Roy Salmond Podcasts

Is there a correlation between a highly sensitive temperament and mental health concerns? Today, our guest Sarah Moore answers a question from a parent who is wondering about the intensity of her son’s emotions. She sees his emotional highs, but notices, even more, his lows and wants to know if she should be concerned. Sarah is the director of Dand…

Highly sensitive kids feel the intensity of their emotions. Their highs tend to be higher and their lows tend to be lower. This week, our guest Sarah Moore answers a question from a listener who asks, “How do you support a highly sensitive child when you feel like you have to walk on eggshells?” Join us for her compassionate and insightful response…

‘High Sensitivity’ is a temperament trait, meaning it’s biologically based rather than learned or taught. A highly sensitive child is a child who is very affected and often reactive to environmental influences – sounds, smells, temperatures, and even the attitudes and moods of those around them. In this episode of family360, author and parenting sp…

Child experts agree that commenting on our daughter’s appearance may suggest we value her looks over other qualities and this inadvertently damages her self-esteem and sense of worth. In this 3rd Q-note episode with Maggie Dent, Maggie delves into her own past problems with ‘prettiness’ and shares her well-seasoned perspectives on helping girls fin…

‘People pleasing sounds like a positive pursuit,’ thought the parent who wrote in today’s question. It’s not! People-pleasing involves dishonoring yourself to honor someone else. Maggie Dent suggests generations of patriarchy have pushed women toward people pleasing. She addresses this and more as she answers this great question about people pleasi…

A Mom’s wondering if she can bypass hosting a birthday party for her soon to be 7 year old, without alienating her daughter’s friendships at school. Her daughter attends at least one birthday party a month and she loves going, but the parties are expensive and expansive. This Mom doesn’t want to try to keep up and feels a small family party would b…

Raising girls is complicated. In spite of all our empowerment messages, rates of stress, anxiety, and depression are on the rise for girls. Studies indicate a girl’s confidence drops by 30% between the ages of 8 – 14. This week on family360 we’re with the wonderful Maggie Dent, talking about femininity, feelings, and friends. Maggie believes we rai…

Is it appropriate to cry in front of your children? To be angry? To show frustration? How we express our emotions in front of our kids is an important component to their emotional development and in tricky parenting moments what to do and how to respond is not always obvious. In this episode, we’re looking at two separate questions asked by listene…

In this episode, a parent asks, “Will our kids be confused by the difference between my partner’s and my parenting style?” It’s not uncommon when one parent leans one way in an aspect of parenting for the other parent to lean the other way. Our kids can handle that best when we can handle that best. Join us as we dig into this great question! The p…

A parent expresses concern for her 3-year-old’s constant state of aggravation and whininess. Her daughter seems to wake up out of sorts. The parent is trying to be patient but is struggling and feels she and her partner are, “At their wit’s end.” Rachel suggests a point of view for understanding and supporting children when they whine. She also loo…

Unlike IQ, EQ (emotional quotient) matures mainly through nurture – how our caregivers respond to us and role model their own emotional growth. This week on family360 we’re digging into the profound work of Dr. John Gottman and 4 common parenting styles he noticed manifesting when children become emotionally dysregulated. He says there is no such t…

Dr. Kristy Goodwin believes bombarding parents with warnings about pornography, social media, and screen addiction renders us ineffective. Techno-guilting turns us off and shuts us down. And, expecting parents to stay savvy with all the newest online options is unrealistic. In this episode, Kristy introduces an easy-to-understand guide for creating…

This episode explores the healing power of movement with dance director and author of Bare – The Misplaced Art of Grieving and Dance, Sandy Oshiro Rosen. North American society notoriously gears us up to power-through vital messages from our bodies – sensations that should signal the need for our attention, but we ignore. When these messages are le…

In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Hillary McBride about why 90% of children, who freely run, roll, wiggle and laugh when they are young, become so unhappy with their bodies later on in life, and how they can learn to engage and delight within their bodies once again. Most of us have complicated relationships with our bodies. When we discover …

This episode is all about sex and pleasure and how we cultivate those kinds of desires after having kids. We’re with UBC professor and director of the Women’s Health Institute, Dr. Lori Brotto. Universally, sexual desire diminishes after having kids, but even at other times, female sexual dysfunction is extremely common, affecting up to half of wom…

ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabled… neurodivergence is all around us. These are people who don’t conform and who author and activist Debbie Reber believes we need, to come up with creative solutions to see the world differently. Debbie’s mission is to change the way difference is perceived and experienced. As Debbie describes in this conversa…

Dr. Ken Ginsburg wants us all to know that having a teen is just as exciting as having a baby. AND that our adolescents need us as intensely as our toddlers. In this episode he passionately dispels myths about pre-teens and teens, that compromise our care and connection with our kids. The post Ep. 76 – Dr. Ken Ginsburg – Congrats! You’re Having A T…

