First Answers

Now it's time for the good things parents can do to lead happy and successful families. Learn what happens in most successful families where children are happy and family relationships endure over time. We talk about how parent leadership begins with a strong marriage relationship, or consistency and reliability for single parents, and how to adapt these leadership practices in different family situations. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

The things we do in our families—good or bad—tend to last. In this episode, we discuss the definitive qualities of families, such as how they change over time and how families have their own characteristics. This is why it's important that parents adapt over time to meet their family's needs and be proactive about the characteristics they want their family to have. Then we talk about specific forms of dysfunction and bad leadership that harm children, such as volatile anger, lack of parental agreement, hypocrisy, etc. In Part 3, we'll discuss how parents can avoid these harmful behaviors and create happy families with good leadership. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

We're living in a time where many families are not intact, don't have a vision, and/or are not organized to promote the growth and development of children. But families need leadership. Learn more about the consequences when families do not have good leadership and what parents can do to apply it as well as teach it in their families so it will help their families now and continue in future generations too. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

Cooperation is another skill we're seeing less of in society today. More than just helping people, it's working together with others toward a common goal. Signs that cooperation is dwindling include the rise in bullying, feelings of loneliness, and the number of children isolating themselves on screens. Learn about the consequences when kids don't learn this skill and what parents can do to encourage more cooperation in their families. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

Curiosity and creativity are vital skills for understanding our individual identities and learning about the world around us. Causes can vary between too much screentime or fear of failure or even overscheduling and fear of boredom. Children may be missing out on developing much-needed learning and emotional skills. Learn some things parents can do to encourage more curiosity and creativity in their children. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

Families seem busier and busier these days with work or sports or other activities—sometimes out of need and sometimes by choice. Parents should carefully weigh the costs of being away from their children for so many hours, how much downtime children actually have, and whether the outcomes they're hoping for can realistically be achieved by keeping such a busy schedule. Learn what parents can do to protect the time they do have together as a family and more about the vital free time and emotional connections they need to make sure are happening. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

There are many types of anxiety children face today, and often parents misinterpret anxious behavior as misbehavior or disobedience. Learn about the different types and how they might show up and what parents can do to calm the anxiety and find solutions. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

Social anxiety is one of the most rapidly increasing emotional problems in childhood, and it has significant consequences for kids and families. Since it is relatively new to many parents, they might not know what to do about it, which often causes the anxiety to spread to other areas. Learn about some possible causes of the problem, consequences, and then solutions for families. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

Another risk on the rise, entitlement can affect children personally and, if unchecked, will eventually affect how they view themselves, other people, and their relationships. One challenge is that many trends in our culture seem to encourage entitlement, so modern parents need to be especially watchful. Learn the causes of this behavior and what parents can do to teach something better. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.

We continue our discussion about violence, specifically focusing on family violence and how it can influence children's ideas of safety, power, and healthy relationships for a long time. Families should be safe and loving environments, and when they're not, it dramatically increases the impact of anything negative. Learn more about the types of violence that can occur and some preventative measures and possible solutions for families. Visit FirstAnswers.com to find answers for 21st-century parents and more about the podcast.