Podcast
Simply Jewish Parenting
Hosted by Adina Soclof · ENGLISH
Practical Jewish parenting tips for raising resilient, grateful, value-driven children in today’s world.
Welcome to Simply Jewish Parenting — practical guidance for raising confident, resilient, values-driven Jewish kids. Hosted by Adina Soclof, Parent Educator, Speech Pathologist, and founder of ParentingSimply.com, this channel helps parents build calm homes, strong character, gratitude, emotional intelligence, and Jewish connection.
Expect short, research-based episodes on real parenting challenges: tantrums, entitlement, sibling conflict, screen time, teens pulling away, and holiday overwhelm. Learn how Jewish wisdom, rituals, Shabbat, blessings, Modeh Ani, and traditions can make parenting easier, not harder.
Adina has taught thousands of parents and professionals and is the author of Parenting Simply: Preparing Kids for Life. Join a community that understands your struggles and equips you with language, tools, and compassion.
Subscribe for Jewish parenting tips, behavior insights, family communication skills, and encouragement—because parenting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Packing A Social Toolbox For Camp
1w ago00:05:18Tap to summarizeCamp is packed with little social landmines that adults forget are even there. Where can I sit? Can I touch someone’s stuff? How do I join a game without getting shut down? If your child is heading to summer camp and you’re worried they might feel overwhelmed, I share a simple way to prepare them for what camp really demands: the hidden rules.We talk through practical camp readiness skills that help kids feel steady fast, including personal space, respecting belongings, staying with the group, following directions, hygiene, and handling homesickness. For kids with social challenges, ADHD, executive function struggles, or communication differences, we get extra concrete: practice conversations and quick role-plays like “Can I sit here?” “Can I play too?” and “Can I help?” These tiny scripts can prevent big blowups and make friendship moments feel doable.We also cover an essential pre-camp topic many parents avoid: personal safety. I explain how to keep the conversation age-appropriate and calm while still being clear about body safety rules, okay touch vs not okay touch, and why kids never need to keep secrets about uncomfortable situations. You’ll also hear where to find trusted resources designed for our community.If you want your kid to pack more than socks and toiletries, this is your reminder to pack their social toolbox too. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s sending a child to camp, and leave a review so more families can find these summer camp parenting tips.
Transcribe →What Kids Learn When We Praise Dad Out Loud
2w ago00:05:34Tap to summarizeWe talk about fathers as active, essential parents and why the “clueless dad” storyline in books, media, and jokes quietly shapes what kids believe. We share what research says about father involvement and a simple daily practice that helps kids see and value their relationship with their dad. • noticing how dads get portrayed as incompetent in everyday media • why repetition of “dad jokes” can shape children’s beliefs about family roles • research links between involved fathers and academic success, behavior, and emotional regulation • how everyday moments build emotional safety over time • choosing balanced language that shows respect without pretending parents are perfect • using “name the positive” once a day with specific, real examples
Transcribe →How To Get More Cooperation By Offering Real Choices
3w ago00:08:52Tap to summarizePower struggles usually aren’t about shoes, shirts, or toothbrushing. They’re about control. Kids crave autonomy, parents have to keep structure and safety, and that gap can turn everyday routines into arguments. We walk through one of the most effective parenting tools for closing that gap: giving children real choices that protect your boundary while letting your child feel capable and in charge of themselves.We talk about why the need for independence starts early (hello, “terrible twos”) and how reframing that stage as healthy development changes the way you respond. Then we get practical with scripts you can use right away: “Sneakers or sandals?” “Red shirt or blue shirt?” “Brush teeth before pajamas or after?” We also call out the common mistake of fake choices that are really threats, and why they tend to increase resistance instead of cooperation. If you want an easy way to reduce defiant behavior, lower anxiety, and build decision-making skills, this is a simple habit that pays off fast.We also dig into the deeper benefit behind the phrase “you have a choice”: self-efficacy. When kids get repeated, age-appropriate chances to choose and experience outcomes, they build the belief that they can handle hard moments and bounce back from stress. We share how to keep the tone playful for younger kids, how to shift it for older kids and teens, and a small weekly challenge to start with one daily struggle and turn one command into two positive options.If this helps, subscribe for more practical parenting strategies, share the episode with a friend who’s stuck in power struggles, and leave a review so more parents can find us. What’s the one routine you want to turn into a choice this week?
