Calm Parenting Podcast

How do you internally motivate kids who don't care about school or good behavior? You can't let them just fail or play video games all day--so what should you focus on? How can you build your child's confidence and prepare them for life success? Kirk gives you 10 practical steps and scripts to use. Want more tools to build your child's confidence and motivate your kids? Our BIG Fall Sale cont...

Some of you have kids who have never liked school and never will. Does this mean they are doomed? Absolutely not. My goal is to prevent you from spending 18 years on needless worry, pressure, lectures, and power struggles over school. Your kids will choose the harder path and that is part of the process. Learn how to prepare your kids for success without ruining your relationship or dest...

Your kids and wife won't respect you if you give consequences you can't actually enforce. Learn a different way to handle tough discipline without yelling or drama. Bonus tip? I show you how to teach kids impulse control and delayed gratification on screens. COZY EARTH Go to  https:// cozyearth.com  and use code CALM for 40% off best-selling Cozy Earth temperature-regulating sheets, appa...

You have a strong-willed child who triggers you by talking back, blurting out, dawdling, having a messy room, doing things the hard way. Moms and Dads have different triggers. Sometimes Dads feel shut out and Moms feel caught in the middle as the referee. Kirk shares three ways to handle your triggers, get on the same page, AND help kids who blurt out in class. Plus we share a brand new idea that...

What should the consequence be for being disrespectful to a parent or teacher, not listening to you, not getting ready for bed on time, being mean to a sibling, coming home late, creating a mess, swearing, throwing a tantrum, speeding, or not doing what you ask? Kirk gives you scripts and some unique twists on traditional consequences that actually work! If you want more practical scripts and acti...

Your child is yelling and even saying hurtful things, maybe picking on siblings. Your natural response is to become resentful and angry—you bend over backwards for this challenging child and now they treat you like this? How can you de-escalate these situations in the moment so they don’t become full blown family meltdowns? What is the appropriate discipline for defiant behavior. I give you actual...

Do you ever feel like you are constantly explaining your child’s quirks or justifying your decisions to others? When do you insist that your kids get with the program and when do you accommodate their anxiety or preferences? Do you ever feel like you’re giving in while others claim tough consequences would work? How do you navigate highly charged situations without ruffling your family’s feathers?...

Your kids are going to do things that are annoying, irritating, and sometimes just wrong. You will be justified in getting angry and correcting them. But I want you to turn what usually separates you from your child…into a bonding opportunity to draw you closer. I want you to deal with your own triggers and control yourself…because that will change their behavior more quickly. Take advantage...

Do you have a child who would rather argue for 2 hours over homework rather than complete it in 30 minutes?! Those of us with ADHD or neurodivergent brains learn in different ways, but schools usually only teach one way…leaving us feeling inferior and frustrated. That leads to unnecessary stress and fights over homework. I want to share odd, but effective ways to improve focus and executive f...

How do you handle a child who talks back to you disrespectfully? How can you discipline without using fear and intimidation...or without being weak and permissive? Kirk gives you a script and action steps that work. AG1 Go to  https:// drinkag1.com/calm  to get a FREE Frother with your first purchase of AGZ. COZY EARTH Go to  https:// cozyearth.com  and use code CALM...

This is NOT a fear-based lecture to make parents feel guilty about screen usage! I want to give you practical scripts, guidelines, and an action plan for kids of all ages. How can you get kids off phones, video games, the iPad, YouTube, and social media without the fights? How can you teach kids to use screens responsibly? Let your kids listen and use this as a discussion starter. Go through the "...

Do you have a child who resists doing things your way, chooses the harder path, and sometimes touches the hot stove? What about a child who procrastinates on an important project or with chores? Does it irritate you that they won’t do it your way since that would be easier? Of course! Kirk shows you 10 specific ways to stop the constant fights and get your kids to be responsible for their meals, s...

What should you do if your child sneaks food or screens late at night? If a child has stolen your credit card for online purchases? How do you approach your teen or tween when you discover beer cans under their bed, a vaping pen in their backpack, or porn on their phone? What consequences will actually work? Kirk gives you specific scripts and a step-by-step process to prevent this from happening...

