Dadicated Joe

We try not to use punishment or reward as ways to motivate our child's actions because it diminishes their intrinsic motivation and harms the parent/child relationship. See my episode on how we use an evidence-based approach that utilizes natural consequences.

But there are times when natural consequences alone don't work. Like if she refuses to get in the car and I say, "OK, well then we're not going to the store." She says, "Fine, I don't wanna go to the store anyway." And then what? I don't want to yell, threaten, or bribe her, but I still need her to do the thing.

Enter, Smart Discipline. It quickly transformed those daily power struggles through a system that allows her to choose to comply and teach herself accountability from an early age. I teach you the basics in this episode, and there's a link to the book at the bottom.

I also discuss the emotional side of discipline. Kids are still going to have feelings when they face consequences, and part of the job is holding space for those feelings while still maintaining the boundary.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Smart Discipline system for encouraging cooperation • How house agreements create clear expectations for kids • The X chart that lets children choose between compliance or a consequence • Why discipline works better when kids feel ownership of the decision • Supporting kids' emotions while still enforcing boundaries • Why calm delivery and consistency from parents matter

Resources Mentioned

Book: Smart Discipline: Fast, Lasting Solutions for Your Peace of Mind and Your Child's Self-Esteem https://www.amazon.com/dp/0066212391?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KMHF53J6SAFYXWHZN0KM

Get a copy of our Smart Discipline Chart System:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17UCfohJ9Wz32B8lFaziwf3Mv4mSfX1eU/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108707302923123148655&rtpof=true&sd=true

Watch: Why We Don't Punish or Reward Our Daughter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAF35tAQxh4&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h

Watch: The Parenting Mistake That Makes Tantrums Worse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7dE_MOlwXk&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=28

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Most parents focus on the obvious stuff: food, sleep, discipline, and school. But there's another factor that shapes how our kids' bodies develop that almost nobody talks about: their feet.

The shoes we put on our kids can affect how their entire body functions for the rest of their life.

I tracked down a foot health expert Barak Argov, " the barefoot guy" to learn more about this. He said the best way to talk about foot development was on a hike, so we walked and talked about our foot-health journeys. I also got to test the amazing minimalist shoes Barak designed himself, that he sells at the first-ever barefoot shoe store in Austin, Always Barefoot.

Barak has a degree in Physical Education from Wingate College in Israel and has been in barefoot shoes since 2011 (way before it was cool). He spent years studying natural movement and how modern shoes change the way our feet function. He explains why the foot is the foundation of the body, how shoe ridgitty, raised heels and narrow toe boxes interfere with natural development, and why those changes impede optimal performance and often can show up later as bunions, joint pain, back pain, and many other issues. For parents with babies and toddlers, learning about this is a powerful way you can help impact their health and development for life!

• How do modern shoes affect children's foot development?

• Can bad shoes lead to long-term pain or posture problems?

• what kinds of issues might be caused by unhealthy footwear?

• What kind of shoes should young kids actually wear?

• How do I find the right shoes for my kid?

• Why do narrow shoes and lifted heels change how the body moves?

• What should parents know about foot health before age four

  👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

  Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

  It's about showing up.

  It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

  Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

  Follow Joe Carr on social media

  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

  YouTube @dadicatedjoe

About Barak Argov

Website: www.allwaysbarefoot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allwaysbarefoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allways_barefoot/

I was punished constantly as a kid. I was undiagnosed as autistic and literally incapable of following a lot of the strict rules at school and at home. What punishment taught me wasn't responsibility. It taught me to fear authority, to lie when I needed to, and to focus enormously on pleasing others to avoid getting in trouble. And left me with a deep sense of shame when I constantly fell short, which has taken years of therapy to heal.

In this episode, I explain why we chose not to use punishment or rewards with our daughter. If kids only behave because they're afraid of you, they'll only behave when you're watching. And if they're doing the right thing for a treat, you'll eventually need a bigger treat. That's not character. That's control. And not only does it not work very well, it's also actually a lot harder on us!

