
How to Survive an Upset Child
When your child melts down, do you freeze, give in, or reach for a distraction trick? Janet explains why trying to stop the storm only makes...
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Each episode addresses a reader's parenting issue through the lens of Janet's respectful parenting philosophy. Janet is a respected parenting adviser, author, and guest lecturer whose websit...

When your child melts down, do you freeze, give in, or reach for a distraction trick? Janet explains why trying to stop the storm only makes...

A parent describes a deceptively simple disagreement with her father about her 2.5-year-old son's unwillingness to share a bowl of blueberri...

When a toddler plays favorites, it stings. One parent writes: "It feels as if I'm being rejected when I'm the one who's with her all day, pu...

A mother writes that she's been struggling with her 5-year-old daughter lately, who's been "provoking and testing boundaries on a new level....

A parent describes her 4-year-old daughter as smart, funny, incredibly strong-willed, but sometimes “downright mean.” While she appreciates...

Janet offers her advice for handling typical playground behaviors in preschool-aged children, such as physical aggression, bossiness, and sh...

When a toddler throws his fork, tips over his bowl, and falls apart over the wrong-sized watermelon pieces — what is really going on? In thi...

A parent describes the power struggles he and his partner go through with their daughter to get her to brush her teeth. The process has dete...

In a previous 'Unruffled' episode, a parent reached out to Janet with concerns about her then 8-month-old son's play . "If I leave the room,...

You may have heard Janet, other parents, or early childhood professionals speak about "RIE" (pronounced "rye"). Perhaps they described "RIE"...

A parent writes that she's become uncomfortable with the language she's using when setting limits with her daughter. She's using a lot of "i...

A parent feels devastated by recent behavior her 5-year-old daughter has picked up from her peers. She has tried speaking calmly to her abou...

A parent feels confused by her children's demands and wonders if her boundaries are too unclear. Another parent feels overwhelmed by her 4-y...

Trauma informed coaches Lavinia Brown and Andrew Lynn join Janet to discuss how they help parents identify triggers and heal wounds that are...

Inspired by a couple's Instagram video of their determined toddler, Janet shares a 4-step sequence of responses to encourage our kids to per...

Janet responds to questions from two parents who describe their sensitive children struggling with separation, transitions, and general emot...

Toddler twins are suddenly melting down at bedtime. A 5-year-old is struggling to manage his unruly friend. Janet explains how parents in bo...

Janet believes that one of the biggest hurdles for us as parents is our own self-doubt and hopes that 2026 will be the year we stop second-g...

A parent struggles to control emotions like anger, frustration, and disappointment when they’re triggered by her toddler. While she strives...

A parent wants to get out of a cycle of bribing her 3.5-year old and writes to Janet for help. “It seems that in order to get him to do anyt...

Every child is certainly unique, but when it comes to their behavior, we can sometimes complicate a situation that might really be quite sim...

As parents, we do our best to raise kind, thoughtful, appreciative kids. But despite our efforts, our children can sometimes seem downright...

Janet responds to emails from parents who describe struggling with their children’s strong emotions. One writes that her 2-year-old rejects...

We all aspire for our children to grow up with a positive self-image and an abundance of self-confidence. When life throws our child a dilem...

A parent describes her 5.5-year old as the love of her life. Lately, though, her daughter has been dissolving into silly, immature behavior...

In this episode: Janet receives a follow-up message from the mom she helped last week in the episode "Demanding, Stressed, and Aggressive—Wh...

A stressed parent writes that her 4-year-old has been having a very difficult time for the past year. He's anxious, easily frustrated, "scre...

A parent writes that the bedtime routine with her 5.5 year old daughter has become an all-consuming marathon, and she feels exhausted, frust...

At the heart of Janet's parenting approach is respectful, honest communication between us and our kids beginning in infancy—which means obse...

No matter how we approach raising our children, there are times we'll feel physically, mentally, or emotionally exhausted. Maybe all of the...

It's common for young children to go through phases of unwarranted aggression, usually directed at the ones they love most. Janet has noted...

You've no doubt heard by now about the countless benefits of our children's self-directed play. Less understood is how to nurture this inval...

We all hope to raise polite, well-behaved kids who follow rules and comply with requests, assuming these are fair, just, and appropriate. We...

The root causes for our children's behaviors—especially the behaviors that most alarm and confuse us—are often confusing and complex. Someti...

As parents, we're naturally protective of our kids' feelings and sensibilities, but as they mature and venture out socially, it's also our j...

Transitions tend to be difficult for young children, and they express their struggles in a variety of concerning ways. They may be focused t...

The parent of a 7-year-old describes writes that her daughter has become relentlessly negative and argumentative. "It feels like everything...

It's unnerving when our kids engage in conflict with siblings or peers, whether it's over a toy, their perceived 'space', or even our attent...

Janet welcomes a timely visit from iconic educator Mr. Chazz who shares how parents and teachers can help kids successfully transition to a...

A parent describes her 4-year-old son as energetic, independent and strong-willed. While she appreciates her son’s enthusiasm and free spiri...

The practice of acknowledging our children's feelings and struggles can provide healing, calming messages of safety and acceptance. With a g...

Janet responds to 3 messages from listeners who say their kids exhibit aggressive or violent behavior towards their peers, in one case "push...

In a previous "Unruffled" episode, Janet offered advice to a parent who was struggling with potty training. That parent wrote back recently...

In this popular encore episode, a parent writes that she’s overwhelmed by her two girls constantly demanding her attention, following her ar...

Janet is joined by Grace Lautman, a therapist and nutritionist who focuses on eating disorders, the conditions that can create and aggravate...

We all want our kids to enjoy thriving friendships, to feel appreciated by supportive peers. But that's not always case, and it can be heart...

RIE expert Hari Grebler joins Janet to discuss her respectful and surprisingly simple ideas for helping our babies to sleep. Hari's positive...

3 families reach out to Janet and ask, "How do I say it?" Listen to find out more! Janet's "No Bad Kids Master Course" is available at NoBad...

"I'm annoying, bad, stupid, not good at anything. I hate myself." It can be disconcerting to hear our kids say such unkind things about them...

Janet responds to three parents who are worried that their kids seem overly anxious and sensitive in social situations. Each parent has trie...