Curious Neuron
Curious Neuron
Kids & Family Health & Fitness
Curious Neuron supports parents by offering scientifically-backed advice. Our host, Dr. Cindy Hovington is a mom of 3 with a doctorate degree in neuroscience. Join her every Monday as she chats with scientists, clinicians, parenting experts and everyday parents to bring all the info you need to make parenting decisions that meet both your needs and your child's. We cover topics around child development and wellness as well as parental mental health and behaviours. Join Curious Neuron on Instagram @curious_neuron for daily posts about your child's brain development and your mental health. If you have a child under the age of 12, subscribe to our podcast today!
00:31:22
In today’s episode, we are joined by Tracie, a speech-language pathologist.What a study found with regard to screen time and a child's cognitive abilities (link below) What is Tracie’s take on Cocomelon and how the ...
00:48:06
In today’s episode, we are joined by Chelsea Conaboy & Dr. Jodi Pawluski. We discuss all things parent brain - if you’re not sure what that is, this episode is for you.Why is it important to talk about the postpartum ...
00:50:24
In today’s episode, we are joined by Alanna Gallo, a former educator who sold all her stuff and travels with her 4 kids!3:30 - What did play look like when your children had a home base, compared to when you left to travel?...
28 February 2023
00:27:44
Hi friends! I received this question from a listener so I thought I would answer it in today's episode. This parent asked, "If my husband and I have been working hard to validate our 13-month-old feelings but our p...
20 February 2023
00:14:57
We all yell because...we are human. We have moments when we lose our cool and our kids can also have these moments. However, in today's episode, I would like to walk you through a process I did to control my own yelling...
13 February 2023
00:49:48
In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Abigail Gewirtz child psychologist and author of When the World Feels Like a Scary Place.3:22 - Are being worried and being anxious the same thing? How do you know it’s a problem to...
6 February 2023
00:49:32
In today’s episode, we are joined by Melinda Wenner Moyer, award-winning science journalist and author of How to raise kids who aren’t assholes.Here’s what we talked about:5:19 - What inspired the book9:31 - Why is your...
30 January 2023
00:17:41
Hi friends! In today's solo episode, I talk about a new habit I have been doing this year that has really brought me tons of joy. It only takes me 5 min per day! I have noticed a change in how I perceive difficult mome...
23 January 2023
01:25:28
In today’s episode (100th!!!) we are joined by co-host Claudia Belliveau and guest Dr. Bruce D Perry. Here’s what we talked about in this episode: 7:00 - How the brain is organized i.e. a layered cake13:23 - How to deal...
16 January 2023
00:56:17
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Julie Scorah a licensed neuropsychologist at McGill University. Julie practices as a clinician and is involved in research about how to make autism resources more accessible to the ...
9 January 2023
00:55:36
In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Cheng Qian, Stanford & Harvard trained Clinical Psychologist. We speak about all things difficult behaviors. Specifically Dr. Qian gives useful, effective and simple tips & tr...
00:22:39
Happy New Year Curious Neuron Parents! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. In today's episode, I reflect on some aspects of my holidays that you might have experienced and I share my 2023 goals. Here is what I chatted ...
00:51:41
Content warning: Sexual abuseWe need to talk about this. We need to learn how to protect our children from sexual predictors. I reached out to author Jayneen Sanders to learn more about what we can do to protect our kids. H...
19 December 2022
00:42:07
This is not your conventional toy and app review. I will name a few that I love (not sponsored), however, I want to give you a framework to help you choose them on your own!First, I review what play should look like in our ho...
15 December 2022
00:19:16
The word I would like you to remember today is "dysregulated". Is my child dysregulated? Am I dysregulated? How can I regulate my child? The reason why I am chatting about this in today's podcast is that I atte...
12 December 2022
00:42:16
Content warning: sexual violence, sex industry, difficult conversationsIn today’s episode we are joined by Sarah Jones, Tony winner writer, performer and director of Sell Buy Date. Sarah and I had very important and uncomfo...
8 December 2022
00:41:38
Perhaps you are looking forward to the holidays or perhaps you are not. Unwanted comments from family members judging how you are parenting your child, big emotions from your child because they are tired and overwhelmed, an...
5 December 2022
00:41:29
In today's episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, I chatted with Amira Allen, Ph.D. and visiting professor at Drake University along with 3 parents (2 moms and 1 dad). We discuss the research behind paid leave and the be...
00:15:51
In today's episode, I share the tough night I had with my 3-year-old as a reminder that kids can actually learn how to regulate their emotions but that they need our guidance and it comes in baby steps. My son wasn'...
