The Parent Empowerance Podcast

“Is this okay?” “I get impatient with my children and don’t know what to do.” “My child has been biting their sibling every day and I can’t get them to stop.” All of these are completely normal questions I’ve gotten from parents about handling their children’s behavior. It can be so difficult to know what to do in the moment or how to implement behavior management strategies. That’s where I come in! This episode focuses on what positive, age-appropriate discipline looks like in early childhood. This included: Reviewing research on: The impacts of common discipline and behavior management strategies (time out, spanking, redirection, offering choices) How biting/hitting/throwing is normal for young kids The importance of repair and connection during conflict or “discipline” Describing strategies to use in your own parenting: Do not focus on control, focus on guidance and connection! During behaviors/conflict: Connect first Validate emotions and be their calm Clear limits with redirection Take a break and ask for help - keep your child safe Especially for toddlers: Ignore and redirect Use your attention to reinforce behaviors Remove or block and redirect Repair asap Model how you regulate and repair Label your emotions and how they feel/look Explain how parents also have meltdowns It’s ALWAYS okay to start over (whether it’s because of you or your kids) After Use storytelling or pretend play to process experiences and emotions Teach children tools to handle their behavior Prevention Use play, singing, changing location to change energy or end power struggles Give yourself more time or change how you approach parts of your routine that often cause you impatience or frustration Offer choices to give control Maintain a routine and use visual schedule to help Create boundaries/limits that prevent power struggles Suggesting books: It’s ok: Being Kind to yourself when things feel hard by Wendy O’Leary Breathing makes it better by Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary Roaring Mad Riley by Allison Szczecinski That’s My Truck by Dr. Becky Kennedy The whole brain child by Dan Siegel and Tine Payne-Bryson Parenting from the Inside Out by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! Connect with us on Instagram: @parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting @parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!