Child Development Specialist: When discipline begins, why punishment doesn’t work & clear vs. gentle parenting episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 29, 2025 · 50 MIN

Child Development Specialist: When discipline begins, why punishment doesn’t work & clear vs. gentle parenting

from Two Parents & A Podcast · host Alex & Harrison Fugman

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Siggie Cohen — Child Development & Parenting Specialist — to talk all things discipline. The first thing we learned - discipline doesn’t ACTUALLY mean punishment (and definitely not spanking). Dr. Siggie walks us through what discipline REALLY is, when it should begin (earlier than you think), and how to respond with clarity (not frustration) when your toddler tests the limits. We also get into how communication sets the tone for everything, a real-life example of disciplining a 5-year-old, and her thoughts on gentle parenting (+ how her approach differs).  Dr. Siggie leaves us with her biggest takeaways on raising disciplined, confident kids — and honestly, this one feels like a masterclass for anyone with toddlers or young kids!!!  LOVE YOU GUYS! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! 00:01:02 Meet Dr. Siggie Cohen – Child Development & Parenting Specialist 00:04:18 What discipline really means (spoiler: it’s not punishment) 00:05:40 When should discipline actually begin? 00:10:54 How to handle a defiant toddler without losing your cool 00:17:37 Why communication is the foundation of early discipline 00:21:40 Is there ever a time when punishment makes sense? 00:25:16 A real-life scenario: disciplining a 5-year-old 00:31:50 Shaping your overall parenting mindset with Dr. Siggie’s approach 00:35:52 Gentle parenting vs. clear parenting 00:39:34 Dr. Siggie on spanking & other physical discipline methods 00:41:54 Dr. Siggie’s final takeaways on raising disciplined, confident kids 00:46:51 Thank you for listening! #twoparentsandapod --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: *Harbor: Restore your peace of mind with Harbor. Go to https://www.harbor.co/TWOPARENTS for $50 off and experience the security every parent deserves. *Bilt: Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://www.joinbilt.com/TWOPARENTS.  *Goodles: Goodles are available nationwide at Target, Walmart, and many other major grocery stores and retailers. Don’t forget to try the new single-serve cups! *Quince: Keep it classic and cozy this fall with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://www.Quince.com/alex for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@twoparentsandapod https://open.spotify.com/show/7BxuZnHmNzOX9MdnzyU4bD?si=5e715ebaf9014fac https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-parents-a-podcast/id1737442386 --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Two Parents & A Podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod Follow Alex Bennett: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett Follow Harrison Fugman: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman Find our guest: Website | https://drsiggie.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.siggie/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@parenting.with.dr.siggie --------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House – https://www.justmediahouse.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Siggie Cohen — Child Development & Parenting Specialist — to talk all things discipline. The first thing we learned - discipline doesn’t ACTUALLY mean punishment (and definitely not spanking). Dr. Siggie walks us through what discipline REALLY is, when it should begin (earlier than you think), and how to respond with clarity (not frustration) when your toddler tests the limits. We also get into how communication sets the tone for everything, a real-life example of disciplining a 5-year-old, and her thoughts on gentle parenting (+ how her approach differs).  Dr. Siggie leaves us with her biggest takeaways on raising disciplined, confident kids — and honestly, this one feels like a masterclass for anyone with toddlers or young kids!!!  LOVE YOU GUYS! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! 00:01:02 Meet Dr. Siggie Cohen – Child Development & Parenting Specialist 00:04:18 What discipline really means (spoiler: it’s not punishment) 00:05:40 When should discipline actually begin? 00:10:54 How to handle a defiant toddler without losing your cool 00:17:37 Why communication is the foundation of early discipline 00:21:40 Is there ever a time when punishment makes sense? 00:25:16 A real-life scenario: disciplining a 5-year-old 00:31:50 Shaping your overall parenting mindset with Dr. Siggie’s approach 00:35:52 Gentle parenting vs. clear parenting 00:39:34 Dr. Siggie on spanking & other physical discipline methods 00:41:54 Dr. Siggie’s final takeaways on raising disciplined, confident kids 00:46:51 Thank you for listening! #twoparentsandapod --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: *Harbor: Restore your peace of mind with Harbor. Go to https://www.harbor.co/TWOPARENTS for $50 off and experience the security every parent deserves. *Bilt: Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://www.joinbilt.com/TWOPARENTS.  *Goodles: Goodles are available nationwide at Target, Walmart, and many other major grocery stores and retailers. Don’t forget to try the new single-serve cups! *Quince: Keep it classic and cozy this fall with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://www.Quince.com/alex for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@twoparentsandapod https://open.spotify.com/show/7BxuZnHmNzOX9MdnzyU4bD?si=5e715ebaf9014fac https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-parents-a-podcast/id1737442386 --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Two Parents & A Podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod Follow Alex Bennett: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett Follow Harrison Fugman: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman Find our guest: Website | https://drsiggie.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.siggie/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@parenting.with.dr.siggie --------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House – https://www.justmediahouse.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Child Development Specialist: When discipline begins, why punishment doesn’t work & clear vs. gentle parenting

0:00 50:06

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. Ask A Spaceman Archives - 365 Days of Astronomy Ask A Spaceman Archives - 365 Days of Astronomy Podcasting Astronomy Every Day of the Year French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Two Parents & A Podcast?

This episode is 50 minutes long.

When was this Two Parents & A Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on September 29, 2025.

What is this episode about?

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Siggie Cohen — Child Development & Parenting Specialist — to talk all things discipline. The first thing we learned - discipline doesn’t ACTUALLY mean punishment (and definitely not...

Can I download this Two Parents & A Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!