“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” In this episode of the Learn to Speak Kid podcast, Bonnie and Thomas Liotta explore what your child’s meltdowns, hitting, and “lying” are really trying to say.

They explain why kids can’t think abstractly until around age 13, how constantly hearing “no” leads to power struggles and “terrible twos,” and why today’s culture is quick to label behavior instead of learning to “name that cry.” You’ll hear practical stories about newborns, toddlers at the counter, classroom chaos, and lying teens—each showing how behavior is a language of unmet needs and missing life skills.

Instead of punishing meltdowns, hitting, or lying, Bonnie and Thomas show you how to model what you do want, teach touch-soft and truth-telling, and begin seeing your child as a brilliant, unfinished human who needs training, not shame.

To begin a new, empowering, and joyful parenting journey, visit LearnToSpeakKid.com and discover how to transform defiant behavior into healthy, happy, cooperative kids.