THE CELEBRATE KIDS PODCAST

THE CELEBRATE KIDS PODCAST

Get the Latest from Dr. Kathy and Celebrate Kids Inc.

Every day we send emails and texts to guide, inspire, and encourage people to celebrate the kids in their lives. These are practical insights to build identity, reinforce our kids' smarts, and expound on the insights from Dr. Kathy and the staff at Celebrate Kids. It’s a free offering, thanks to a generous grant. Click the link below to join the movement of those who are celebrating kids in powerful ways.

Overwhelming The Voices Defining the “Anxious Generation”
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Overwhelming The Voices Defining the “Anxious Generation”

Parenting is an adventure, full of unexpected twists and sweet moments that make you laugh (or cry!) until your sides hurt. When we listen longer and affirm our kids’ worth for simply being who they are, we set them on a path of confidence and resilience. And trust me, you don’t need a grand speech or expensive gadgets to show them you care—just your genuine, engaged presence.

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Phones and Our Kids: Finding Hope and Fostering Growth
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Phones and Our Kids: Finding Hope and Fostering Growth

You’ve likely heard the headlines: smartphones can affect kids’ mental health and overall well-being. But don’t worry, this isn’t a doom-and-gloom post here. Let’s explore the good and the not-so-good and how we can guide our kids in a healthy relationship with their screens without sacrificing sanity.

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Navigating AI with Confidence and Connection: A Parent’s Guide
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Navigating AI with Confidence and Connection: A Parent’s Guide

Embracing AI doesn’t mean letting the bots do all the thinking for us. Instead, it’s an opportunity to help our kids develop sharper minds, stronger relationships, and deeper faith. As you guide your children through this high-tech terrain, remember to keep the big picture in view: our relationships matter more than any gadget, and God’s truth is always worth more than quick convenience.

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Finding Wonder and Focus: Encouraging Our Kids to Learn with Joy
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Finding Wonder and Focus: Encouraging Our Kids to Learn with Joy

Recent insights suggest that children can learn effectively while they’re in a state of awe and wonder—sometimes even more so than when they’re laser-focused on a single task. The trick is finding the balance between letting them roam freely in their imagination and giving them the skills to zero in on goals. Think of it like a dance: a graceful back-and-forth between structure and spontaneity.

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When Life Doesn’t Make Sense and Mental Health Isn’t Well
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

When Life Doesn’t Make Sense and Mental Health Isn’t Well

Have you ever felt like you’re balancing way more than you signed up for? Maybe taking care of little ones and also looking out for older relatives, all the while trying to keep your own health (mental and physical) in a good place? You’re not alone. It’s easy to feel like you should be in tip-top shape all the time, but let’s face it: life has its bumps, and sometimes those bumps are more like giant potholes. The good news? There’s hope and strength to be found in accepting that life can be tough, and that it’s okay not to be 100% all day, every day.

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Raising Kids Who Discern: Building Truth-Filled Media Habits, Strong Connections, and Lasting Faith
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Raising Kids Who Discern: Building Truth-Filled Media Habits, Strong Connections, and Lasting Faith

You’re parenting your child, not the concept of discernment. Every child is unique in how they process information; some love structured steps, and others thrive on a spark of creativity or an insightful discussion. By embracing these differences, you foster their strengths and equip them to tackle all the digital chaos around them confidently.

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When “Snow Days” Hit Your Rhythm, Protect the Disruption
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

When “Snow Days” Hit Your Rhythm, Protect the Disruption

Snow days, sunny days, or anything in between—every day can be a chance to help your children see more of Jesus. By protecting those sacred pockets of time where kids can simply wonder, imagine, and think deeply, you nurture a faith that isn’t just something they “do” on Sundays but something that shapes how they explore and understand the entire world. And in this journey, remember: you don’t need to be a perfect teacher—just a parent who loves their kids fiercely and seeks to point them to Christ at every turn.

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Nurturing a Lifelong Love of Learning
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Nurturing a Lifelong Love of Learning

Moments of joy and spontaneity do more than keep kids entertained as they're learning. Playfulness and Humor activate each child’s innate brilliance, fueling their desire to learn. Our own enthusiasm is the best invitation: when we model genuine excitement, our children can’t help but follow.

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Building Lasting Character in Our Kids
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Building Lasting Character in Our Kids

Parenting can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle, can’t it? We’re making countless decisions, everything from handling tantrums to choosing the right bedtime story. But through it all, one responsibility stands out: developing character in our children. Character isn’t just about teaching a set of good behaviors; it’s about shaping who our kids become at the core of their being. Let’s explore how to guide our children into a life marked by integrity, kindness, and resilience while having fun as the parent God’s calling you to be!

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Helping Our Kids Build Healthy Friendships
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Helping Our Kids Build Healthy Friendships

Whatever your approach—detailed planning, research-driven discussions, spontaneous adventures, or heart-to-heart conversations—know that each of us can offer something unique to our kids as they build friendships.

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Embracing the Joy of Kids
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Embracing the Joy of Kids

Celebrating a child’s life is about more than momentary happiness; it’s about guiding them toward a fuller understanding of love, purpose, and belonging. That’s the real beauty of this journey.

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Getting Kids To See Success
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Getting Kids To See Success

The “success sequence” isn’t just a statistic—it’s an invitation. It’s about giving your kids a map that works, showing them that stability isn’t boring, it’s empowering. So, go ahead. Start the conversations. Take the field trips. Eat the ice cream. And show your kids that they have what it takes to build a life they’ll be proud of—one step, one choice at a time.

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Talking to Kids in the Aftermath of Tragedy
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Talking to Kids in the Aftermath of Tragedy

Have you ever found yourself staring at your phone, jaw dropped, heart racing, as another tragic headline flashes across your screen? Maybe you’ve been mid-laundry-fold or waiting in the car line when the weight of the world just crashes down. It doesn’t take long for those headlines to turn into a question—How do I explain this to my kids? Should I even bring it up?

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Fact-to-Face with Character.ai and Artificial Friends
Wayne Stender Wayne Stender

Fact-to-Face with Character.ai and Artificial Friends

We’re at a crossroads. The tools of our time, artificial intelligence and social media, aren’t going away. They’re only growing in influence. If we don’t equip children with the ability to discern the good from the harmful—now, early—we’re setting them up to trust a world that doesn’t always have their back.

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