This is one of my shorter mini-episodes where I read this weeks Substack article. We answer here the simple and yet extremely common question "What are we supposed to do when our kid hits us or someone else?" If you would like to support my work consider subscribing on Substack for $5 per month. It is the best way to support my work and keep the podcast episodes coming! Send us a text Support the show

Stories aren’t just how we pass time—they’re how we pass on what it means to be human. We sit down with librarian and children’s literature expert Betsy Bird to unpack why reading aloud is more than a bedtime ritual. It’s brain food during the fastest phase of neural growth; a daily practice that builds language, attention, and the social skill that holds every relationship together: empathy. We dive into research showing how literary fiction boosts theory of mind, helping kids understand th...

My oldest son couldn’t read at seven. And me? I was writing a parenting book for a major publisher. Being asked to speak to thousands of parents. Teaching emotional development, brain-based learning, and motivation. The irony wasn’t lost on me. In this episode, I tells the vulnerable and surprising story of how we stopped trying to teach how to read, and started teaching why to read instead. What happened next wasn’t magic. It was science, patience, and a little bit of kiwi bird trivia. Along...

Key Links: 📖 Get My Book: Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice – Available Now 📖 Get Alfie Kohn's Books: Unconditional Parenting and Punished By Rewards 📝 Join My Email List for exclusive insights, parenting tips, and updates – Sign Up Here Episode Description: What if the very thing we’ve been striving for as parents—obedience—wasn’t actually a virtue? What if, instead of making our kids good, it made them vulnerable? In this e...

IT'S HERE! Get Punishment-Free Parenting on Audiobook Why does it feel like one partner carries the weight of managing the home and kids while the other thinks everything is equal? If you've ever felt exhausted by the invisible labor of parenting—or if you've ever felt like nothing you do measures up to your partner’s expectations—this episode is for you. In this episode of The Whole Parent Podcast, I sit down with Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play, to unpack the division of labor i...

Get your own copy of the audiobook HERE What do we do when we mess up as parents? In this Episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, I read a long section from the Chapter on Repair from my brand new book Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice. Every parent has moments they wish they could take back. Maybe it’s the sharp tone, the overreaction, or the moment frustration boiled over. But what happens next matters even more than the mistake itsel...

Help me out! My book Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice comes out in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS! Preorder now so you can get it first! Have you ever felt like talking to your kids is like speaking an entirely different language? You tell them to put on their shoes, and suddenly it’s like you’ve asked them to climb a mountain. Believe me, I’ve been there. In this episode, I’m breaking down why our kids don’t always seem to get what we’re saying—and...

Help me out... My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the AudiobookDescriptionThis week on The Whole Parent Podcast, why is change is so hard? How can we finally stick to our parenting resolutio...

Want to get ME a Christmas Present? My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the AudiobookMerry Christmas... sorta.The holidays are here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re juggling a million...

I need your help! My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the AudiobookIt’s the ultimate parenting conundrum: Do you tell your kids the truth about Santa? In this episode, I dive into the psychol...

I need your help! My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the Audiobook Episode Description:In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon welcomes Dr. Marc Brackett, the founding director of t...

Now Available for Preorder....Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your VoiceTo reserve your copy click the link below:Preorder HardcoverPreorder AudiobookPreorder Kindle Show Notes:Have you ever lashed out at your child and wondered "Where did that come from? Why am I so triggered?" Spoiler for this episode, it's your childhood... and the reason we do this is because most of us are totally unaware of this unwanted inheritance.Jon is joined by Dr....

Preorder my new book: Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice Get the Autonomy Guide HERE Episode Title: How To Get Your Toddler to LISTEN!Episode Number: #29Host: Jon @wholeparentTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction and Setting the Scene0:38 - The Frustration of Kids who WON'T LISTEN!2:40 - Why Toddlers Have Selective Hearing7:17 - Understanding Toddler Development and Autonomy16:18 - Effective Communication with Toddlers22:24 - Tips for Improvi...

Struggling with bedtime battles? Discover an incredible bedtime hack that transforms chaos into connection, making bedtime one of the best parts of your day.Episode Number: #28Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the challenges of bedtime routines and reveals a transformative hack to turn bedtime battles into moments of deep connection with your child. He discusses the reasons behind kids' resistance to bedtime and shares a practical, brain-based technique...

Episode Number: #27Description: In this guest episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon welcomes KJ from Big Life Journal. They discuss the transformative power of reparenting, the difference between gentle and conscious parenting, and the resources available to support parents on their journey. KJ shares her personal experiences transitioning from authoritarian parenting to gentle parenting, offers her top reparenting tip, and explores how journaling can help parents and children develop resi...

Episode Number: #26Take the quiz to find our if your kid is Highly SensitiveDescription: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the concept of collaborative consequences, explaining why this method is a powerful tool for effective parenting, especially for highly sensitive children. As a strong advocate for the abolition of punishment in parenting, discusses how to differentiate between punishment and consequences and introduces the idea of working with children to set b...

Want to know if your child is Highly Sensitive? TAKE THE QUIZ! Parenting a Highly Sensitive ChildEpisode Number: #25Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the world of highly sensitive children. He explains what high sensitivity is, how it manifests in kids, and shares practical strategies for parents to help their highly sensitive children thrive. Jon also highlights the groundbreaking work of Dr. Elaine Aron, who introduced the concept of high sensiti...

Do you want to know how you can successfully navigate sibling conflict? This is the episode for you. Episode Number: #24Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the challenging topic of sibling conflict. He shares practical strategies for parents to navigate and resolve conflicts between siblings effectively. Jon also talks about the importance of fostering a team-centric environment and being a safe person for your children to express their frustrations.Times...

Raising Emotionally Intelligent KidsEpisode Number: #23Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon discusses the importance of raising emotionally intelligent kids. Jon shares personal insights and practical steps on how parents can foster emotional intelligence in their children. Jon also opens up about his recent break from podcasting, the challenges he faced, and how taking time for self-care has impacted his parenting.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Jon's return to p...

To get podcast updates:CLICK HEREDo we need to punish our kids to be effective parents? That's exactly what Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and I navigate through in this enriching discussion on punishment-free parenting. By distinguishing between discipline as a means to teach, rehearse, and impart skills and punishment as an alternatively counterproductive reaction, we illuminate a path where parents can regulate their emotions and approach each day with a fresh, constructive mindset.Embark on a jour...