We’re barraged with controversial decisions when we have a new baby; breastfeeding, childcare, co-sleeping, sleep training… and often new parents resist discussing opinions with family and friends, even between themselves, fearing unwanted feedback and division. In this episode, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson offers science based encouragement to new and ex…

Whether it’s having a new baby, starting our kids into school, transitioning into teen years, or navigating relational realities, our life continually moves through passages. Luci Shaw is a professor, and poet with over 35 published books, including 3 co-written with A Wrinkle In Time author/friend Madeleine L’Engle. Luci is 93 years old with a wea…

Starting school can be an exciting time and a scary time for children and for parents. With 12 years of education ahead, starting school with enthusiasm and energy is the launch we want for our little ones. This week on family360, host Rachel Cram and Wind & Tide Educator Bev Bailey team up to talk about practical tips for helping kids start school…

It’s not uncommon for kids to cry about not wanting to go to school. Transitioning from home to school is tough because it requires significant shifts in focus and feeling. However, when a child’s crying continues for weeks/months, and leaving home is a continual source of stress, there’s more to be explored. This episode is the story of a Mom who …

In this episode, family counselor Gila Golub describes how generationally past patterns shape our present relationships and realities. Through her own story and study, Gila shares, “When we are unable to change a situation or relationship, we need to change ourselves. And often the insight for that change is gained when we are willing to tolerate t…

A recent study by the International Institute of Mental Health revealed one in two children will develop a mood or behaviour disorder or a substance addiction before the age of 18. In this episode, journalist and parenting specialist, Katherine Reynolds Lewis explains how childhood has changed and what gives our kids the skills they need to manage …

In this episode of family360, Ranbir Puar shares the story of her birth in India as the 5th daughter to parents who longed for a son. Growing up unseen and feeling unwanted, she saw herself as a victim in her home – a narrative she redefined in order to grow and flourish in her adult life. In this conversation, Ranbir explores what contributes to a…

Toilet training is a significant first step on the long and winding journey of learning self-control, and it’s a step we want to celebrate with our kids. In this episode of family360 we’re with warm and humorous educator, Dr. Katie Rinald, discussing ways to lose diapers without losing dignity – your child’s or your own. If you’re about to undergo …

Insomnia affects 40% of adults and we can lie awake worrying about having it! Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is the recommended route to restore sleep patterns for people struggling with insomnia and in this episode, sleep specialist Tony Ho describes how CBTI can realign our relationship with sleep. Tony is the director of Quadra Wellne…

High-quality relationships start with high-quality connections. We’re constantly scanning our relationships for social cues on whether we belong and are valued. This week on family360 our guest is psychologist, family therapist and author Dr. Rod Wilson who writes about ancient traditions and teachings central to building authentic and trusting rel…

This episode is filled with engaging and enlightening stories from early childhood educator and international consultant, Tom Hobson. Through decades of study and practice with preschoolers, “Teacher Tom” understands how children ‘learn how to learn’ through play. He writes, “Time and again, when I’ve had faith in children, when I’ve held them as c…

This week on family360, we’re in conversation with New York Times Bestselling author, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, talking about being present for our kids so they feel safe, seen, soothed and secure. Seeking safety is a biological instinct. Our kids will naturally head for our harbour as long as they feel welcome, regardless of the storm. Listen to our …

The phrase, “all you need is love,” rings true until all you need is sleep… then ‘love’ takes a close second. In this episode of family360, pediatric sleep specialist Tara Mitchell talks about the toll sleep deprivation takes on family functioning and offers counsel for sorting out sleep in a way that allows our children to rest in our care. Check …

Until the 21st century, we thought skills and capacities discovered in childhood set the standard for adulthood. We assumed people grew from a ‘fixed mindset’, giving way to phrases such as “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Ongoing discoveries in neuroscience reveal that not only can we teach old dogs, but that the new tricks are the ongoing…

Michele Borba is an internationally renowned educational psychologist recognized for her decades of research and study on the teaching of character. She’s a dynamic and engaging writer and speaker and in this episode, you’ll hear story after story from her years of experience working with educators around the world, discovering why it is, that in t…

We’re wired for togetherness above all else. Separation is like the fire alarm that goes off in our brain crying, “Somethings wrong here! Pay attention!” In this episode of family360, clinical psychologist Dr. Deborah MacNamara describes 5 key things to know about ATTACHMENT and how to repair it when there is rupture. Deborah writes, “The secret to…

In 2019, months before the beginning of the COVID pandemic, author and teen specialist Michelle Mitchell released a prescient book titled Self Harm: Why Teens Do It And What Parents Can Do To Help. Since the beginning of COVID, medical reports indicate an alarming rise in self-harm behaviours in teens. Self harm is the act of deliberately harming y…