Transcribe →How Chores Build Responsible Kids In Real Life
4w ago00:07:32Tap to summarizeYou know the moment: you ask your kid to clear the table, put away toys, or help with laundry and after the fifth reminder you think, “It’s faster if I do it myself.” I’m Adina Sakloff, and I’m pulling apart why chores feel so loaded and how we can stop turning everyday help into a constant power struggle.Chores are not really about a clean house. They’re about raising capable children who understand they belong, they matter, and they contribute. I connect the dots between family responsibilities and the values we want to teach in Jewish homes: community, kindness, responsibility, and showing up for something bigger than ourselves. I also share an easy-to-miss benefit: chores can become real connection time, because kids often open up when we’re doing something side by side with busy hands.You’ll get practical, realistic strategies for getting cooperation without nagging: choosing age-appropriate chores, modeling what “clean your room” actually means, breaking tasks into small steps, and praising effort instead of perfection. We’ll talk about better communication, including I-statements, giving simple choices like “cups or forks,” and problem-solving together so kids have buy-in. And because resistance is normal, I share playful ways to reset the tone with timers, music, and small wins that build momentum.Try the one-small-job challenge this week and watch what changes. Subscribe for more parenting tools, share this with a friend who is tired of repeating themselves, and leave a review so more parents can find the show.
Transcribe →How Jewish Parents Build Respectful Kids
May 2600:05:51Tap to summarizeRespect can feel like a constant battle at home, but we’ve learned something that flips the whole dynamic: respect is not mainly for us as parents. It’s for our children. When kids experience respectful authority, they feel secure and steady, and that security becomes the foundation for how they treat teachers, friends, future partners, and everyone they meet.We get practical about what “teaching respect” actually looks like day to day. We talk about why respectful speech is one of the strongest parenting tools you have, and why it doesn’t weaken your authority at all. Then we move into concrete ways to show respect that kids can feel: taking their interests seriously (even the obscure ones), accepting big feelings over small things without giving in, and making room for a child or teen to have a different opinion while still holding family boundaries.We also dig into respecting children’s time, including play for younger kids and real downtime for teens, and we share language you can use that lowers defensiveness fast, like asking, “Will that work for you?” Finally, we touch on Jewish wisdom around correction and discipline: rebuke calmly, privately, and never with humiliation, so your child can keep their dignity and still learn. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find the show.
Transcribe →Shavuot Parenting: Teaching Honor Without Power Struggles
May 1900:03:49Tap to summarizeIf your child’s tone is getting sharper and you feel like you’re negotiating every basic request, this conversation offers a calm reset. We take Shavuot as a launching point, focusing on kibbud av va’em (honoring parents) and what it means for real life Jewish parenting when you want respectful kids without turning your home into a battleground. We dig into a core idea that often gets missed: teaching respect is not about feeding our ego. Kids actually do better when we’re willing to be in charge not harsh, not controlling, but steady, clear, and comfortable being the parent. When we over-explain, bargain, or ask instead of tell because we’re afraid of seeming “mean,” we accidentally train kids to treat us like their assistants. Respectful homes come from parents acting like parents, holding authority with warmth, and keeping boundaries without drama. You’ll also get a simple, practical tool to try this week: choose one sentence you’ll use every time your child speaks disrespectfully, like “I want to hear you, let’s be respectful,” or “Can we start over?” Said calmly and consistently, it changes the tone of the home over time. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more parents can find the podcast.