Instead, we use an evidence-based that focuses on natural consequences. So if they're using a toy dangerously, we take away the toy. If they make a mess, they clean it up. The point isn't to cause suffering or prove a lesson through pain, it's to help her understand cause and effect and build intrinsic motivation. I don't want a compliant kid who behaves because she's afraid of me. I want a daughter who tells the truth when she messes up because she trusts me. 👇 In this episode, we explore:

• What punishment actually teaches kids • Why fear-based discipline fails long-term • How natural consequences build independence • Why rewards damage intrinsic motivation • How to discipline without shame

Resources mentioned:

If you're deep in toddler behavior right now, go watch the Toddler Tantrums episode. It'll give you more context on what's actually happening under the surface.

Also there are times when natural consequences don't work, so checkout my upcoming episode on "Smart Discipline" to see what to do for those moments.

Watch on YouTube The Parenting Mistake That Makes Tantrums Worse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7dE_MOlwXk&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=23

And if you want to go deeper into shame-free discipline, check out Janet Lansbury's No Bad Kids and the work from Big Little Feelings. Both are great foundations for raising kids without fear-based control.

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

"You are talking about a seven-year-old being addicted to something that was designed to manipulate her."

That's uncomfortable to hear. It's also what this week's DadicatedJoe guest, Dr. Susan Linn, said to me.

Screen addiction starts earlier than many parents are aware of, and at the same time, we have to acknowledge the real pressure families face. Because screens are everywhere, work demands are high, exhaustion is real, and drawing firm boundaries often feels harder than ever.

Excessive screen time is linked to attention issues, poor school performance, sleep disruption, and emotional regulation challenges, which is why I wanted to speak with an expert. Dr. Susan Linn has spent decades studying how media and Big Tech shape children's behavior, attention, and values, and advocating for change. As a psychologist, writer, researcher, and Harvard lecturer, she explains how digital culture is designed to pull children into consumerism and brand loyalty, and how games and devices are built to create dependence for stimulation and soothing.

In this eye-opening episode, we unpack the truth behind educational claims, why ad-free does not automatically mean harmless, and how using screens as rewards can quietly increase their power. We also talk about practical screen time boundaries, what health guidelines actually recommend for babies and toddlers, and how parents can reduce screen dependence without constant battles.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• How does excessive screen time affect a child's brain development?

• What are the official screen time guidelines for babies and toddlers?

• Is screen addiction real in young children?

• Do educational apps actually help kids learn?

• How can parents set healthy screen time boundaries in a tech-saturated world?

If screen time is already becoming a battle in your house, go watch my episode with Tucker Max on Raising Kids Without Screens. It'll give you a very different lens on what's actually possible. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zweLLC9wkm8&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=21

About Dr. Susan Lin

Susan Linn, a psychologist, an author, and an award-winning ventriloquist, is a world-renowned

expert on creative play, and the impact of tech and commercial marketing on children. She is

Research Associate at Boston Children's Hospital, and Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard

Medical School.

A passionate advocate for children, Dr. Linn was Founding Director of Campaign for a

Commercial-Free Childhood (now called Fairplay) from 2000-2015. She has lectured on the

importance of creative play, the impact of tech, media, and marketing on children, and on

puppetry as a therapeutic tool, Dr. Linn's books have been praised in publications as diverse as

The Wall Street Journal and Mother Jones. Her most recent book, Who's Raising the Kids? Big

Tech, Big Business and the Lives of Children received a rave review from The New York Times,

which called it "engrossing and insightful."

Check out Dr. Susan Linn's latest book, Who's Raising the Kids?: Big Tech, Big Business and the Lives of Children. And to learn more about Susan's incredible work, visit her website https://www.consumingkids.com/

When can babies eat meat? As soon as they're eating solid foods, which is around six months old. Meat is a CRITICAL first food, and here are three major reasons why.

