Watch this episode on YouTube!

Is your child not listening in public, making every outing feel stressful? You are not alone. So many parents struggle with this, especially when expectations aren’t clear, and behavior quickly unravels. Often, the issue isn’t your child being difficult; it’s a mismatch in child expectations from parents that hasn’t been clearly communicated.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how to get your child to listen in public settings using simple, practical strategies that actually work. When you clearly communicate child expectations from parents ahead of time and consistently use positive reinforcement for kids, you’ll see a major shift in behavior. Instead of reacting to your child not listening, you’ll be setting your child up for success before you even walk into the store.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why a child not listening often comes from unclear child expectations from parents
• How to get your child to listen by setting clear expectations before entering public spaces
• The role of positive reinforcement for kids in improving cooperation and behavior
• What to do in the moment when your child not listening starts to escalate
• How clear child expectations from parents reduce confusion and prevent power struggles
• How to get your child to listen without yelling or threatening consequences
• How to consistently use positive reinforcement for kids to reinforce the behavior you want
• Why understanding a child not listening is key to long-term success

If you’ve been frustrated with your child not listening, this episode will help you figure out how to get your child to listen by setting clear child expectations from parents and using positive reinforcement for kids in a way that feels calm, confident, and effective.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Episode 29: Why Praising Children Matters More Than You Think with Julia Lair

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

Instagram

Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.

Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!