole family. Ready to transform how your family communicates? This episode might just be the most valuable 10 minutes of your summer.

For the first Summer Skills Episode on Reacting vs. Responding click here.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

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