My wife and I became experts on this topic before starting Serenity Kids Baby Food, and we've heard the same question again and again: Do babies really need meat? Why not start with rice cereal or fruit? In this episode, I walk through the three core reasons meat is the ideal first food.

Babies' brains and spines develop rapidly in their first year. They need dense nutrition, fat, and highly absorbable heme iron to support that growth. I also talk about why early exposure to savory foods during the six to eighteen-month flavor window can shape long-term eating habits — and why I recommend meat first, vegetables second, and waiting on grains and sugars.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• When can babies start eating meat? • Why is meat easier to digest than other foods? • How much fat do babies actually need each day? • What is heme iron and why is it important for infants? • Does starting with fruit increase sugar preference later?

Resources mentioned:

How to Make Liver Bone Broth: https://myserenitykids.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-liver-bone-broth?srsltid=AfmBOoqCrQ25Q

mW4wkmC3JprXZRfXHSGz821UT4vYmjr_V0T3u8TnNhk

If you're introducing solids soon, don't miss my full Dad's Guide to Starting Solids where I walk through timing, foods, and what to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qtgMhJtIQw&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=14

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Father-daughter relationships are shaped long before kids have the words to explain what they feel, and I've learned that firsthand with my daughter, Della. The moments that seem small, the ones we rush through or don't think twice about, can often be the moments that teach our kids what they're worth and how they should expect to be treated.

Madeline Anderson, author of Girl Dad, brings a daughter's perspective to what actually shapes father-daughter relationships beneath the surface. We talk about how attention communicates worth and what it looks like to set boundaries around work and life without making our daughters feel rejected.

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Sex education can still be such a taboo topic that by the time we talk to our kids about it we may avoid, freeze, or fumble, and even accidentally pass down the same shame we grew up with.

In this episode, I sit down with Megan Brinkerhoff, a mother of two, to talk about what actually helps kids feel safe, informed, and confident in their bodies. We get into why naming body parts early matters more than people realize, how whispering sends signals we don't intend, and why boundaries and consent start in toddlerhood. This conversation isn't about having one perfect sex talk. It's about building an ongoing, shame free foundation that grows with your child.

We also talk honestly about why so many parents feel stuck. Poor sex education, fear based messaging, and cultural silence leave adults feeling unprepared. Megan shares how parents can reclaim their role, stay involved as kids grow, and create homes where questions are welcomed instead of avoided. If you want to help your kids navigate bodies, boundaries, and relationships without fear or secrecy, this episode will give you a grounded place to start.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• How do you talk to kids about sex without creating shame?

• When should parents start sex education conversations?

• Why naming body parts early supports safety and autonomy

• How parents can teach boundaries and consent at different ages starting in toddlerhood

• What to do when your own sex education makes this uncomfortable

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

About Megan Brinkerhoff

Megan Brinkerhoff is a Mother, Artist, Educator and Sacred Sexuality Practitioner. Her current work is developing a fresh approach to sex education for children, one that addresses both sex and relating and is rooted in the relationship to oneself. This work educates both children and their parents in tandem with the goal of empowering parents to be the stewards of their children's sexual and relational development and create space for meaningful conversations about sex and relating within the family. Megan lives in Austin, TX with her two hilarious, ridiculous and glorious kids, Marigny (6) and Rory (3).

Parenting feels hardest on the days when you are already running on empty. I used to think my daughter was just being difficult. Something as small as her spilling a drink could send me over the edge. What I eventually realized was that a lot of what was driving me crazy had nothing to do with her and everything to do with what was being reflected back to me.

In this episode, I break down the four reasons our kids push us the most and why those moments usually hit when we are stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally tapped out. We talk about how kids mirror our emotional state, how the environments we create shape their behavior, and how our own triggers and unresolved childhood stuff quietly show up in our parenting. This is not about blaming yourself or trying to be a perfect parent. It is about learning how to regulate your reactions so parenting does not feel so hard all the time.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• Why do kids act out more when parents are exhausted or stressed?

• How do children mirror their parents' emotional state?

• What parenting triggers actually come from our own childhood?

