The 3 Tools That Actually Work When Your Kid Won't Listen

About this episode

This episode discusses effective strategies for handling defiant behavior in children, emphasizing the importance of safety and connection over traditional discipline methods.

What if your child's most "defiant" behavior at home isn't a discipline problem — but a sign of how safe you've made them feel? This solo episode tackles one of the most common questions we all have: what to do when your kid digs in, pushes back, and you can feel yourself slipping toward the version of bedtime you swore you'd never have. It comes on the heels of a Today Show segment with Hoda and Jenna that sparked a wave of comments split between recognition and resistance — much of it circling the same anxious question: isn't picking your battles just permissive parenting? This conversation walks through both the why and the how: why home is so often the place where the wildest behavior lands, why permissiveness is not what most of us think it is, and what to actually do in the bathroom at 7:45pm when your kid is still in their clothes and the bedtime window is closing. It also looks at the moments when no strategy is going to work because everyone's nervous system is too lit up, and what to do instead. What you'll learn: Why "defiant" behavior so often shows up the moment your child walks through the door and why that's usually a sign of safety, not a sign that something is…

People in this episode

Host: Aliza Pressman

Topics covered

• defiant behavior
• parenting strategies
• bedtime routines
• permissive parenting
• child safety

Keywords

• defiance
• parenting tools
• bedtime
• child behavior
• permissiveness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Today Show

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