If life and death occur in the natural order of our expectations, our parents pass away when we are well into our adulthood, but even when we’ve anticipated this loss, we’re often not prepared for our grief. There is no right or wrong way to grieve the death of a parent. Grief is as unique and different as we are from each other. Yet sometimes it’s…

Did you know there are 4 communication habits that ruin relationships? Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. We often engage in these without knowing. Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is a pediatric specialist, a writer for The Gottman Institute, a parenting coach, and our guest this week on family360. She describes each habit and the antido…

Social development starts at home and continues when our kids start school. Do you remember the scene from Lion King where Rafiki stands on Pride Rock, holding Simba for all to see? As parents, we can relate! We want to hold our children up for all to adore and admire. However, when we all arrive at schools with our little Simbas in tow, socializat…

In this episode, Dr. Shahana Alibhai shares the story of her lifelong struggle with OCD, how it intensified with the birth of her child, and how she eventually sought help and healing. Content note: Please be aware suicide is mentioned briefly in this episode. The post Ep. 55 – Dr. Shahana Alibhai – Perinatal OCD: One Physicians Journey appeared fi…

Everyone of us is covered in trillions of microbes, some of which make us sick. Antibiotics and vaccines save us from diseases these devastating microbes deliver. Unfortunately, they also kill many other microbes that would host our health and healing. Dr. Brett Finlay is a world-renowned microbiologist who is passionate about the well being of chi…

In his mid teens, Cal and Suzie Warneke’s son Josh started to struggle with his mental health. This episode is the story of their family’s journey. 1 in 5 children experience a severe mental health condition sometime between the ages of 13-18. For parents, distinguishing mental health concerns from teenager temperament is complicated, yet early dia…

In her newest book, Parenting Right From The Start, Dr. Vanessa writes, “to believe that your thoughts are your concrete reality is probably one of the most torturous misconceptions humans experience.” In this episode, Vanessa describes how the practice of ‘thinking about our thinking’ allows us to select narratives that will best serve ourselves a…

Every moment of every day our subconscious mind runs stories that perpetuate our perspectives and practices that affect our parenting. We all do this! In this episode, the insightful and vivacious Dr. Vanessa Lapointe shares from her newest book, Parenting Right From The Start, exploring the implications of the stories we tell ourselves, and how “C…

What’s the biology behind our child’s tantrums and meltdowns? How do we navigate ‘screen time’? When to give our kids control? Why do we want a guinea pig!?! Accompanied by Maggie’s humor and warm heart, this episode covers a wonderful and wide sample of topics from Maggie’s newly released book, Parental As Anything. Join us for a conversation pack…

In her newest children’s book, Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith writes, “When we are kind we remember we are all related.” Monique’s celebrated works on Truth and Reconciliation offer a doorway into discovering our shared humanity – and kindness is the key. In this episode, she describes simple everyday ways that kindness unleashes our ‘littles…

In this episode of family360, award-winning creator of Easy Daysies, and mom of 3, Elaine Tan Comeau, tells the story of her stroke; how it happened, how she coped and how it changed her perspectives on caring for herself and her ‘running the show,’ at home and at work. The post Ep. 48 – Elaine & Ron Comeau – Mommy’s Had A Stroke: When Life Interru…

Picky eaters. Slow eaters. Messy eaters. Overeaters. With young children, mealtimes can feel more like endurance than enjoyment. Providing a healthy diet is one thing. Getting our kids to eat it is another. In this episode, Dr. Natasha Beck (aka Dr. Organic Mommy) offers 10 creative tips for healthy eating, that you can start implementing right awa…

Ninety percent of our values, attitudes, and beliefs are shaped before we are 7 years old – shaped but not set in stone. Where needed, we can re-parent ourselves and grow ourselves up to be the people and the parents we want to be. In this episode of family360, family therapist David Loyst shares how his childhood shaped his adult perspectives, and…

This episode is a popular repeat from season one of family360 and our first interview (of two so far) with Dr. Gordon Neufeld. In this episode, he identifies the six stages of attachment upon which a child builds their ongoing capacity for caring and for relationships. Dr. Neufeld is a world leader in child growth and development and attachment the…

This episode is from our 2019 conversation with Family Therapist Ted Leavitt. Ted describes his adult diagnosis of ADHD as a discovery that changed everything, including his personal perspectives and professional practices. Ted now focuses on removing distinctions between behavior problems and mental health problems, recognizing that children do we…

In this episode, Australian author, educator and host of ABC’s Parental As Anything podcast Maggie Dent, generously and humorously shares from her 3 decades as a parenting specialist. Maggie specializes in resilience training, particularly in the adolescent and early years. In this episode she explains, “Resilience isn’t a trait we are born with,” …