Parenting Pickup Podcast
Support for Every Step of Parenting
At Open Arms, we believe caring for children means supporting parents too. That’s why we’ve created resources to answer questions, share expert advice, and keep families connected. Whether you’re looking for parenting tips, policy details, or everyday support, this page is here for you.
Episode 1 – Managing Meltdowns
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we recognize that meltdowns are a normal part of childhood. However, many parents find it challenging to respond effectively. To assist, we consulted with behavior and mental health expert Kate Wessinger, who provided valuable tips on managing tantrums with confidence and care.
Episode 2: New Siblings
Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center Mental Health Specialist, Amaad, shares essential steps to help your child adjust to a new sibling—both before and after the baby's arrival.
Episode 3: Conscious Discipline
Ali Hassan, Conscious Discipline Coordinator at Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, explains how teachers, parents, and children can incorporate conscious discipline daily. This self-regulation approach enhances social and emotional learning by improving the understanding of brain development, emotions, communication, and intelligence.
Episode 4: Raising Caring Children
Fatima from Doing Good Together emphasizes the importance of fostering kindness and compassion in children. She shares valuable insights, practical tips, and helpful resources to guide parents in instilling these essential character traits.
Episode 5: Picky Eaters
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we spoke with our food and nutrition expert, Aisha Rahman, to tackle a common concern—how to support children who are selective eaters. She shares valuable strategies and recommends helpful resources like My Plate and Solid Starts to promote healthy eating habits.
Episode 1 – Managing Hitting Behavior
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we understand that dealing with a child who hits can be frustrating and concerning. Many parents worry about what it means for their child’s development and their parenting. However, as Amanda Mason explains, the key is in how you respond and the steps you take to guide your child toward positive behavior.
Episode 2: Listening
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we recognize that being distracted while your child is talking can hinder effective communication. In this episode, MiaLisa from Doing Good Together joins us to discuss why it's essential to listen attentively, make eye contact, and give your child your full attention during conversations.
Episode 3: Importance of Play
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we believe in the power of unstructured play to foster a child’s growth. Play is essential for cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. In this episode, Sara Reichstadt from Kinderberry Hill discusses the importance of allowing children to explore, create, and discover without rigid rules, enabling their imagination and problem-solving skills to thrive.
Episode 1: Raising Inclusive Children
In the premiere of Season 3 at Childcare Center, we are joined by Dianne Haulcy, host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Early Riser’s podcast and CEO of The Family Partnership. Dianne, an expert in supporting families facing cycles of poverty, discusses the importance of early childhood education in addressing topics like racism, bias, culture, diversity, and inclusion.
Episode 2 – Navigating Quality Screen Time
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we understand that in today’s world, screens are unavoidable. With mobile phones, TVs in restaurants, and technology in schools, it's essential to ensure that the content children are exposed to is age-appropriate. In this episode, the Director and Development Researcher at Twin Cities PBS and TPT joins us to share expert advice on managing screen time. She discusses the impact of screen time on children's behavior, how to evaluate media content, and offers practical tips for promoting quality screen time.
Episode 4: 2025 in Children’s Health
At Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center, we understand that finding reliable health advice for your child can be overwhelming for many parents. To offer guidance, we spoke with Dr. Kelly Lemieux, Head of Pediatrics at Ridgeview Medical Center. In this episode, Dr. Lemieux shares her expertise on a range of topics, including childcare transitions, readiness, noise pollution, children's healthcare, and the long-term effects of the pandemic on children's development.
Khadijah Jameela Badr
Host
Khadijah Jameela Badr is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent Experiences at Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center. A proud mother of two energetic boys, Ben and Will, she loves cheering them on at snowboarding, skiing, and baseball events—or spending quality time playing board games and reading together. As a co-host of the Parenting Pickup Podcast, Khadijah is excited to share practical tips, insights, and advice to help parents on their child-rearing journey.
Yunus Qasim Bari
Producer
Yunus Qasim Bari is the Multimedia Marketing Specialist and Podcast Producer at Open Arms Early Education and Child Care Center. A filmmaker and photographer, Yunus is also a semi-pro runner (occasionally earning some extra cash for running gear and film equipment). He is passionate about commuanity activism in the Twin Cities, participating in run clubs and engaging with the local music scene. Motivated by exploring fundamental questions about human behavior, he believes working with children provides valuable insights into these areas.