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 time. The conversation also explores why self respect is essential for meaningful relationships, why kids must know their own God-given worth before they can love others well. Rooted in Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves, this episode equips parents to guide children through affection, disappointment, conflict, and connection with wisdom, clarity, and grace, shining a steady light through the emotional complexities that Valentine's season can bring.

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 making. They discuss why intelligence must be understood locally and relationally, not just nationally or digitally, and how parents can nurture thinking hearts by inviting kids into conversation, problem solving, boredom, and responsibility. Grounded in Solomon's prayer for a discerning heart, this episode reminds parents that raising intellectually capable kids isn't about academic pressure; it's about forming wise, free people who can love God with their minds and live faithfully in the world they're called to serve.

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 provide encouragement and insight into making the most of unexpected school closures.

For more on the Christian boarding high school that incorporates discipleship and mentorship into a classical approach to education that Wayne mentioned in the show, visit www.gohillcrest.com

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 stepping in too soon, allowing kids to struggle, learn, and grow while knowing help is available. For parents who feel exhausted or unsure where the line is, this episode offers reassurance and a clearer vision: raising capable, resilient kids by learning when to step back rather than step in.

Why are teens and young adults suddenly drawn to reading, crocheting, sewing, walking, and other so-called "grandma hobbies"? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore why slower, quieter pastimes are resurfacing, and why they matter deeply for identity formation. Dr. Kathy explains how hobbies cultivate joy, perseverance, reflection, and self-awareness in a culture driven by speed, comparison, and constant stimulation. Together, they unpack the difference between fleeting happiness and lasting joy, why self-awareness is underdeveloped in today's noisy world, and how practices like crafting, reading, and walking help kids learn to be comfortable with their own thoughts. Grounded in Luke 2 and the ordinary rhythms of Jesus' early life, this conversation encourages parents to reintroduce quiet, purposeful activities, not as escape from life, but as a way for kids to inhabit it more fully.

Is social media always harmful for kids, or can we teach them to use it wisely? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research from Australia suggesting a "Goldilocks" window for social media use, where moderate engagement may support connection, but overuse or total avoidance can both undermine wellbeing. Together, they unpack why social media should be treated like any other powerful tool: taught, modeled, limited, and purposefully used. Dr. Kathy explains how parents can establish a healthy social media "diet," why real time relationships matter more than digital ones, and what kids lose when screens crowd out hobbies, service, and embodied belonging. Grounded in Acts 2 and identity formation, this conversation reframes social media not as a villain or a savior, but as something that must never bear the full weight of a child's belonging or identity.

In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender step carefully into a painful cultural moment following the death of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota. Rather than debating politics, they explore how moments of public tragedy and unrest can quietly shape a child's identity, and a parent's emotional posture. This conversation unpacks how fear and uncertainty can begin to define who we think we are if we aren't grounded in something bigger. Dr. Kathy walks through the five key dimensions of identity, intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual, and explains how helping kids develop a big enough identity keeps cultural moments from swallowing them whole. The episode also offers practical guidance for parents who feel overwhelmed themselves: how to apologize when we overreact and how to teach children that sadness is a faithful response before anger. Grounded in the image of Jesus weeping with Mary and Martha, this episode reminds parents that sitting with grief is not weakness, it's formation.

Have playgrounds become too safe for kids to actually grow? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender take a thoughtful look at the increasing restrictions on playgrounds and recess, and what those rules may be costing our children. From banning running and roughhousing to removing swings altogether, today's playgrounds often prioritize control over exploration. This conversation explores why unstructured play matters for confidence, problem solving, self regulation, and social development. Drawing on child development and Scripture, Dr. Kathy challenges parents and educators to reconsider whether constant supervision and rigid rules actually help kids, or quietly undermine courage and judgment. Grounded in Jesus' invitation to "let the little children come," this episode invites adults to trade whistle-blowing for watchful presence and to see recess not as chaos to manage, but as formation in motion.