28 November 2022
00:43:38
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Amy Morin, psychologist and author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Today we focus on how we as parents can be mentally strong. Being a parent is really hard, and sometim...
00:43:16
Hi friends! You don't want to miss this conversation I had with 2 dads. Both are following positive parenting and have been doing the work to do things differently than how they were raised. They touched on so many poi...
00:40:28
In today’s episode, we are joined by Emily Calandrelli from Emily’s Wonder Lab! Emily is an MIT engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host, producer, and Author. Like me, she was a first-generation university student,...
00:23:11
Parenting is hard…period. We all know this. We tell our friends too, yet when we are alone we are so hard on ourselves. Let’s bring back self-compassion. Maybe you messed up these past few years and yelled more than you...
01:00:40
In today’s episode, we meet with Bryana Kappadakunnel from @consciousmommy. We’re doing things a little differently this week: we’re covering the TOP 10 questions that parents ask me about their child’s behaviour. Tun...
10 November 2022
00:16:49
In today's solo episode, I discuss something I experienced after giving birth to my first child. I could not stop thinking about the fact that life isn't forever. Now that I had a baby and my life meant everything t...
00:32:34
In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Emily Coffey who researches music, language, sleep, and how it relates to neuroplasticity. Have you ever wondered if you should be signing your child up for music lessons? Or if your...
3 November 2022
00:14:10
Something happened with my 7-year that led me to re-evaluate what I was saying to her with regards to her needs and boundaries. I wanted to share this story with you in a quick podcast episode (it's about 10 min!). Perha...
31 October 2022
00:30:20
As new parents, we have tons of questions! My brother-in-law is expecting his new child and I asked him what his questions were. This podcast episode is dedicated to him and is for all parents expecting or with a child under ...
24 October 2022
00:59:34
Content warning: death, death of family members and pets, suicideIn today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Elena Lister and Dr. Michael Schwartzman authors of Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death and...
00:45:35
In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Simón Guendelman. We discuss what emotional regulation actually is, how self compassion can change your brain and parenting, and how scientists are studying this. This episode is a ...
10 October 2022
00:20:42
In today's solo episode, we discuss discipline and parenting styles and compare this to prison in Cyprus. This prison changed from a punitive system to a person-centred approach which brought the re-offending rate from o...
3 October 2022
00:24:49
In today's solo episode, I share what I saw on my family vacation at Walt Disney World. One child got spanked, one got kicked and one had water tossed onto their face. We need to rethink what discipline is as a society a...
26 September 2022
00:55:57
In today’s episode, we are joined by Jess and Nicole, early childhood educators who focus on the mindset around math. It is a very common problem that children and families struggle with both learning and teaching math.Join...
01:07:10
In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Sarah Bren, clinical psychologist and mom of 2. She gives us a whole new perspective on discipline, attachment and setting boundaries. Dr. Bren shows us the importance of disciplining...
00:54:14
In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Mona Delahooke, Ph.D. child psychologist to discuss reframing how you understand your child’s behavior – with curiosity and compassion. Learn why Dr. Delahooke believes self-comp...
29 August 2022
00:26:10
Transitioning into daycare can be stressful for both the parents and the child. In today's episode (the final episode of season 3!), I discuss the research around daycare transitions also known as the adaptation phase. I...
00:18:57
Anna Skates is taking over the Curious Neuron podcast! Anna shares her wisdom with us and teaches us 3 important tips that will help make transitions easier for our kids. Transitions are hard! When your child protests transit...
15 August 2022
00:22:16
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO screen time younger than 18 months and very little screen time (<1hr/day) from 18-24 months unless it’s video-chatting with family members. Have you ever wondered why?The ...
8 August 2022
00:29:28
Today's episode is a solo episode with Cindy Hovington, Ph.D. founder of Curious Neuron. With the new school year approaching, you might be wondering if your child is ready to either start school for the first time or to...
1 August 2022
00:56:13
Trigger warning: pregnancy loss In today’s episode we meet with parents Bret Shuford and Stephen Hanna, Broadway husbands, who started a family by choosing surrogacy. We start with learning a bit about the couple and how t...
00:54:41
In today’s episode, we chat with Susie Allison, M. Ed., a former teacher and creator of Busy Toddler (1.8 million followers!). We discuss boredom, what it is, why it’s important for our children’s development and how to...
18 July 2022
00:54:35
In today’s episode Dr. Rani Banik is here to discuss everything about the visual system and the brain. First, we focus on the development of the visual system, then speak about our children’s screen time and how to best i...
