Imperfect Heroes: Insights Into Parenting
Discover the joy in parenting with The Imperfect Heroes Podcast! DJ Stutz, an Early Childhood Specialist with over 20 years of teaching expertise, brings you insightful episodes to navigate the rewarding yet challenging journey of raising children. Join DJ and her guests as they share knowledge and experiences, offering valuable insights to empower you with confidence and peace. Become the imperfect hero, fostering independence, productivity, and happiness in your children's lives. Tune in for practical parenting tips and stories that resonate with your unique journey!
Empathy: The First Step in Raising Morally Strong Kids - Episode 188

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Did you know that empathy is the very first step in your child’s moral development? In this episode, DJ dives into how kids begin to connect with others emotionally—even as babies! From mirroring your smile to responding to your tone, your little one is already laying the foundation for empathy.
Listen in as she shares five practical, everyday strategies to help you nurture empathy in your child: building a safe and loving environment, tuning into their emotions, modeling kindness, encouraging diverse experiences, and using stories to explain actions and choi...
Episode 187: How to Raise Moral Kids in the Digital Age: Expert Tips from Dr. John Chanaca

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In this episode, DJ welcomes Dr. John Chanaca, an experienced author and family therapist, to explore the moral development of children in today’s technology-driven world. With over 42 years in education and counseling, Dr. Chanaca shares insights on fostering moral values through consistent parenting and role modeling. He discusses the importance of cyber safety and outlines eight key traits for successful students, including respect, obedience, and problem-solving. Dr. Chanaca emphasizes the long-term nature of parenting and encourages families to collaborate on setting moral goals, creating a lasting positive legacy.
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Episode 186: How Kindness and Compassion Shape Future Entrepreneurs with Margot Machol-Bisnow

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In this episode, DJ chats with author Margot Machol-Bisnow about the link between parenting and entrepreneurship. Margot has interviewed over 70 entrepreneurs and shares her findings about childhood commonalities.   Â
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They highlight the value of praising effort and resilience over outcomes and supporting children’s unique interests. Margot also explains how entrepreneurship is about more than starting businesses—it’s about making a positive impact no matter where you work.
Learn how fostering kindness, compassion, and risk-taking can help your child develop an entrepreneurial mindset and thrive in any career path! 🌟
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Episode 185: Parenting Spicy Kids? Diane Dempster Shares a Recipe for Success

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In this episode of Imperfect Heroes: Insights into Parenting, DJ Stutz sits down with Diane Dempster, co-founder of Impact Parents, to discuss the challenges and joys of raising what she calls “Spicy Kids.” Diane shares her expertise on distinguishing between behaviors that are "naughty" and those rooted in neurological or developmental differences, emphasizing the importance of understanding executive function delays. Together, they explore how meeting children where they are, fostering intrinsic motivation, and encouraging self-awareness can transform parenting. DJ shares personal stories from her journey raising a neurodiverse child and fostering, offering relatable insig...
Episode 184: Directing Moral Development in Your Kiddos? Begin Here.

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Welcome to Season 5 of Imperfect Heroes! This season, we’re diving into a powerful theme: The Moral Development of Young Children. In this first episode, DJ Stutz explores how children grow their sense of right and wrong, drawing on the groundbreaking theories of Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg. From understanding empathy to building integrity, DJ unpacks the stages of moral development and shares practical, real-life strategies for parents. Learn how to model values, spark meaningful conversations, and use storytelling to nurture compassion and fairness. With insights on setting consistent boundaries and creating a fa...
Episode 183: Fostering Faith: The Role of Spirituality and Curiosity in Parenting with Lenora Edwards

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In this episode, DJ Stutz chats with Lenora Edwards, a board-certified speech-language pathologist, about the powerful link between spirituality and parenting. They explore how curiosity strengthens faith and builds meaningful family connections. Lenora shares tips on using tone and non-verbal cues to guide children’s spiritual questions while fostering open, judgment-free conversations.
They also highlight the value of journaling to help kids reflect on their spiritual experiences and develop a strong moral foundation. This inspiring discussion previews Lenora’s 2025 role, where she’ll return every six weeks to share expert insights on rai...
Episode 182: The Power of Spirituality and Stories in Parenting: A Chat with Author and Christian Singer/Songwriter Andrew Peterson

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In this episode, DJ Stutz talks with Andrew Peterson—Christian singer-songwriter, and author of The Wingfeather Saga—about weaving faith into every aspect of life. Andrew shares how he integrates faith into his family’s daily routines, making it a natural part of parenting and relationships.
They discuss the power of storytelling, music, and art in fostering spiritual growth and teaching the beauty of truth. Andrew emphasizes the importance of discernment in media and parenting with humility, openness, and grace. He also gives a preview of his upcoming projects, including a graphi...
Episode 181: Faith in Parenting: Building Spiritual Resilience in Children with Ashlee Terry

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In this episode of Imperfect Heroes, DJ Stutz chats with Ashlee Terry about the role of faith in parenting and building spiritual resilience in young children. Ashlee shares her story of recovery after a traumatic accident in January 2024, reflecting on how her childhood experiences with church, Sunday school, and Bible camp anchored her during life’s storms. Together, they discuss the importance of creating a faith-filled foundation that gives kids the strength and understanding to navigate challenges. Don’t miss this inspiring and insightful conversation!
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Episode 180: Navigating Spiritual Differences While Raising Young Children with Kristina and Herb Heagh-Avritt

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In this episode, DJ Stutz chats with Kristina and Herb Heagh-Avritt, married for 33 years, about raising two boys while blending differing spiritual beliefs. Tune in as they share how they honored unique perspectives and built a unified foundation for their family.
As founders of Vibrant Family Education, Kristina and Herb discuss empowering parents through homeschooling, integrating life skills, traditions, and spirituality. Stay tuned while they offer practical tips on setting boundaries, communicating values, and fostering emotional and spiritual growth.
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Episode 179: Holiday Parenting: Building Spiritual Foundations and Creating Teachable Moments

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In this episode of Imperfect Heroes: Insights into Parenting, DJ Stutz delves into the importance of spirituality in raising compassionate, mentally healthy, and service-minded children. Drawing from her wealth of experience, DJ discusses how aligning on spiritual beliefs as parents and modeling healthy communication can set the foundation for a strong spiritual life. She shares practical advice for starting spiritual conversations early, creating teachable moments, and encouraging children to explore their own beliefs. Whether you're looking to strengthen your family's spiritual practice or simply learn more about nurturing spirituality in your children, this e...