Positive Parenting Solutions with Dr. Becky Kennedy
Dr. Becky Kennedy’s podcast is a goldmine for parents seeking a gentle, research-based approach to discipline. She tackles tough topics like tantrums, sibling rivalry, and bedtime battles with clear explanations of child development and practical strategies. Her calm, reassuring voice and evidence-based advice make this a must-listen for anyone struggling with challenging behaviors. What sets Dr. Becky apart is her emphasis on connecting with your child’s emotional needs, fostering a secure attachment, and understanding the “why” behind their actions before addressing the behavior itself. She avoids punitive measures and instead focuses on teaching children self-regulation and emotional intelligence.
The Unruffled Parent with Janet Lansbury
Janet Lansbury’s podcast offers a wealth of wisdom for parents committed to respectful parenting. Her approach emphasizes empathy, understanding, and setting clear, consistent boundaries. She’s known for her insightful explanations of child development and her ability to help parents navigate difficult situations with patience and understanding. Lansbury’s podcast frequently features listener questions, making it feel like a supportive community where parents can share their struggles and learn from each other’s experiences. The focus is always on empowering children to become responsible and self-reliant individuals.
Peaceful Parenting with Dr. Laura Markham
Dr. Laura Markham’s podcast provides a deep dive into the psychology behind child behavior and offers practical strategies for fostering a peaceful and loving family environment. She emphasizes the importance of mindful parenting and self-care for parents, recognizing that their well-being is crucial to creating a harmonious family dynamic. Dr. Markham skillfully blends scientific research with practical advice, helping parents understand the root causes of challenging behaviors and develop effective, gentle solutions. She covers a wide range of topics, from tantrums and defiance to sibling rivalry and screen time.
Raising Good Humans with Hunter Clarke-Fields
Hunter Clarke-Fields’ podcast takes a unique approach by focusing on the long-term goals of raising kind, compassionate, and responsible human beings. While addressing discipline, the overarching theme is building strong relationships with your children based on mutual respect and understanding. This podcast often features conversations with experts and parents, sharing diverse perspectives and experiences. The focus is less on quick fixes and more on cultivating a positive and nurturing home environment where children feel safe and loved, leading to better self-regulation and prosocial behavior.
No Bad Kids: Positive Discipline Strategies for Raising Confident and Capable Children with Janet Lehman
This podcast, hosted by Janet Lehman, founder of the The Parent Educator Training Program, offers a unique blend of positive discipline techniques and practical solutions for common parenting challenges. The emphasis is on understanding the child’s perspective and helping them learn self-control through encouragement and positive reinforcement rather than punishment. The podcast provides a roadmap to help parents build respectful relationships with their children while also setting clear expectations and consequences. Lehman often explores the underlying reasons behind misbehavior and provides effective strategies for addressing those root causes.
Parent to Parent: Raising Resilient and Compassionate Kids with Debbie Reifer
Debbie Reifer, a licensed clinical social worker, presents a compassionate and supportive approach to parenting on this podcast. Focusing on emotional intelligence and building resilient children, she delves into the challenges of modern parenting while reminding listeners of the importance of self-compassion. She discusses common issues like anxiety, defiance, and emotional regulation using a gentle yet practical approach, integrating insightful perspectives from child psychology. Reifer provides tools and techniques that help parents navigate difficult situations with kindness and understanding, ultimately strengthening the parent-child bond.
The Connected Child Podcast with Dr. Karyn Purvis
Dr. Karyn Purvis’ podcast is particularly helpful for parents of adopted or foster children, or those with children who have experienced trauma. However, the principles of attachment-based parenting she espouses are relevant to all families. The podcast emphasizes creating secure attachments, understanding the impact of early experiences, and using trauma-informed practices to help children regulate their emotions and behaviors. Dr. Purvis’s expertise in attachment theory provides a powerful framework for understanding and responding to children’s needs in a way that fosters connection and healing.
Big Little Feelings
While not strictly a podcast, Big Little Feelings provides a wealth of information and resources through their blog, Instagram and other platforms, including short, highly-effective podcast-like audio snippets. Their approach is incredibly accessible and focuses on helping parents understand the emotional world of their children, offering practical strategies that use empathy and understanding to manage difficult situations. They tackle a broad range of topics using simple, relatable language, making their advice easily digestible and applicable for parents of all ages and experience levels. Click here for information about the best gentle parenting podcasts.