Welcome to
the blog!

Cleanup time can feel surprisingly hard for toddlers, even when they are usually cooperative. In this Beyond the Sessions Q and A, Dr. Sarah Bren and Dr. Emily Upshur explain why transitions, motor planning, and executive functioning make cleaning up so tough, and share practical ways to reduce power struggles while building the skill over time.

read the full post ⟶

395. Q&A: How can I teach my toddler to clean up their toys without power struggles?

Parent and toddler cleaning up toys together in a living room, showing collaborative cleanup practice.

featured post

394. Secure attachment and dads: How fathers’ inner worlds shape their parenting with Dr. Jett Stone

Father talking with his son outdoors, reflecting secure attachment and emotionally present fatherhood.

In this expert interview, Dr. Sarah Bren talks with clinical psychologist Dr. Jett Stone about secure attachment and dads, paternal mental health, and the invisible emotional load many modern fathers carry. Learn how intergenerational patterns, “boyhood rules,” and feeling like the secondary parent can shape fatherhood and the whole family system.

keep reading  ⟶

393. Q&A: Is letting my anxious child sleep in my bed helping or making their anxiety worse?

Parent cuddling a child in bed at night, illustrating comfort, co sleeping, and bedtime anxiety support.

Is letting your anxious child sleep in your bed helping or making things harder long term? In this Q and A, Dr. Sarah Bren and Dr. Emily Upshur unpack the difference between attachment and accommodation, explain how SPACE approaches bedtime anxiety, and help parents make a thoughtful sleep decision without fear or guilt.

keep reading  ⟶

392. The dopamine trap: Why screens and ultra-processed foods keep kids wanting more (but never satisfied) with Michaeleen Doucleff

Child eating breakfast while looking at a smartphone, showing screens and food habits in daily life.

Science journalist Michaeleen Doucleff joins Dr. Sarah Bren to explain why screens and ultra-processed foods can keep kids craving more without feeling satisfied. Learn what dopamine actually does, why taking screens away often backfires, and how small, realistic shifts can bring more peace, pleasure, and balance back to family life.

keep reading  ⟶