Are You Listening to Me? Meeting Your Child’s Needs

Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of its greatest challenges. It's rewarding, exhausting, heartwarming, frustrating, and sometimes all of those things before you've even had your first cup of coffee.Welcome to You're Doing It Right, the parenting podcast where science meets real life. Hosted by psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfer-Madsen, this is a judgment-free space for honest conversations about raising children in today's complex world.Across this 12-part series, we tackle the questions parents face every day, from sleep and behaviour to screen time, emotional regulation, family wellness, and mental health. Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, practical strategies, and real-life experiences to help you navigate parenting with greater confidence and less stress.What makes You're Doing It Right different? We bridge the gap between what science says and what actually works in real family life. You'll hear from leading researchers, clinicians, and specialists who translate evidence into actionable tools you can use immediately;without guilt, judgment, or unrealistic expectations.At the heart of this podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. Our promise is to provide trusted guidance, compassionate support, and practical takeaways that help you feel more informed, more connected, and more confident in your parenting journey.In this episode, Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Leanne Tomfohr Madsen explore a powerful shift in parenting: viewing children’s behavior as communication rather than defiance. When children struggle to express their emotions and needs with words, their actions often tell the story.The conversation covers how to recognize the needs underneath challenging behavior, when to seek additional support, and practical ways to create more connection, predictability, and cooperation at home. The hosts also discuss the importance of parental self-compassion and why strengthening the parent-child relationship is often the most effective foundation for behavior change.Key topics include:Behavior as communicationHow children express emotions and unmet needs through their actions.Recognizing underlying needsLooking beyond the behavior to understand what a child may be struggling with.The FIDO framework, using Frequency, Intensity, Duration, and Onset to assess when behaviors may warrant additional support.Practical parenting strategiesBuilding routines, providing clear expectations, setting boundaries, and using positive reinforcement effectively.Connection and one-on-one timeWhy child-led interactions can reduce conflict and strengthen relationships.Parental self-care and repairManaging stress, recovering from difficult moments, and modeling healthy relationships.Debunking common mythsWhy most challenging behaviors are not intentional attempts to be difficult, but reflections of complex developmental and emotional needs.Instead of asking “How do I stop this behavior?” try asking “What is my child trying to tell me?”Every episode of You're Doing It Right is built on one promise: to help you feel supported, informed, and empowered as a parent. Through expert insight, evidence-based strategies, and authentic conversations, you'll gain tools that support both your child's well-being and your own.Because parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're not alone.Subscribe now and join us each week as we explore the science, stories, and strategies that help families thrive, and remind parents everywhere that, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.About the hosts:Dr. Leslie RoosDr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba whose work is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families. As a clinician-scientist, she leads innovative research focused on expanding access to evidence-based mental health supports, particularly for families facing barriers to care. As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science, she is dedicated to ensuring that families can access high quality services through the public health system. Dr. Roos is the co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), a nationally recognized program that develops and evaluates digital mental health solutions for families. Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that help translate scientific knowledge into practical tools for everyday life. She is also the creator and co-developer of several evidence-based programs, including the BEAM program, which supports the mental health of both parents and children in an accessible App-based format with connection to peer coaches, parents, and resources in your community.A former Junior Fellow at Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, Dr. Roos has worked with organizations and communities around the world to strengthen family well-being through research, innovation, and implementation science. Her work is grounded in collaboration with families, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure that mental health supports are accessible, culturally responsive, and effective.Through her research, clinical expertise, and passion for knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos is committed to helping families thrive by turning the latest science into practical, compassionate strategies that support parents and children through every stage of development.Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-MadsenDr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families. She is the former Clinical Professor of Child Health Psychology through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the current Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity at the University of British Columbia. Her research examines the psychological and social factors that influence healthy development and family functioning, with a strong emphasis on creating practical, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for both parents and children.She is the co-lead of the Pregnancy During the Pandemic study, the largest longitudinal COVID-19 pregnancy cohort study in the world, which has provided critical insights into the mental health impacts of the pandemic on families. Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen also co-leads research on innovative digital mental health interventions, including the BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) program, designed to improve pare...