Clinical psychologist and author of the bestselling Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Dr. Laura Markham joins me for a rich conversation about what peaceful parenting really means — and how it can help you set firm, loving limits while staying deeply connected to your child.

 

Together we explore:

 

• Why connection, not control, is the true foundation of cooperation and emotional resilience.

 

• What setting limits with empathy looks like in real life (and why it’s not the same as being permissive).

 

• The surprising way laughter can help your child release built-up stress and unshed tears.

 

• Practical tools to respond to big feelings like anger, sadness, and aggression — without adding more fuel to your child's fire.

 

• Why behaviorism often oversimplifies how kids learn and grow and what advances in neuroscience reveal are how humans actually learn best.

 

• Why the goal of parenting isn’t perfectly calm, compliant kids — but helping them build the neural wiring for lifelong emotional regulation.

 

If you’ve ever felt torn between being “too strict” or “too soft,” or overwhelmed by the endless parenting advice out there, this episode will help you zoom out, get grounded, and focus on what really matters for your child — and for you.

 

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

 

📚 https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/

 

📚 Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting

 

📚 Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using Mindfulness and Connection to Raise Resilient, Joyful Children and Rediscover Your Love of Parenting

 

📚 Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life

 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

 

👉🏻 Go to drsarahbren.com/discipline to download my free guide on effectively disciplining your child with strategies that don't utilize shame or guilt - but still work to get your child to behave!

 

👉🏻 Go to drsarahbren.com/bethecalm for my workshop, Be the Calm in Your Child's Storm: How to Keep Your Cool When Your Child Loses Theirs, to get the exact therapeutic interventions I use with my patients that can change the way your brain and body interprets your child’s dysregulation to help you stay cool in the heat of the moment.

 

 

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

 

🎧 39. Understanding parenting styles and the benefits of an authoritative approach: Q&A with Dr. Emily Upshur

 

🎧 06. Teaching children emotion regulation skills through coregulation with Dana Rosenbloom

 

🎧 234. Parenting with the “Whole-Brain”: How to work with the brain rather than fight against with Dr. Dan Siegel