If you have a strong-willed child, you know that traditional parenting strategies just don’t work. No amount of reasoning, bribing, or threatening seems to move the needle—and sometimes, the more you push, the harder they push back. So what does work?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast. With his signature humor and straight-talking style, Kirk shares practical strategies for understanding and guiding strong-willed kids—without constant power struggles.

Tune in to learn:

✨ The quickest way to change your child’s behavior (hint: it has little to do with them!)

✨ How to de-escalate meltdowns -- without saying, "Calm down!"

✨ The power of using body posture and tone to foster cooperation

✨ Why strong-willed kids thrive in adulthood—and how to survive their childhood

For a FREE printable with tips for de-escalating meltdowns, along with a private podcast feed that includes all of the episodes I've produced on raising strong-willed kids, click here!

My friend, if you're feeling exhausted, frustrated, or just plain out of ideas with your strong-willed child, this episode is for you. And please know I'm in the trenches with you, and I'm rooting for you!

For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.

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Announcements: For a FREE printable with tips for de-escalating meltdowns, along with a private podcast feed that includes all of the episodes I've produced on raising strong-willed kids, click here!

Related Episodes:

242: What to Do When Your Kids are Fighting // Dr. Laura Markham

266: Parenting Strong-Willed Kids // Wendy Snyder

391: Parenting a Child with ADHD: How to Stay Calm and Connected // Rachel on The Childhood Collective

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