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The pandemic didn’t just change schedules, it changed family roles, nervous systems, and the way kids act when they feel trapped, scared, or out of control. We sit down with Dr. Anne-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, author, and parent coach originally from St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, to talk about what parenting during a pandemic really looks like for Caribbean and West Indian families, especially when you’re working from home, managing remote school, and trying to keep everyone steady.

We get into why so many children are pushing boundaries right now, and why that push-pull is often a signal, not a character flaw. Dr. Lockhart breaks down how to look behind behaviour, stop turning every moment into discipline, and use more grace when families have less support than usual. We also tackle screen time limits with a realistic lens: why too much tech can dysregulate kids (sleep, mood, tantrums), and how routines, breaks, and non-screen play help restore balance.

One of the biggest takeaways is a better script for hard moments. Dr. Lockhart explains why asking kids “Why did you do that?” backfires, and offers an emotion coaching approach you can use immediately: listen, reflect, empathise, validate, then collaborate on solutions. We also talk child-centred, uninterrupted play as a powerful tool for connection, emotional regulation, and reducing resistance, plus how to unlearn parts of old-school parenting without losing respect in the home.

If you’re a single parent, a new caregiver, or simply exhausted, this conversation delivers practical parenting strategies grounded in child psychology and cultural reality. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the one idea you’re trying this week.

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