What Many Parents Get Wrong About Toddler Behavior

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Devon Kuntzman and I dive deep into what’s really happening inside your toddler’s brain when they lose it — and how you can respond without spiralling yourself. We unpack why your child’s meltdowns aren’t your fault, what they’re trying to tell you through their behavior, and the simple mindset shift that will change how you see tantrums forever. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is my child doing this to me?” or “I said no… why can’t they just listen?” then this episode will make you feel seen, supported, and ready for the next tantrum (yes, really). In this episode, you’ll learn: The real reason toddlers have tantrums (and why it’s developmentally healthy Why “all behavior is communication” — and how to decode what your child is saying through their actions How to stay calm and compassionate even when you’re triggered Why giving in “just this once” actually leads to more tantrums What to do when your child prefers the other parent — and how to not take it personally Devon’s 3-ingredient “Recipe for Effective Discipline” that works with every tantrum How to model emotional regulation — even if you never learned it growing up Get Devon's book here: Follow her on Instagram: @transformingtoddlerhood Read our blog post: Support the show Do you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child. Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video): Or purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:

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What Many Parents Get Wrong About Toddler Behavior is an episode from Curious Neuron by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D..

This episode is 51:17 long.

This episode was published on Oct 20, 2025.

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