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PODCAST

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy

Daily encouragement from a multitude of speakers, led by Dr. Kathy Koch. All topics covered are helpful not only to kids and their parents, but also to single adults, married couples, teachers, social workers, pastors, and many more. We hope you can be encouraged through these messages, send it to a friend so they can join you in joy and growth!

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

09:22

When Worry Turns Heavy: Guiding Kids Through Anxiety...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/30

In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch respond to a heartbreaking moment from American Idol, where a song written in memory of a young girl lost to suicide brings renewed attention to bullying, social media pressure, anxiety, and teen mental health. While the story is tender and sobering, the conversation moves carefully toward clarity rather than fear. Dr. Kathy helps parents distinguish between being anxious, a normal human experience, and clinical anxiety,

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13:13

Teaching Discernment, Not Fear: Helping Kids Face...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/29

What should parents do when public figures stir strong reactions, confusion, anger, fear, or frustration? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore a real world case from England where a teacher faced disciplinary action after showing political footage to older teens. Rather than taking a political stance, the conversation turns to a deeper parenting question: should teenagers be introduced to people and ideas that feel troubling or controversial? Dr

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10:05

Helping Kids Navigate Puberty With Confidence and Calm

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/28

Puberty can feel overwhelming for kids and parents alike. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research on pubertal self efficacy and why confidence, not avoidance, is key to helping kids navigate this critical season. Drawing from findings in the Journal of Adolescence, they discuss how teens who understand what's happening in their bodies and emotions experience less anxiety and depression. Dr. Kathy explains self efficacy as the belief that "I

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15:41

Who Gets Close To Your Heart? Helping Kids Build...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/27

As Valentine's Day approaches, emotions around friendship, belonging, and affection naturally rise, especially for kids. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch help parents use this season as a teaching moment, not just a holiday. Together, they unpack what true friendship really is and how it differs from casual relationships. They dive into why not everyone belongs in the same place in a child's heart. Dr. Kathy introduces a simple yet powerful framework for

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16:28

More Than Smart: Why Discernment Is the Goal of...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/26

Are our kids actually becoming less capable thinkers, and if so, why does that matter? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore growing concerns about children's cognitive development, drawing on research from cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Together, they examine how increased screen use, especially in classrooms, may be reshaping how kids reason and learn. But this conversation goes deeper than test scores or IQ. Dr. Kathy reframes

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15:53

When School Pauses: What Snow Days Still Teach Our Kids

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/23

In this episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast, hosts discuss the impact of weather-related school cancellations, particularly snow days, on children's education and well-being. They reflect on how traditional snow days have shifted post-COVID, with many schools opting for remote learning instead of allowing kids a break from schoolwork. Dr. Kathy encourages listeners to use these moments of disruption to consider broader questions about the educational system and to explore opportunities for

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10:36

When Help Becomes Harm: How Overparenting Undermines...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/22

Are we helping our kids, or holding them back? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore the growing concern of overparenting and what truly drives it beneath the surface. Responding to research outlining common signs of overparenting, Dr. Kathy explains how fear and a parent's need to look successful often lead us to correct too often and trust too little. Together, they unpack the difference between guidance and control, love and fear. Using the image of Peter

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14:09

Grandma Hobbies and Quiet Joy: Why Kids Need Slower...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/21

Why are teens and young adults suddenly drawn to reading, crocheting, sewing, walking, and other so-called "grandma hobbies"? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore why slower, quieter pastimes are resurfacing, and why they matter deeply for identity formation. Dr. Kathy explains how hobbies cultivate joy, perseverance, reflection, and self-awareness in a culture driven by speed, comparison, and constant stimulation. Together, they unpack the difference

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13:07

Teaching the Tool: Helping Kids Build Wisdom Around...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/20

Is social media always harmful for kids, or can we teach them to use it wisely? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research from Australia suggesting a "Goldilocks" window for social media use, where moderate engagement may support connection, but overuse or total avoidance can both undermine wellbeing. Together, they unpack why social media should be treated like any other powerful tool: taught, modeled, limited, and purposefully used. Dr. Kathy

