Meeting Your Child's Emotional Needs to Prevent Destructive Choices with Richard O'Keef [78]
In this episode, I’m joined by Richard O’Keef, a renowned parenting educator and author of 9-1-1: What is Your Parenting Emergency?. With decades of experience teaching parenting education in communities and prisons, Richard shares his invaluable insights into the root causes of destructive behaviors like addiction, violence, and crime—and how parents can intervene to guide their children toward healthier, happier futures.
We explore the lessons he’s learned from working with incarcerated men, the biggest parenting mistakes to avoid, and the transformative power of meeting your child’s four emotional needs: sense of belonging, sense of personal power, feeling heard and understood, and clear boundaries.
Richard also explains why spending one-on-one time with your child is the most crucial tool for building connection and keeping them safe from negative influences. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiring stories to help you break generational cycles and raise kids who thrive.
In this episode we cover:
- How unmet emotional needs can lead to destructive behaviors—and how parents can prevent them.
- Practical ways to strengthen your bond and empower your child to make positive choices.
- The importance of being proactive to create a safe, connected, and thriving family environment.
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