00:53:10
In today’s episode Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, registered psychologist, joins us to discuss aggressive behavior in children and how to mediate it. We discuss how to be curious about your child’s behavior – zooming out can be ...
4 July 2022
00:25:29
In today's episode, I unpack a viral post on social media stating that Cocomelon is addictive. I know I am covering screen time for a second week in a row but when I posted about screen time on Instagram and used Cocomel...
01:11:34
In today’s episode, we chat with Cheryl Gotthelf, educator by trade and TV child development consultant. Cheryl shares her years of experience in terms of deciding whether a show is developmentally appropriate for a child. ...
20 June 2022
00:28:30
3 tips or conversations I wish someone would have told me when I was expecting my first child. In today's episode, our host, Dr. Cindy Hovington, discusses some tips she wishes she would have received when she was expect...
13 June 2022
00:58:52
Trigger warning: physical and sexual abuseIn today’s episode, we speak with two dads and men's mental health advocates Emmanuel Flores and therapist Travis Goodman, LMFT. We cover so many important topics, I think this...
00:55:12
In today’s episode we chat with two experts about burnout. Dr. Jaclyn Margolis, PhD explains how to manage and prevent burnout in the workplace. Meanwhile Shelley Kemmerer, PA-C, sheds light on parental burnout and how to m...
30 May 2022
00:26:04
I think that being a parent is similar to being a CEO of a company. You need to be a great leader, you need to understand the members of your team and communicate goals and strategies you want them to execute. Listen to today...
00:50:25
Trigger warning: early life stress, child abuse, spousal abuse.In today’s episode, we speak to Dr. Erin Dunn, social and psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard University. We discuss the difference between stress, early life...
00:59:32
In today’s episode, we are joined by Julie Bogart, author of Raising Critical Thinkers and The Brave Learner. We all know the story of the three little pigs, but have you heard it from the wolf’s perspective? Every story ...
00:56:53
In today’s episode, we are joined by Megan Champion M. Ed. Teacher, and mother of 3. She shares with us her journey being a mother to a neurodivergent child and we learn the difference between tantrums and meltdowns and def...
00:19:50
In today's solo episode with Cindy, she helps you view your child's behavior in a way that will help you be more compassionate. It is easy to see whining, tantrums, hitting, yelling, and talking back as disruptive o...
00:53:22
In today’s episode, we chat with Alyson Schafer, one of Canada’s leading parenting experts. Have you ever heard of Adlerian or democratic parenting? If not, this episode will teach you all about Alfred Adler’s parenting...
01:27:25
What does "eat well" during pregnancy really mean? What is the difference between micro and macronutrients, and how to make sure my body is getting everything it needs to make sure my baby is developing well? What a...
11 April 2022
00:19:25
In today’s episode, I am solo and I discuss an article I found that explains how to teach children about gratitude. Reminding our children to say thank you when they receive a gift isn’t as impactful as we might think! We...
00:59:10
In today’s episode, we speak with Anna Skates, a child and family advocate, parent coach, and founder of Otterly. In a world where our kids are rarely considered, we need to take a step back and see them as human beings exp...
28 March 2022
00:53:55
In today's episode Dr. Michele Kambolis, mind-body specialist and author of When Women Rise, joins us to discuss how parents need to support themselves in order to take care of their children. Dr. Kambolis speaks about h...
21 March 2022
00:26:15
I know this is a topic that might cause some controversy, but I think this is an important one to have. When it comes to parenting, I always suggest we follow our gut and trust ourselves, however, given the strong evidence th...
14 March 2022
00:19:57
In today's episode, I discuss a conversation I had with my mother. She said that "our generation is too sensitive" when it comes to parenting. Let's just say that it was an interesting conversation! I thin...
01:10:59
Please Note: Today's podcast covers childhood trauma that may be difficult for some listeners. For today's episode, we are joined by Claudia Belliveau, a Ph.D. candidate, and researcher at McGill University in Montr...
28 February 2022
00:17:48
Happy Monday friends! In today's episode, I am offering you my best advice to help you manage your child's difficult behaviours. Whether it is hitting, biting, screaming, tantrums etc, my "Zoom out before zoomi...
21 February 2022
01:08:04
In today's episode, Dr. Mark Sabbagh joins us to discuss the Theory of Mind. He breaks down the Theory of Mind for parents and how we can see it develop within younger children. Dr. Sabbagh explains false beliefs and how...
14 February 2022
00:15:33
Happy Monday! Let's try something new today. Cindy unedited. I am not adding an intro song, not editing anything I say, and just chatting with you.In today's episode, I wanted to share my mental health journey after...
