What do you do when your child doesn’t have the words to express what they’re feeling?

In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha sits down with recording artist and nonprofit founder Lisa McClendon to talk about how children develop emotional intelligence, confidence, and resilience—and why struggle is a necessary part of that process.

Lisa shares how her organization, Yeye’s Village Expressive Arts Community, uses the arts to help young people build self-awareness, self-expression, and self-regulation through activities like music, drama, visual arts, and more.

This conversation challenges a common parenting instinct: making things easier for kids.

Because according to both experience and neuroscience, learning happens through friction, frustration, and doing things that feel hard.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why kids need challenge in order to grow
• How children mirror adult behavior
• The connection between the arts and brain development
• How to help kids manage emotions in healthy ways
• Why confidence is built by doing things scared
• The importance of parents taking care of themselves first

🎯 Free Resource for Parents:
20 Questions That Spark Real Conversations With Your Kids
👉 https://live.dsuyk.com/20-questions

🎤 Connect with Lisa McClendon:
https://yeyesvillage.org/
https://www.instagram.com/iamlisamcclendon
https://linktr.ee/lisamcclendon

🎬 Documentary: The Other Side of the Spotlight
Global Release: May 29