In today’s episode of the Connected Parenting Podcast, we’re diving into a scenario that leaves so many parents scratching their heads — the child who’s perfect at school but melts down at home.

You know the story: your child is polite, focused, and adored by teachers, but the second they walk through your front door, it’s like a switch flips. Suddenly, you're dealing with tantrums, defiance, or emotional outbursts and you're left wondering, why am I getting the worst while everyone else gets the best?

If you’ve ever felt like your child gives their best to the world and their worst to you—this conversation will offer clarity, comfort, and actionable tools so you can navigate this tricky dynamic with confidence and connection.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Kids Who Excel at School but Misbehave at Home (00:00)
• Understanding the Behavior of "Gladiator Kids" (02:31)
• Sensitivity and Emotional Regulation in Children (04:14)
• Anxiety and Reactive Behavior in Children (06:58)
• Strategies for Managing Behavior at Home (10:04)
• Connecting Before Correcting and Bonding with Children (14:46)
• The Role of Consistency and Predictability in Parenting (17:17)
• Resources and Support for Parents (17:50)
• The Importance of Understanding Neuro Spicy Kids (18:23)

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).