5 podcasts to rescue parents

Many parents are experiencing a secondary epidemic of burnout

After more than a year of juggling at-home schooling with remote work, parents are now welghing the risks of letting children return to school against the academic and mental health effects of keeping them home.

If you're one of the many parents struggling and could use a break, these podcasts will provide a sense of communityand useful tips for just about any parenting scenario.

But Why:A Podcast for Curious Kids

For overstretched parents, managing a barrage of "why" questions can become taxing pretty fast. Enter But Why. Each episode begins with a recording of a young listener asking a question like,"Who invented money?

or "Are seeds alive?" The host, Jane Lindholm, then answers these with the help of an expert in short, easily digestible chunks that will keep children entertained. 

Good Inside with Dr Becky

This parenting advice pod-cast by Dr Becky Kennedy, a clinica psychologist (and mother of three) focuses on challenging situations for example, when your child is lying, or rejecting you or showing aggression.

Kennedy's actionable solutions alway stake into account the psychology of both the child and the parents, making this a validating listen.

One Bad Mother

Beingamom can beisolating, painful and traumatic, particularly when itfeels like everybody else is effortlessly doing it right. Through candid conversations, One Bad Mother talks about how unnatural and imperfect motherhood often feels-and  how that takes nothing away from the joy of it. With more than 400 episodes, the show is an invaluable antidote to mom-shaming.

Smash, Boom, Best

Each Smash, Boom, Best episode begins with a simple question: Which of these two things is better? Chocolate or cheese? Bikes or skate boards? Invisibility or flying? Adult debaters argue their side to a panel of young judges, who then pass judgment on which is cooler. The formatofthis show helps children to learn how toargue respectfully and back up their opinions with facts.

Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

Early childhood educator Magda Gerber pioneered RIE parenting, which emphasises authentic communication, giving children space to play independently and treating them as autonomous. Former actress Janet Lansbury ex- plains how to use theseprinci ples tomeet theeveryday challenges of parenting.