In this episode, Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson tackle one of the most painful moments in parenting: when your child looks at you and says, “I hate you.”

Those words can sting, shock, and even shake your confidence as a parent. But Tammy and Tania explain why this moment is far less about hatred — and far more about big feelings, overwhelmed nervous systems, and developing brains that don’t yet have the skills to say what they truly mean.

You’ll learn what’s actually happening beneath those words, why kids often say this to the people they feel safest with, and how your response in that moment can either escalate the situation or help your child return to regulation.

In this conversation, we cover:

• why “I hate you” is often a sign of emotional overload, not disrespect

• how brain development limits kids’ ability to express complex feelings

• what not to say in the moment

• how to stay calm when you feel hurt or triggered

👀 Something Big Is Coming for Parents…

We’re launching The Parent Coach — and trust us, you’re going to want this in your back pocket. More details soon!

The 2026 ICP Parenting Summit is coming!

Join us March 16–19 for 35+ expert masterclasses and four interactive half-day workshops, featuring leading voices like Ross Greene, Laura Markham, Robert Melillo, Lawrence Cohen, Kim John Payne, and Jon Fogel. We’ll be diving into the topics parents need most: screens, discipline, anxiety, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, resilience, play, and more.

The summit is completely free, and VIP packages include lifetime access, toolkits, certificates, and a digital copy of The Parenting Handbook.

Click here to save your seat!

• how to repair and reconnect after the storm has passed

• ways to build emotional skills so these explosions happen less often

Tammy and Tania share compassionate, practical strategies that help parents lead with steadiness instead of shame or punishment. You’ll walk away understanding how to hold boundaries while still protecting your connection — even in the hardest moments.

If you’ve ever felt crushed, angry, or unsure what to do after hearing those words, this episode will help you see them differently and respond in a way that strengthens your relationship rather than strains it.

A must-listen for parents raising emotionally healthy, resilient kids.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we’re joined by Devon Kuntzman, parenting educator, early childhood specialist, and advocate for developmentally informed, connection-based discipline.

Devon is best known for helping parents reframe toddler behavior—not as defiance or misbehavior, but as communication rooted in brain development, emotional growth, and a deep need for connection. With years of experience supporting families through the most intense and misunderstood years of early childhood, Devon brings clarity and compassion to moments that often leave parents feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure.

Together, we explore how our cultural definition of discipline often sets parents and toddlers up for struggle—and why traditional approaches like punishment, threats, or time-outs frequently backfire during the toddler years. Devon explains what’s actually happening in a toddler’s developing brain during meltdowns, refusal, and power struggles, and why expecting impulse control or emotional regulation from young children is both unrealistic and unfair.

Drawing from her book Transforming Toddlerhood , Devon helps parents understand why toddler behavior isn’t personal—and how shifting from control to connection can completely change the parenting experience. We talk about the critical difference between discipline and punishment, what toddlers truly learn when fear or control is used, and how parents can respond in ways that build emotional regulation, resilience, and long-term mental health.

Known for her relatable, shame-free approach, Devon empowers parents to trust themselves, regulate their own nervous systems, and move through toddlerhood with confidence rather than constant correction. This conversation is especially supportive for caregivers who want to raise emotionally healthy children without losing themselves in the process.

If you’ve ever wondered:

* Why doesn’t traditional discipline work with toddlers?

* What is my child actually trying to tell me through their behavior?

* How can I set limits without damaging our relationship?

This episode offers reassurance, insight, and a powerful reframe that many parents have been waiting for.

Devon's Book "Transforming Toddlerhood: How to Handle Tantrums, End Power Struggles, and Raise Resilient Kids---Without Losing Your Mind" --> https://a.co/9AGhuXk

Devon is a featured speaker at our 2026 Children's Mental Health and Parenting Summit. To register for this FREE event please visit: https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/summit-registration-spring-2026/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we’re joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Noor of Jordan—author, mother, and passionate advocate for raising emotionally healthy children through compassion, presence, and storytelling.

Princess Noor takes us behind the scenes of her meaningful children’s books, including Sometimes, Pandy’s Book of Thanks, and Whisper’s Journey, exploring why themes like emotional awareness, kindness, mindfulness, and gratitude are not “extras,” but foundational skills for childhood.

Together, we talk about how stories can help children name and move through big feelings, build emotional intelligence, and strengthen parent-child connection. Princess Noor also shares gentle, practical ways parents and educators can use storytelling as a tool for shared regulation—helping kids feel safe, understood, and supported during emotional moments.

We also explore how motherhood shaped her writing, how her Jordanian heritage influences the messages she shares, and what she hopes children will carry with them long after the book is closed: a deeper sense of self-worth, calm, and compassion.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most powerful emotional tools come in the form of a simple story—read together.

👀 Something Big Is Coming for Parents…

We’re launching The Parent Coach — and trust us, you’re going to want this in your back pocket. More details soon!

The 2026 ICP Parenting Summit is coming!

Join us March 16–19 for 35+ expert masterclasses and four interactive half-day workshops, featuring leading voices like Ross Greene, Laura Markham, Robert Melillo, Lawrence Cohen, Kim John Payne, and Jon Fogel. We’ll be diving into the topics parents need most: screens, discipline, anxiety, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, resilience, play, and more.

The summit is completely free, and VIP packages include lifetime access, toolkits, certificates, and a digital copy of The Parenting Handbook.

Click here to save your seat!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.