Is creativity something we should encourage or control? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the powerful role creativity plays in children’s development and why time in nature may be one of the most underutilized tools parents have. Drawing from research, real parenting questions, and a biblical vision of creativity rooted in God’s design, they unpack how imagination builds resilience, flexibility, and character, not chaos. From imaginary play and boredom to stress relief and problem-solving, this conversation reframes creativity as more than art projects or talent, it’s a vital part of how kids learn to engage the real world well. If you’ve ever wondered whether letting your kids roam, wonder, or “get creative” is helping or hurting them, this episode will bring clarity, encouragement, and practical wisdom for raising kids who are both grounded and imaginative.
Let Them Wander: Creativity, Resilience, and the Power of the Outdoors
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
Release Date: 01/09/2026
Redefining Success Before the World Does
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
For years, success has been measured by degrees earned, income achieved, titles held, and recognition gained. But what happens when those markers keep shifting, leaving people exhausted and unsatisfied? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch wrestle with a growing cultural question: If we don’t define success for our kids, who will, and will they like where it leads them? Drawing from a recent EdSurge reflection, the conversation explores how achievement based definitions of success often move the goalposts endlessly, leaving even high achievers feeling behind....
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When Good Things Take Over: Setting Wise Limits on Screens
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
As conversations about banning phones and curbing screen use grow louder, parents are left asking an honest question: Is technology the problem, or are we? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new legislative efforts around screen limits and use them as a springboard for a much more personal conversation about parenting and formation. Dr. Kathy reframes the issue with clarity and grace: technology itself isn’t the enemy, but when it becomes the primary way kids (and adults) cope with boredom or anxiety, something essential is lost. Parents are...
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Safe isn't the same as strong: Why kids need healthy risk
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch unpack a surprising trend from a recent CDC report: many traditional adolescent risk behaviors are declining, but anxiety and fear are rising. While this may sound like good news on the surface, the conversation asks a deeper question: What happens when kids don’t take the kinds of risks that help them grow? Dr. Kathy clarifies that this isn’t about encouraging dangerous behavior, but about restoring appropriate, guided risk, the kind that builds confidence, competence, humility, and resilience. From trying out...
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When Worry Turns Heavy: Guiding Kids Through Anxiety With Hope
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch respond to a heartbreaking moment from American Idol, where a song written in memory of a young girl lost to suicide brings renewed attention to bullying, social media pressure, anxiety, and teen mental health. While the story is tender and sobering, the conversation moves carefully toward clarity rather than fear. Dr. Kathy helps parents distinguish between being anxious, a normal human experience, and clinical anxiety, which often develops when kids don’t have the relationships or support to process worry well....
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Teaching Discernment, Not Fear: Helping Kids Face Controversial Figures
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
What should parents do when public figures stir strong reactions, confusion, anger, fear, or frustration? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore a real world case from England where a teacher faced disciplinary action after showing political footage to older teens. Rather than taking a political stance, the conversation turns to a deeper parenting question: should teenagers be introduced to people and ideas that feel troubling or controversial? Dr. Kathy explains why shielding kids from difficult figures doesn’t build maturity, but guided...
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Helping Kids Navigate Puberty With Confidence and Calm
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
Puberty can feel overwhelming for kids and parents alike. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research on pubertal self efficacy and why confidence, not avoidance, is key to helping kids navigate this critical season. Drawing from findings in the Journal of Adolescence, they discuss how teens who understand what’s happening in their bodies and emotions experience less anxiety and depression. Dr. Kathy explains self efficacy as the belief that “I can handle what’s being asked of me,” and shows parents how this confidence is built...
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Who Gets Close To Your Heart? Helping Kids Build Healthy Friendships
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
As Valentine’s Day approaches, emotions around friendship, belonging, and affection naturally rise, especially for kids. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch help parents use this season as a teaching moment, not just a holiday. Together, they unpack what true friendship really is and how it differs from casual relationships. They dive into why not everyone belongs in the same place in a child’s heart. Dr. Kathy introduces a simple yet powerful framework for understanding friendship levels, helping kids learn healthy boundaries and trust over...
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More Than Smart: Why Discernment Is the Goal of Education
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
Are our kids actually becoming less capable thinkers, and if so, why does that matter? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore growing concerns about children’s cognitive development, drawing on research from cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Together, they examine how increased screen use, especially in classrooms, may be reshaping how kids reason and learn. But this conversation goes deeper than test scores or IQ. Dr. Kathy reframes intellect as a muscle, one that fuels discernment, freedom, creativity, and wise decision...
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When School Pauses: What Snow Days Still Teach Our Kids
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
In this episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast, hosts discuss the impact of weather-related school cancellations, particularly snow days, on children's education and well-being. They reflect on how traditional snow days have shifted post-COVID, with many schools opting for remote learning instead of allowing kids a break from schoolwork. Dr. Kathy encourages listeners to use these moments of disruption to consider broader questions about the educational system and to explore opportunities for character development throughout a child’s schooling from preschool to grade 12. The segment aims to...
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When Help Becomes Harm: How Overparenting Undermines Resilience
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy
Are we helping our kids, or holding them back? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore the growing concern of overparenting and what truly drives it beneath the surface. Responding to research outlining common signs of overparenting, Dr. Kathy explains how fear and a parent’s need to look successful often lead us to correct too often and trust too little. Together, they unpack the difference between guidance and control, love and fear. Using the image of Peter stepping out of the boat, this conversation reframes parenting as staying close without...
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