Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron artwork

Parenting · Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron

by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

You don’t snap at your kids because you’re a bad parent. You snap because your stress builds faster than your awareness, and no one ever taught you how to handle that. I’m Dr. Cindy Hovington, a mom of three with a doctorate in neuroscience and founder of Curious Neuron. I created The Reflective Parenting Podcast for parents who care deeply, know a lot, and still find themselves overwhelmed in the real moments. This is not a podcast where I tell you how to be a perfect parent. I’m in it with you. Each week, I invite you into my own reflections: what I’m learning from scientific articles and books,what I’m noticing in my nervous system and emotions,and what real parents and experts teach me in conversation. Together, we get curious about why we snap, shut down, or over-function in conflict, and what’s actually happening in our brain and body when we do. We talk about stress, shame, repair, boundaries, playfulness, and the quiet moments no one sees—so you can start to recognize your patterns and gently shift them. By listening, you’ll learn to: notice your stress and body signals earlier,understand the lenses and stories that intensify hard moments,regulate your nervous system when parenting feels like “too much”,and handle conflict with more calm, clarity, and repair.But more than that, you’ll have a companion in the work. I’ll share where I struggle, what I’m practicing, and how I’m trying to grow, so you don’t feel like the only parent who finds this hard. If you’re ready to move away from “perfect” parenting and toward reflective parenting—where every tough moment becomes data, not failure—pull up a chair.  Let’s learn, feel, and grow together. Find out which book I will be covering next month: https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/  Join the private group on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcast/ Start training your emotional awareness for FREE: https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2 Purchase my course The Emotionally Aware Parent. https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/ Follow us on Instagram @drcindyhovington or Facebook @curiousneuronparenting

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

How children learn to regulate emotions (and behaviours)

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents, In today's episode, we chat about The Tripartite Model of Parental Socialization! Yes, that's nerd talk for "How do ki

Oct 20
29 min

Am I doing too much for my child (and is it impacting their confidence)?

Send us Fan Mail As parents, we often step in to help our children because we love them and want to make life easier for them. However, when we constantly solve their pr

Oct 13
25 min

How understanding our nervous systems changes the way we parent | Laura Petix

Send us Fan Mail I'm joined by occupational therapist and author Laura Petix to celebrate the launch of her new book, The Sensory Code. Laura shares the moment she

Oct 6
56 min

How do we teach kids to think critically in a world full of misinformation?

Send us Fan Mail As parents, many of us want our children to do well in school, but what if one of the most important skills they need is not memorizing information, but

Sep 29
31 min

Am I Disciplining or Threatening My Child? What Science Says About Verbal Abuse

Send us Fan Mail I'm back with part two of the conversation sparked by my episode with Georgiana but this time digging into one of the most misunderstood words in p

Sep 22
31 min

The Difference Between Discipline and Punishment | Georgianna Karamitos

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Georgianna Karamitos — a lawyer, educator, trauma-informed conflict resolution practitioner, and children's book a

Sep 15
54 min

What if conflict were actually an invitation for intimacy?

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents, Ever feel stuck arguing about the same thing over and over with your partner? In this episode, I break down a key concept from th

Sep 8
22 min

Reflecting About the New School Year: Expectations, Slowing Down & Sparking Curiosity

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents! As we jump into a new school year, I wanted to take some time to pause with you and reflect on how we can make this year feel a l

Sep 1
29 min

Reflecting on how mental heath care is failing us all

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents,  In today's episode, I share my honest thoughts about mental health care and honestly, they are not that positive.  It&apo

Aug 25
25 min

Reflections on what we need to teach our kids about conflict (which also applies to adults)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on what it really means to teach children how to handle conflict. Drawing from my own experience coaching my seven- and nine-

Aug 18
17 min

Reflections on Conflict: What If Conflict Is Actually Healthy?

Send us Fan Mail What if conflict isn't something we need to avoid—but something we need to learn how to do? In this episode, I reflect on Brené Brown's idea

Aug 11
30 min

Reflections on Daring to Lead as a Parent

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and what it means to bring the principles of daring leadership into parenting. I explore how co

Aug 4
30 min

Reflections on resilience, freedom & identity from the book In Order to Live

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and the deep questions it raised for me about freedom, identity, resilience, and what it m

Jul 28
23 min

Reflections on loving more deeply and being present

Send us Fan Mail This week, I'm sharing six simple mantras from the book How to Love that made me stop, reflect, and think differently about the way I show up as a

Jul 21
18 min

Reflections on the Hidden Risks Inside Kids' Group Chats

Send us Fan Mail What does Toy Story 5 have to do with raising emotionally healthy kids?  Trigger warning: masturbation is mentioned in this episode.  Much more than I

Jul 14
31 min

3 reflections about how we take care of ourselves as parents

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many parents feel like they don't have time to take care of themselves? The answer isn't as simple as being busy. This week, we&ap

Jul 7
23 min

Reflections on Radicalization: Could It Happen to My Child?

Send us Fan Mail When we hear the word radicalization, we often think, "That could never happen to my family." But what if radicalization begins with something much more

Jun 30
38 min

3 reflections on how you experience unpleasant emotions

Send us Fan Mail How do you allow yourself to feel, experience and move past unpleasant emotions?  In this episode, I share how unpleasant emotions like worry, sadness,

Jun 23
23 min

3 reflections on what my grandma taught me about parenting

Send us Fan Mail This was a hard episode for me to record but I needed to honour my grandmother who passed away yesterday.  Today's reflections are:  Does my chil

Jun 16
26 min

3 reflections on self-love (and how this will nourish your happiness)

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are reflecting on our self-love. This week's reflections are: How do I nourish my happiness?Do I see my body and mind as my home?Ho

Jun 9
22 min

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I just found this podcast and gave it a chance while on a road trip, and I am so grateful and will now be following consistently. I have a three-year-old and in both doing my best to support and learn along the way, but also have a deep curiosity around the neuroscienceof everything so this is just the perfect additional tool in my toolbox and incredibly interesting, helpful, and relevant. I also completely appreciate the premise and the support as someone who never realized just how challenging it could be to regulate your emotions until reaching the three-year-old stage with a very strong willed child. Thank you so much and looking forward to learning more!

Arie1685 · Jun 2025

So thankful I found this podcast. I love that the focus is on me as the parent becoming a better person and less on how to parent my little one. I’m especially loving the move to reflective parenting and learning emotional regulation. I’m excited to learn this skill and become a better mama. Thank you for all you’re doing!

kcarter830 · May 2025

I love listening to this podcast. I learn so many useful things that I can use with my own children and with my students!

daydreamer22315 · Mar 2025

I am constantly referring to Cindy’s work and the work of her guests on the podcast. The guides, references, and books are instrumental in how I have changed my views, my thoughts, and my OWN emotional regulations….in hopes of advancing my children’s abilities to cope and become competent & confident in their lives going forward. HIGHLY recommend giving this podcast a listen & allowing this to begin to resonate in your own life as a parent:)

EWBH22 · Mar 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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