01:21:39
In today's episode, Dr. Nicole Beurkens joins us to chat about our children's nutrition and how it can influence their behavior. She reminds us about the importance of balance. We might worry about what our children...
27 January 2022
01:07:16
Does your child have meltdowns or struggles with getting dressed? Are they picky eaters or does their behavior change when they had too much screen time?In today's episode, we are talking with Laura Petix, an occupationa...
13 January 2022
01:29:30
In today's episode, we speak with neuroscientist Dr. Jodi Pawluski and chat about parental changes in the brain. Society uses the term "mom brain" to signify negative aspects of brain functioning, however, you ...
23 December 2021
01:13:21
Marion and Cindy are back and chatting about toys and play again! What does play look like in their homes? What do they bring with them during long car rides and at the doctor's office to keep their 3 kids busy? Which ...
01:23:11
In today’s episode, we are giving you TONS of tips to help you teach your child how to manage their emotions. Get ready to take some notes and to listen to this episode more than once! Dr. Tina Montreuil, psychologist and M...
25 November 2021
01:00:46
In today’s episode, I chat with Emmanuel, the founder of the Bronch Club and a dad of 2. He shares with us the trauma from his past and how this was having an impact on his life as a husband and a father. He discusses the i...
11 November 2021
01:01:10
Social skills take time to develop and children need our guidance. In today’s episode, Dr. Cara Goodwin explains how a child develops social skills as well as what to look for in children who might have social anxiety. Dr. ...
28 October 2021
00:59:14
In today’s episode, we chat with Ashleigh, a new mom that struggled with connecting with her baby. She walks us through her difficult pregnancy and sheds light on how we can support our partners and our friends after they h...
14 October 2021
01:34:35
In today’s episode, we discuss how to see, guide and trust our child with Mr. Chazz, an educator, and parent coach. We begin our conversation by discussing spanking and how we could be more mindful of these generational cyc...
30 September 2021
01:26:44
In today's episode, we chat with 2 moms who experienced trauma during pregnancy and during delivery. This is a new series we are launching called "Am I the only one?". Please note that this episode might be a t...
16 September 2021
00:50:15
In today’s episode, we chat with actor, director, producer, father, and author of Man Enough to discuss masculinity and fatherhood. We need to make it ok for our boys to express emotions and to be vulnerable. This starts wi...
00:37:31
Your child doesn't need all the best "educational toys" for their development and wellbeing. In fact, in this episode, we argue that you, the parent, are the best educational toy. Being present with our babies ...
3 July 2021
00:53:44
What questions should I ask myself to raise a more conscious human being? What if a family member is teaching my child values that I don't agree with? My child is older, is it too late to start having such conversations?...
00:46:20
Does anybody have an inner voice? What to do when your inner voice becomes a source of anxiety, rumination, and negativity? What strategies can we use to calm the negative inner chatter when we are in distress? How does a c...
01:03:25
What are executive functions skills, and how can parents support their child's executive skills development? How to identify a problem in your child's executive skills development? How can you help them overcome cha...
01:20:10
How do we teach body safety and consent to young children? How soon should we start? How to find the balance between teaching socially expected physical interactions while respecting the child's right to consent? How do ...
00:30:01
Have you asked yourself how you are doing today? Have your doctor asked about your mental health during your baby check-ups? How do you know if your mood is being affected by the pregnancy/postpartum hormone changes, or if wh...
01:35:34
What does "eat well" during pregnancy really mean? What is the difference between micro and macronutrients, and how to make sure my body is getting everything it needs to make sure my baby is developing well? What a...
14 May 2021
00:29:31
In this episode, Marion shares what it’s like to be a neuroscientist studying developmental neuroplasticity. She obtained her Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from McGill University and is currently a postdoc researcher at the Mon...
00:33:33
We are re-launching the Curious Neuron Podcast! New episodes every Friday! We will keep them short and sweet because we know you are short on time. We will return our focus to summarizing research focused on parenting and chi...
01:11:17
Which type of parenting do you follow? Positive parenting, conscious parenting, attachment parenting, authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting...is your head spinning yet? There are many types of parenting described o...
25 March 2021
00:42:34
This past week, we hit the 1-year mark for the pandemic. It has been a long and difficult year for many parents. Many are exhausted and overwhelmed with having to balance so much every single day without getting a break. This...
28 February 2021
00:54:59
Our automatic response to our child acting out or having a tantrum might be to yell. Then, we fall into a cycle of guilt and tell ourselves that we won’t do it again. Hello spilled milk and cue yelling! Sound familiar? The...