Do you have a child not living up to expectations? Do you feel like you're not being a good father if you're not correcting your kids? You can see very clearly what they need to be successful, but they aren't listening to you! Instead of getting frustrated or doubling down, learn one action to STOP doing and one to START doing that will make an immediate difference. All in less than 10 minute...

Do you have a child who is bossy, melts down over changes in plans or when little things go wrong? Acts like a sore loser when playing games? Collects little stones and acorns in their pant pockets? Wears the same clothes and eats the same foods? Likes to say, “That’s not fair!” and won’t stop following you until they prove their point? Has difficulty with executive function and following directio...

Do you have trouble getting your kids to school, appointments, or bed without a fight? Have a child who dawdles, resists your instructions, struggles with anxiety or focus? In this episode, I give you a range of creative, practical strategies to get kids of all ages moving more quickly…without the battles. Want more ideas like this? Take advantage of our Back-to-School Sale at  https://celebr...

Were you raised to believe that kids are supposed to be immediately obedient? Do you ever feel like you are doing something wrong because your strong-willed child isn’t very compliant? Do you ever feel caught in the middle trying to be the peacekeeper between a spouse or family members with unrealistic expectations or religious beliefs and kids who are just being kids? I want to free you from thes...

Do you have a strong-willed child who knows how to push your buttons, may be rude and defiant, won't push through when tasks are hard, appears lazy, and always asks, "Why?" when told to do something...instead of just doing what you ask? Kirk gives you scripts and strategies to motivate your child…and change your family for generations. Our Back-To-School Sale continues this week. Visit  https...

Do you have a child with BIG emotions? Of course you do. Do you or your spouse have big emotions? Yeah probably. The start of a new school year means big emotions are coming so I want to prepare you with 5 practical ideas and scripts to use WHEN the next meltdown occurs. Our Back-To-School Sale continues this week. Visit  https://celebratecalm.com/products/  to make this school year diff...

How do you teach kids of all ages to be resilient emotionally, control their own moods, and be responsible for their school work…without hovering or lecturing or enabling them as a parent? Kirk gives you specific scripts and action steps to raise more adaptable, flexible kids.  Our Back-To-School Sale begins now. Visit  https://celebratecalm.com/products/  to make this school y...

How do you get a toddler, teen, or child in between to be responsible for their own behavior? What about the teen who gets mad for not allowing social media or the toddler who lashes out because they don’t want your help? Kirk shows you how and when to back off…so your kids can step up. Our Back-To-School Sale begins now. Visit  https://celebratecalm.com/products/  to make this school ye...

What do you say and do when a child struggles with anxiety, refuses to go to school, has separation anxiety, or makes defiant comments? Kirk gives parents (and teachers) 5 concrete, specific strategies that work at home and in the classroom. Did you know that you can share our school programs with your child’s teachers? We have extended the Christmas in July Sale for an extra week so you can do so...

Your child IS going to struggle in school. How can you get teachers on board so they give your kids tools to succeed instead of punishing or calling you? Kirk gives you very powerful scripts and concrete examples to help prepare teachers for your child’s challenges and make this school year positive. Did you know that you can share our school programs with your child’s teachers? We have extended t...

Do you have a child who goes from 0 to 60 emotionally, lies when confronted with behavior, loves to argue like an attorney? What about a child who has shut down or feels misunderstood? How can you get a toddler or teen to actually listen to you? Kirk gives you 10 quick phrases you can use in different situations to de-escalate and stop power struggles. This is the final week of our Christmas...

Do you have a child who lashes out at you or siblings, who seems angry or frustrated? You can’t “consequence” that pain or frustration out of a kid. Is it coming from trauma, anger at a parent, lack of friendships, recent changes, or even gut issues? Kirk gives you deeper insight into what may be causing your child to yell, hit, or shut down so you can get to the root of it. Our Christmas in July...