Is Your Strong-Willed Child Struggling with Aggressive Behavior?

Is Your Strong-Willed Child Struggling with Aggressive Behavior?

Author: Michelle Kenney, M. Ed October 17, 2024 Duration: 15:51

Is your child acting out, biting, or hitting their sibling despite your best efforts? What if the problem isn’t defiance but disconnection? Today I talk about a family I worked with recently who struggled to raise a strong-willed child. They had tried everything: timeouts, punishments, and rewards, but nothing worked to stop the aggression.


As I dive into this family's journey, I explain why punitive measures often backfire and how shifting focus toward connection can create the change we’re all looking for. I share with you how I guided this family to stop using threats and start using special time and empathy. You'll hear the small but powerful steps that led to a transformation, both for the child and the family dynamic.


In This Episode:

  • Punishments worsen aggression, not solve it
  • Connection as the foundation of behavior change
  • The power of empathy and special time
  • How to stop sibling rivalry from escalating
  • Shifting from punitive measures to understanding
  • The importance of removing shame from discipline


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You know the principles of gentle parenting and value attachment, but the day-to-day reality of raising kids can leave those ideals feeling just out of reach. If you’re exhausted by cycles of yelling, shame, and frustration, and you’re searching for a practical, grounded alternative that still provides clear boundaries, you’ve found a thoughtful space to explore. Peace and Parenting: How to Parent without Punishments is hosted by Michelle Kenney, M. Ed, who brings her perspective as a former teacher, counselor, certified parenting coach, and a mom of two teenagers. She also openly shares her own journey as a recovering yeller, making her guidance deeply empathetic and real. In this podcast, Michelle moves beyond theory to discuss the actual application of peaceful parenting. Conversations focus on dismantling the urge to punish and replacing it with connection-based strategies that actually work during tough moments. You’ll hear honest discussions about setting limits with respect, navigating emotional outbursts (both yours and your child’s), and fostering a home environment rooted in cooperation rather than control. Each episode aims to provide actionable insights that help you build a calmer, more respectful family dynamic, one conversation at a time. It’s a resource for anyone ready to parent in a way that feels better, honors the relationship, and genuinely moves away from punitive measures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Peace and Parenting: How to Parent without Punishments
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