Transcribe →Simple Self Care For Moms
May 1200:02:42Tap to summarizeWe share three simple self-care habits that help moms stay calmer, more patient, and more grounded when parenting gets messy. We focus on changing self-talk after mistakes, setting respectful boundaries with kids, and using one small treat plus one practical task to shift the tone of the whole day. • talking to ourselves like we would talk to a friend after a mistake • allowing children’s feelings while requiring respectful speech • using a calm script to reset backtalk without yelling • choosing one indulgent action and one practical action for real-life self-care • keeping the daily takeaway small enough to actually do If this episode spoke to you, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at asockloath at parentingsimply.com with your questions, your parenting struggles, or even topics you'd love for me to cover on a future episode. And if this podcast is helpful to you, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews help parents find the podcast and they really do make a difference. You could also share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it today.
Transcribe →Let Go Of Perfect Mothering
May 500:04:03Tap to summarizeMotherhood can feel like an endless test you never signed up for and Mother’s Day can turn the pressure up even more. I want to offer something kinder and more useful: a set of small, practical shifts that make family life more meaningful, more manageable, and a lot more real, without asking you to become a brand-new person by tomorrow.We talk about letting go of perfect mothering and naming the truth that no mom stays patient all the time and no child is perfectly behaved either. From there, we get practical: using gratitude to change the atmosphere at home, delegating so you are not carrying the whole household alone, and holding a quick family meeting so everyone shares responsibility. We also dig into “setting the tone” and how tiny moments like a warm voice, a smile, a kiss goodbye, or a heartfelt welcome home can shape the emotional climate your kids grow up in.Then we go where many parenting conversations forget to go: your needs matter. I share simple scripts for healthy boundaries, like eating your meal before jumping in, and why that kind of self-care is powerful role modeling for children. We close with a reminder that joy is not frivolous, it restores us and sometimes the most Jewish, most human thing you can do is play, move, and breathe again.If this helped, subscribe to Simply Jewish Parenting, share it with a friend who needs a lighter day, and leave a review so more parents can find us. What is the one small change you are going to try this week?
Transcribe →Sibling Rivalry Reset
Apr 2800:04:57Tap to summarizeThe fighting starts over nothing, then suddenly you’re refereeing a full-blown sibling war. We get it. Sibling rivalry can be one of the most draining parts of parenting, and it can leave you wondering whether you’re doing something wrong. We take a different approach: we normalize sibling conflict while giving you practical, simple tools that lower the heat and help your kids feel safer with each other.We walk through five realistic strategies you can use right away to reduce sibling fighting at home. We talk about why it matters to notice each child’s uniqueness, how small moments of appreciation can reduce jealousy, and why comparisons are so painful even when they sound “positive.” We also share cleaner, more helpful phrases you can say in the moment so you don’t accidentally put your kids in competition for your approval.We dig into two common flashpoints: competition and sharing. We explain how playful racing and “winner/loser” talk can quietly fuel rivalry, and how to keep the same energy while shifting it into teamwork. Then we reframe sharing with more empathy, including language that acknowledges how hard it is and builds confidence instead of shame. We close with a powerful idea about helping each child feel chosen and that they belong, plus a one-minute daily connection practice that can change the tone of your whole home over time. If this helped, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more parents can find practical support.
Transcribe →Letting Go Of Perfect Parenting For Good
Apr 2100:06:16Tap to summarizeThat quiet question many parents carry, “Am I doing this right?” can haunt even the most loving home. We’re pulling that fear into the open and untangling why “perfect parenting” feels so required, especially for mothers, and why that pressure often makes us more anxious, more self-critical, and less present with our kids.We talk through three practical mindset shifts that help you move from perfectionism to steadier confidence. First, we normalize what family life actually looks like: messy homes, sibling fights, tantrums, moody teens, and days where everything feels off. Then we shift the spotlight away from the moments you wish you handled better and toward the dozens of small loving actions that build a family. If you struggle with mom guilt, parenting anxiety, or feeling like you’re failing, this reframing can change how you experience your day.We also dig into gratitude as a real parenting tool, not a cliché. Gratitude softens the edges, helps you notice what’s good, and makes room for connection even when nothing is perfect. You’ll leave with one simple daily practice: name three things you did right as a parent, especially the tiny ones, and watch what it does to your confidence over time.If you have a question or situation you want us to address, email asockloth@parentingsimply.com. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a review so more parents can find support.
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