• How can emotional regulation change your child's behavior?

• Why does parenting feel so hard even when you are doing everything right?

Previous DadicatedJoe Episodes to Go Deeper on this Topic: If this idea of reparenting yourself resonates, listen to the DadicatedJoe episode on Reparenting Yourself While Parenting Your Kids, where I go deeper into how inner child work changes the way we show up as parents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXatbr_sOa0&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=5

I also reference a previous DadicatedJoe episode on Fatherhood Nearly Broke Me—But Here's What Saved Me, where I talk more about breaking generational patterns and using past experiences to become more intentional parents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkhwndKnVhc&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=44

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Survival mode, self-sacrifice, and avoidance are not strengths. They are the drift. Fatherhood doesn't fall apart all at once, it erodes quietly. You keep showing up, you keep providing, you keep telling yourself this is just a season, and then one day you realize you're exhausted, disconnected, and not totally sure how you got here.

In this episode, I sit down with Larry Hagner, host of the Dad Edge Podcast, one of the original and most listened-to dad podcasts in the world. Larry calls this slow erosion the Dad Drift. It's what happens when survival mode becomes normal, when self-sacrifice replaces emotional presence, and when your marriage and parenting start to feel transactional instead of connected.

We talk honestly about emotional leadership and why anger is almost never the real issue. We unpack why white-knuckling your way through fatherhood can actually push your family further away, how validating emotions changes everything at home, and why so many marriages quietly slip into roommate mode even when both people care. Larry shares what it looks like to catch yourself in the drift, own it, and lead differently without pretending you've got it all figured out.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• Why do so many dads feel burnt out, even when life looks good on paper?

• What is the Dad Drift, and how does it sneak into marriage and parenting?

• Why anger is usually a signal, not the real problem

• How emotional leadership creates safety and connection at home

• What it actually means to lead your family without white-knuckling it

Larry Hagner is the founder of The Dad Edge—an organization dedicated to equipping men with the tools and community they need to thrive as husbands, fathers, and leaders - and the host of the globally recognized Dad Edge Podcast, which has surpassed 40 million downloads.

With over 1,000 interviews to date, Larry has welcomed an impressive range of guests including Matthew McConaughey, Jon Bernthal, Kirk Cameron, Mike Rowe, Chris Daughtry, Sean Patrick Flanery, Greg Olsen, Bear Rinehart, Nikki Sixx, and many more Follow Larry on Instagram: @thedadedge https://www.instagram.com/thedadedge/ Listen to The Dad Edge Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ge/podcast/the-dad-edge-podcast/id986223478

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Moms spend between 400 and 650 hours breastfeeding in the first six months alone. When my wife, Serenity, started breastfeeding our daughter, I had no idea how hard it actually was. How many things can go wrong? I've always wanted to be an involved father, but like a lot of men, I assumed breastfeeding was mostly her thing and that my role in it would be minimal. Watching her deal with pain, latch issues, and the emotional weight of it all was eye-opening.

I was involved in every other part of our daughter's life, so why would feeding her be any different? Breastfeeding turned out to be a team sport, and my role mattered more than I realized. In this episode, I share what Serenity and I learned during our breastfeeding journey, the mistakes I made as a dad, and what actually helped us move through it with more calm, confidence, and connection.

I go over lactation consultants, pumping, tongue and lip ties, myths around low supply, and why avoiding early formula matters more than most people realize. This isn't about perfection or blame. It's about showing up with intention and protecting your partner's confidence during one of the most vulnerable seasons of parenthood.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• What is and isn't normal about breastfeeding

• What dads might get wrong when trying to support breastfeeding

• How dads can help without micromanaging or checking out

• What breastfeeding really demands from moms

• When dads should step in and when to step back

• When to hire a lactation consultant or other professional

• Why to avoid "topping off" with formula

• How to protect your partner's confidence in the early months

Get 15% Off IQ Bars: https://www.eatiqbar.com/DADICATED15

👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/

Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe