Brain Based Parenting
Brain Based Parenting, The Boys Ranch Podcast for families.
We all know how hard being a parent is, and sometimes it feels like there are no good answers to the difficult questions families have when their kids are struggling.
Our goal each week will be to try and answer some of those tough questions utilizing the knowledge, experience, and professional training Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch has to offer.
Contact us: email
podcasts@calfarley.org
To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T
To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/
For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/
Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402
Episodes
122 episodes
How Routine, and Clear Expectations, Turn Chores Into Life Skills
What if chores weren’t a battle but a doorway to belonging, responsibility, and real-world readiness? We sat down with residential care pros and veteran house parents to talk about turning “do your chores” into a family culture where kids feel ...
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31:42
How Sensory Input Shapes Behavior, Learning, And Emotions In Children
We unpack how sensory integration shapes behavior, learning, and emotions, and why kids may react so strongly to noise, textures, or crowds. We share practical tools to reduce overload, build routines, and guide kids toward regulation, curiosit...
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29:49
Counter Aggression: How Power Struggles Break Relationships And What To Do Instead
Ever feel the urge to “match” your child’s intensity and show who’s in charge? That reflex has a name—counteraggression—and it’s quietly wrecking connection at home. We unpack why power struggles feel so tempting, how mirror neurons pull us int...
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46:28
25 Brain-Based Parenting Essentials to Kick Off 2026
Kick off the year 2026 with 25 Parenting tips to start you our on the right foot
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18:25
Creating Calm Part 2: Practical Tools For Anxious Kids
Predictability isn’t boring when you’re raising an anxious or easily overwhelmed child—it’s a lifeline. We walk through how structure lowers the brain’s threat response, why surprises often backfire for kids with trauma histories, and how to bu...
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21:46
The Brain Based Parenting Christmas Special!!!!
It's the Boys Ranch Christmas Special!!!We swap carols, movies, and traditions while tracing why Christmas music unites people and how simple rituals build belonging for families and kids at Boys Ranch. Stories of Santa surprises, caroli...
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21:56
Creating Calm Part 1: Regulate First, Reason Later
We unpack how regulation, not compliance, drives real change and why the brain’s state decides whether a child can listen, connect, and learn. We share tools for co-regulation, decode hyperarousal and dissociation, and show how to move from cha...
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31:42
Confidence, Competence, And The Power Of Real-World Practice
We unpack how confidence is the courage to use a skill and competence is the skill itself, then show how kids develop both through safe struggle, real responsibility and calm, consistent coaching. Stories from home, school and sports illustrate...
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44:14
Help!!!! My Kid Won't Get Off Their Phone: Simple Strategies To Get Your Kids More Active
We explore how everyday movement regulates kids’ brains, lifts moods, and strengthens family bonds, then trade practical ways to make activity normal, fun, and realistic. From garage gyms to free play and turkey trots, we show how tiny steps be...
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30:10
Help!!! My Child Is a Picky Eater!! Simple Strategies to Transform Your Family's Eating Habits
Busy nights don’t have to end with a drive-thru bag on the passenger seat. We unpack how real families build healthier routines without turning dinner into a daily fight. From the science of why protein steadies energy and behavior to the sneak...
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29:03
If Lectures Worked, Teenagers Would Love Them
Hard talks don’t have to feel like walking into a storm. Today we will unpack how parents can build trust early, stay steady under pressure, and guide kids through topics like death, sex, bullying, and mental health without shutting...
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24:56
Family Calendars: Building Routines Kids Trust
Chaos fades when the calendar leads. We sit down to unpack how predictable routines help kids feel safe, lower tantrums, and give parents room to breathe. From morning transitions to bedtime wind‑downs, we map out the small habits that make day...
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31:40
Understanding Kids’ Triggers And Building Calmer Homes
We show how naming triggers turns chaos into connection and why front loading, choice, and curiosity help kids and parents regulate. Real stories illustrate hidden triggers, values clashes, and how to repair with grace after hard moments.
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40:20
How Community Service Builds Kinder, Stronger Kids: Building Gratitude, Empathy, and Real-World Skills
Want your child to trade boredom and entitlement for empathy, confidence, and real-world skills? We unpack how consistent, hands-on service can flip that switch. We dive into why serving others accelerates brain development from se...
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35:31
Five Practical Ways To Improve Your Family Life Today!!!!
Feeling overloaded by family logistics and daily meltdowns? We brought together our counseling, training, clinical, and campus life team to share five brain-based strategies that bring calm, clarity, and connection without adding more stress. Y...
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31:16
Parent Traps- How Inconsistency Shapes A Child’s Behavior
We end our Parent Trap series by unpacking mixed style parenting—why inconsistency breeds anxiety and mistrust, and how to replace it with steady, human follow-through. We map the biggest traps and share simple, repeatable steps for alignment a...
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17:38
Parent Traps- From Control to Connection: Rethinking “Because I Said So”
Ever feel the pull toward “because I said so” when everything is spinning? We take a hard, honest look at authoritarian parenting traps—how they work, why they’re tempting, and what they cost. We unpack the drill sergeant mindset, Sunday Best p...
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41:30
Parent Traps- When Love Needs Limits: Nurturing Without Caving.
We explore the hidden costs of permissive parenting and how clear, calm boundaries increase safety, confidence and connection. Six common traps are unpacked with simple ways to reset routines, share the “why” behind rules and hold the line with...
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55:49
Parent Traps-The Pitfalls of Lawnmower Parenting
The path to raising capable, resilient adults is paved with skinned knees, spilled milk, and valuable life lessons. But for many modern parents, the urge to protect our children from every discomfort has created a dangerous parenting trend: law...
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42:44
When Screens Replace Reality: Navigating Technology's Impact on Family Life
We explore the complex relationship between technology and family life, examining how excessive screen time affects children's emotional regulation, mental health, and relationships.
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32:06
Fostering Healthy Digital Habits in Families: The Positive Side of Technology
The Brain-Based Parenting team explores how technology can positively impact families when used with intention and appropriate boundaries. Technology, when used wisely, can be a powerful tool for families. Instant access to informa...
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26:05
Brain Builders: Adventure- The Joy of Unstructured Play
Adventure helps children grow in confidence, creativity, and joy, but it requires a balance between safety and freedom. Kids need a secure foundation and supportive adults to feel safe exploring beyond their comfort zones. Real adventure happen...
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25:48
Brain Builders: Purpose- How Purpose Shapes Young Lives
Helping children discover a sense of purpose gives them direction, motivation, and a connection to something greater than themselves. It boosts mood, energy, and motivation, especially when they contribute meaningfully to their community....
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21:51