The Whole Parent Podcast

If you feel overwhelmed, snap more than you want to, or keep repeating parenting patterns you swore you’d break… this will explain why (and what to do instead).
Most parenting advice focuses on what to do when your toddler refuses to listen, has meltdowns, or pushes every limit. But what if the real challenge isn’t just their behavior, it’s what gets activated in you? In this conversation, we unpack why parenting can feel so triggering, how your own emotional patterns show up in daily moments, and how learning to regulate yourself can dramatically reduce power struggles, overwhelm, and reactivity.
What You’ll Learn:
 Why toddler behavior feels so triggering (and what’s actually happening in your brain and body) 
 How to stop repeating reactive parenting patterns, even if they’re deeply ingrained 
 A practical way to handle emotions like anger, anxiety, or feeling rejected by your child 
 What “emotional regulation” actually looks like in real-life parenting moments 
 How to become the calm, steady parent your child can rely on, without being perfect 
This approach is grounded in developmental psychology and attachment science, but translated into something you can actually use on a hard day. It’s not about fixing your child, it’s about understanding yourself well enough to respond differently, even when things feel intense.
If you’re tired of second-guessing your reactions or feeling like you’re “messing it up,” this is where things start to get easier. Subscribe so you have clear, grounded guidance to come back to in those moments when parenting feels the hardest, and you want to handle it differently.

Check out Eli Harwood's book: How To Deal With Your ____ So Your Kids Don't Have To: An Encyclopedia For Ditching Your Emotional Baggage
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Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
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Why kids stop listening to parents (and how to rebuild connection without power struggles or punishment).
If your child suddenly seems more influenced by friends, more sensitive to what others think, or harder to reach at home, you’re not imagining it. This video breaks down what’s actually happening beneath the surface when kids become more peer-focused, why it can lead to emotional instability, defiance, or withdrawal, and how to gently re-anchor your relationship without forcing control. If you're dealing with backtalk, disconnection, big emotions, or a child who just won’t listen anymore, this will help you understand the “why” behind it—and what actually works.
What You’ll Learn:
 Why kids become more attached to peers than parents (and when it becomes a problem) 
 The early signs your child is “pulling away” (before it gets worse) 
 3 simple ways to rebuild connection without nagging, yelling, or control 
 How to become the safe place your child actually turns to (even during meltdowns) 
 What attachment really means—and how it shapes behavior, listening, and emotional regulation 
This approach is grounded in developmental psychology and neuroscience, but translated into real, usable parenting tools. No scripts, no quick fixes—just a clear way to understand your child’s behavior and respond in a way that strengthens your relationship instead of straining it.
If parenting has been feeling harder lately, more pushback, more second-guessing, more distance, this is exactly the kind of shift that makes things feel easier again. Subscribe if you want practical, research-backed guidance that helps you stay calm, feel more confident, and actually enjoy your child again (even in the messy moments).
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook, 
Youtube

If you feel stuck in tantrums, power struggles, or constant “do this / don’t do that”… this shifts how you see it completely
Most parenting advice focuses on fixing behavior, timeouts, consequences, sticker charts, but what if that’s the very thing keeping you stuck? In this conversation, we unpack why common tools like rewards and punishments often lead to more resistance, more meltdowns, and less real cooperation over time. If your toddler refuses to listen, pushes boundaries, or seems “unmotivated” unless there’s a reward, this will help you understand what’s actually driving their behavior, and what to do instead when you’re overwhelmed in the moment.
What You’ll Learn:
 Why rewards and punishments often create short-term compliance but long-term struggles 
 What’s really happening underneath “bad behavior” (and how to respond to it) 
 How to shift from control-based parenting to connection-based cooperation 
 A simple mindset shift that reduces power struggles immediately 
 What to focus on instead of “getting your child to listen” 
This approach is grounded in developmental psychology and decades of research on motivation, behavior, and parent-child relationships. It’s not about being permissive or “letting things go,” it’s about understanding your child deeply enough that you don’t have to rely on control in the first place. When you shift the goal from obedience to long-term growth, your responses start to change in a way that actually works.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself in hard moments, and you want a clearer, calmer way to handle tantrums, defiance, and everyday struggles, this is exactly what we focus on here. Subscribe so parenting starts to feel more manageable, and you feel more confident in what you’re doing, even on the hard days.

Here's a link to Alfie Kohn's book: Unconditional Parenting: Moving From Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook, 
Youtube

If your child jumps from toy to toy, asks for screens, or says “I’m bored” all day, this might be the real reason
If your toddler or preschooler seems overwhelmed, constantly switching activities, refusing to play independently, or needing you to step in all the time, it’s easy to assume they need more stimulation. But often, the opposite is true. Too many toys can lead to shorter attention spans, more meltdowns, and less meaningful play. In this video, we break down what’s actually happening in your child’s brain, and how simplifying your environment can reduce overwhelm, support emotional regulation, and help your child engage more deeply (without you constantly entertaining them).
What You’ll Learn:
 Why too many toys can lead to boredom, frustration, and shorter attention spans 
 What’s happening in your child’s brain when they feel “overwhelmed” by options 
 How to reduce toys in a realistic, doable way (without going full minimalist) 
 The difference between open-ended play and “quick dopamine” toys 
 How to handle “I’m bored” without jumping in, and why that moment matters 
This approach is grounded in developmental psychology and neuroscience, but translated into real-life parenting, what actually works when your kid is melting down, ignoring you, or bouncing from one thing to the next. The goal isn’t perfection or rigid systems. It’s helping you create a calmer home, reduce power struggles, and raise a child who can focus, play, and think independently.
If you’re tired of second-guessing your parenting or feeling like you have to constantly “fix” your child’s behavior, this channel is here to make things clearer and easier, one small shift at a time.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook, 
Youtube

When to step in vs. hold back, so you don’t accidentally raise a more anxious, less capable kid
If your toddler is constantly climbing, jumping, or doing things that make your heart race, this video will help you understand what’s actually happening and what to do about it. We’re talking about risky play: why kids need it, how it builds real confidence (not just reassurance), and how overprotecting, often without realizing it, can lead to more anxiety, hesitation, and power struggles. If you’ve ever said “be careful” on repeat, worried about injuries, or felt judged at the playground, this will give you a clearer, calmer way forward.
What You’ll Learn:
 The difference between real danger and healthy risk (and why it matters) 
 Why risky play actually reduces anxiety and builds better judgment over time 
 What’s happening in your child’s brain when they climb, fall, and try again 
 5 simple, practical ways to support risky play without feeling reckless 
 How to stop interrupting learning in those high-stress parenting moments 
This approach is grounded in developmental psychology and neuroscience, but translated into what actually works in real life, when your kid is halfway up the playground and your instinct is screaming to intervene. The goal isn’t to step back completely, it’s to step back intentionally, so you can raise a child who trusts themselves, not just relies on you to keep them safe.
If you’re tired of second-guessing every decision at the park or at home, and you want to feel more confident knowing when to step in and when to let growth happen, this is exactly the kind of support that will make parenting feel lighter and clearer over time.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook, 
Youtube