5 February 2021
01:27:00
If we want to learn more about people we share this planet with, we need to start listening to each other. Whether it is mental health or Autism, our journey to reduce stigma around these starts by listening to those who are ...
01:19:19
Have you ever wondered, “How do I know if I am providing secure attachment?”. This episode is for you if you have ever asked yourself, “Why does my child cry when I leave?” or “Am I giving her too much attention?...
00:57:14
In today’s episode we discuss the connection between our brain and our gut. Have you ever had a “gut feeling” or butterflies in your stomach? Ever had an upset stomach when you were nervous? There really is a connection...
17 December 2020
00:53:25
In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Suzanne King, a scientific researcher from McGill University in Montreal. We discussed stress during pregnancy. Given the pandemic, many expecting moms might be go...
3 December 2020
00:53:59
In today’s episode, I chat with Jen about homeschooling. Many of us have been homeschooling our children because of Covid. We might have the idea that homeschooling means sitting at a desk for hours and hours on end. We mig...
17 September 2020
01:15:25
(missing intro from previous version has been added!)When we think of disciplining our children, we often think of punishing them for their bad behavior. However, this doesn't teach our child what to do when they are fru...
14 July 2020
00:43:35
Fathers play an important role in a child’s development. Some are similar to a mother’s such that research shows that when a father is sensitive to their child’s needs, it helps a child build their emotional skills and ...
11 June 2020
00:41:26
Boundaries (also called limits or rules) are more important than we might think. They give children a sense of security, even if might think so given that they love to push boundaries! In today’s episode, I chat with Jess, ...
29 May 2020
00:58:03
Is your child about to start Kindergarten? Have you ever wondered if they are ready to begin school? Which skills do they need to succeed not only in Kindergarten, but throughout their academic life? This week’s guest is Re...
14 May 2020
01:02:57
In today’s episode, we are talking about motor milestones in babies! Why is tummy time important? Why is it important for a baby not to skip crawling? What are some head-shape abnormalities? When should a baby start turning...
29 April 2020
01:06:10
In today’s episode, we talk about play! There are so many opportunities for play with items around our home and Emma from @play_at_home_mummy has an Instagram account that beautifully illustrates this. We chat about setti...
01:01:00
In today’s episode, I chat with Jenny and Carrie about their advice to new parents. We talk about the importance of a stimulating environment, which doesn’t mean having a lot around your baby, but rather being present, ge...
00:54:51
In this episode, we discuss childhood anxiety. How do we differentiate between worry and symptoms of anxiety in a child? Symptoms of childhood anxiety can often manifest as challenging behavior or tantrums in young children. ...
15 March 2020
00:56:04
When we hear the term “positive reinforcement” we might get an image of giving a child candy or chocolate to get them to do what we want them to. However, in this episode, Courtney, a behavior analyst, explains that there...
27 February 2020
00:52:43
As parents, we can feel triggered by our baby crying for long periods of time, by our toddler acting out or by our 5-year-old ignoring us. We can’t control if and when a trigger will happen, but we can control how we react ...
00:44:14
In episode 5, we focused on understanding when it might be the right time to have your child evaluated for ADHD. In this episode, we focus on "after the diagnosis". How can a child better manage their symptoms in th...
28 January 2020
00:36:17
Part 1: Please note that this episode on ADHD has 2 parts. In today's episode, I discuss ADHD with my guest, Dr. Audrey Benoit. Is your child showing signs of ADHD or do they simply struggle with inattention? What are so...
13 January 2020
00:25:36
If your child struggles with playing on their own, this episode will guide you on how to teach them this skill. Thank you to Jacinth, a parenting coach from Singapore and the founder of https://ourlittleplaynest.com/ and @our...
18 December 2019
00:19:20
Can learning more than 1 language cause delays in a baby's first words? Will raising a bilingual child help them when they start school? What are some myths around bilingualism? In today’s episode, we will chat with a ...
22 November 2019
00:18:39
According to science, what are some strategies we can implement when it comes to helping our children learn to control their emotions (emotion regulation) and minimize their emotional outbursts/tantrums? Follow us on Instagra...
13 November 2019
00:37:47
Why is it important (according to science) to minimize screen time in children under the age of 5 and what can we do to replace screen time? In this episode, Dr. Kennedy and I chat about screen time and brain development in y...
13 November 2019
00:01:15
The Curious Neuron podcast is an extension of our website. We provide science-backed information related to child development and education. Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can listen ...
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