Ep.285: Conversation Starters That Build Real Connection
Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker
Dr. Meg Meeker
4.6 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 29 July 2025
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Do your kids shut down when you try to talk? In this episode, Dr. Meg Meeker is joined by licensed therapist Beliza Perez, the creator of FAM Gabs, for a sponsored conversation on how to build emotional closeness through simple, intentional questions.
You’ll learn why some kids stop sharing, how to avoid parent-child communication traps, and what to do instead. Beliza shares therapy-based tools—including non-verbal techniques and calming rituals—that help parents raise emotionally safe and connected kids.
In This Episode:
- Conversation hacks that unlock emotional connection
- The #1 reason kids stop opening up—and how to reverse it
- Why "quality time" doesn't have to mean more time
- How to create low-pressure, trust-building moments
- Tools like finger mazes and prompt cards that actually work
This episode includes a sponsored segment in collaboration with FAM Gabs.
🎉 Join the Parenting Great Kids Community, where you'll find support from like-minded parents who are committed to raising emotionally healthy, spiritually strong, and digitally safe kids.
Join today at meekerparenting.com/community
⏱️ Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Welcome to Parenting Great Kids
00:31 – What kids are stressed about (but not saying)
01:10 – Meet Beliza Perez, therapist and creator of FAM Gabs
01:35 – How FAM Gabs helps spark real conversations
02:56 – Top conversation starters that work
03:51 – Parental reactions: Hesitation and surprise
05:24 – Creating safety through open-ended questions
07:01 – The therapy roots of FAM Gabs
09:10 – Using tools like FAM Gabs in real-life families
15:06 – Common issues in child and teen therapy
16:32 – Navigating personality differences in families
16:45 – Why communication is key to healing
18:26 – The creative journey behind the questions
18:58 – How to ask questions that build trust
20:37 – What nonverbal cues reveal about your child
22:27 – Why short, mindful moments matter more
24:28 – What’s next for FAM Gabs
27:33 – Using finger mazes for anxiety relief
28:57 – Where to get FAM Gabs
29:26 – Final takeaways from Dr. Meg and Beliza
Beliza Perez is a licensed therapist and the founder of FAM Gabs, a family conversation card deck that empowers parents to build stronger emotional bonds with their kids. Her clinical work and creative tools center on healing through connection.
Resources & Links:
Get your own FAM Gabs → https://www.famgabs.com
Work with Dr. Meg → https://meekerparenting.com
Our Sponsors
- Hungryroot – 40% off plus a free item in every box at hungryroot.com/drmeg with code DRMEG
- Fam Gabs – Spark real conversations with your kids using this therapist-designed card deck. Search Fam Gabs on Amazon and use code DRMEGPOD for 10% off
- K12-powered schools – Tuition-free, accredited online public education for K–12 at K12.com/DRMEG
- Thrive Causemetics – Clean, vegan beauty that gives back. Get 10% off your first order at ThriveCausemetics.com/DRMEG
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Transcript
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| 0:00.7 | Today's episode of PGK is sponsored by FAMGabs. |
| 0:04.9 | Whether your child is 5, 10, or even a little older, |
| 0:08.6 | FAMGabs turns ordinary moments like car rides or bedtime |
| 0:12.7 | into opportunities for real connection. |
| 0:16.6 | Hey, parents, I'm Dr. Meghker, and if you're ready for real solutions to your parenting |
| 0:22.7 | problems from a pediatrician, join my parenting great kids community today. |
| 0:28.8 | There's a reason so many parents trust Dr. Meg Meeker. |
| 0:32.5 | Now, her courses, parenting form, and trusted answers are all in one place. |
| 0:36.8 | The PGK Insider Community. |
| 0:38.8 | Join free at minkerparenting.com. |
| 0:43.7 | This is Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker. |
| 0:47.9 | Also parents are surprised to hear how stressful a child they can be. |
| 0:53.7 | I think sometimes as parents and adults, |
| 0:56.1 | we forget what being a child was like. |
| 0:58.4 | So we just don't realize what they're dealing with |
| 1:01.2 | on a day-to-day basis that is contributing |
| 1:03.2 | to their stressors and their behaviors. |
| 1:26.6 | Hi, parents. You know, sometimes it's really important to have games or things that we can do with our kids that will get them off of screens, that will help them get engaged with one another, and particularly help them to engage with us. |
| 1:29.3 | Well, today we have Belisa Perez, and she is the creator of Fam Gabs. So Belisa, thanks so much for coming today. |
| 1:37.5 | Thank you for having me. What a pleasure. Now, I love fam Gabs. It's called Family, |
| 1:44.3 | what? What's called family what? |
| 1:45.3 | What's it short for? |
... |
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