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19:29

Guiding Kids When The World Feels Unstable

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender step carefully into a painful cultural moment following the death of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota. Rather than debating politics, they explore how moments of public tragedy and unrest can quietly shape a child's identity, and a parent's emotional posture. This conversation unpacks how fear and uncertainty can begin to define who we think we are if we aren't grounded in something bigger. Dr. Kathy walks through the five

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11:40

Recess Matters: Why Kids Need Freedom On The Playground

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/16

Have playgrounds become too safe for kids to actually grow? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender take a thoughtful look at the increasing restrictions on playgrounds and recess, and what those rules may be costing our children. From banning running and roughhousing to removing swings altogether, today's playgrounds often prioritize control over exploration. This conversation explores why unstructured play matters for confidence, problem solving, self

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16:53

Why Creativity Builds Character (And Why We Need It...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/15

Is creativity something to manage, or something to nurture? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender reframe creativity as far more than art projects or imaginative play. Drawing on research, classroom stories, and Scripture, they explore how creativity fuels resilience and character formation in children. From sticks turning into swords on a hike to invented words like fantabulous, this conversation shows how imagination helps kids problem solve, regulate

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11:02

From Embarrassment To Bravery: Teaching Confidence...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/14

What if something as simple as ordering dinner could shape your child's confidence for life? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore how everyday moments, like letting kids speak up, make mistakes, and try again, become powerful training grounds for resilience. Using a creative family practice as a springboard, they unpack how courage grows through support, not pressure, and why failure isn't fatal, it's formative. Drawing on child development wisdom and the

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17:13

Gender isn't The Real Issue: Caring For Kids Beneath...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/13

When children struggle with gender identity, it's rarely just about gender. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender respond to recent pauses in so-called gender-affirming care for minors and explore what real care for kids actually looks like. Drawing from counseling experience, research, Scripture, and deep compassion, they unpack why anxiety, depression, trauma, and confusion about the future often sit beneath gender distress, and why rushing to medical solutions can

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16:12

Kindness Isn't Automatic: How Parents Form Empathy,...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/11

We drill the ABCs. We practice math facts. But when it comes to kindness, we often expect it to appear fully formed, without teaching it. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the critical difference between politeness and true kindness, drawing on psychological research, parenting wisdom, and the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. They unpack why forcing apologies can create scripts instead of sincerity, how empathy is a muscle that must be taught and

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17:23

Let Them Wander: Creativity, Resilience, and the...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/09

Is creativity something we should encourage or control? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the powerful role creativity plays in children's development and why time in nature may be one of the most underutilized tools parents have. Drawing from research, real parenting questions, and a biblical vision of creativity rooted in God's design, they unpack how imagination builds resilience, flexibility, and character, not chaos. From imaginary play and

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20:35

Government Age Gating Cell Phone Use: Who Forms Our...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/08

As states across the country move to restrict minors' access to social media, a deeper question emerges: Why does the government feel the need to step in at all? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the growing wave of age-gating laws, parental consent requirements, and outright bans, and what they reveal about childhood, conscience, and cultural formation. Together, they unpack the tension between external guardrails and internal virtue, the

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18:52

Why Vulgar Language From Politicans Needs to Be...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/07

Public language is getting louder, harsher, and more vulgar, and our kids are listening. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the rising use of profanity in politics and public life and ask a deeper question: What does the way we speak reveal about our character? Together, they unpack the difference between freedom and license, why breaking rules isn't the same as courage, and how words shape virtue, dignity, and trust. Drawing from Scripture, cultural

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14:46

Wonder Before Focus: How Kids Learn Even When They're...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/06

Do kids really need to be taught to focus, or do they need permission to wonder first? In this Facing the Dark episode, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore new research showing that children learn even when they're not intentionally paying attention. Together, they unpack the difference between curiosity and concentration, why wonder is not a distraction but a doorway to learning, and how parents can teach focus without extinguishing imagination. Anchored in child development, the 8

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19:14

School Is Fine… or Is It? Why Parents and Kids See...

Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy ·

2026/01/05

Why do parents think school is going great, while many kids feel disengaged and uninspired? In this Facing the Dark episode, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch unpack research revealing the growing gap between how parents and students experience school. Together, they explore why learning often feels passive, why awe and wonder fade as kids get older, and how families can re-ignite curiosity by connecting schoolwork to real life. From dinner-table conversations to creative family rhythms, this episode

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612 results

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