How Not to Screw Up Your Kids2 Jul 2025

My Child is a Force of Nature... and So Am I! 7 Strategies for Parenting Strong-Willed Kids

Strong-willed, stubborn, defiant, opinionated, headstrong - that's how I like to think of myself for recording a podcast during a heatwave! But it could also be some of the words you use to describe your child. If so, this episode is for you.

I know what it's like when your child is naturally headstrong. They can be a force of nature, and some days parenting them feels impossible... especially if they inherited these character traits from you! In this 30-minute episode, I'm sharing my 7 go-to strategies to help you overcome those daily challenges we all face.

What I'll share with you:

How I've learned to reframe those impossible situations
My favorite ways to empower kids through meaningful choices
Why I discovered that strong-willed children learn differently (and how to work with their nature)
Communication techniques that actually work in my home
How we established family values that stick
Why I believe being quick to apologize changes everything

This episode is perfect if you're dealing with:

Daily power struggles and defiant behavior
A child who seems impossible to parent some days
The challenge of parenting a mini-me who inherited your headstrong traits
Feeling like you're parenting in a "war zone"

Whether you're in the thick of it right now or just need some fresh strategies for your force-of-nature child, I'm here to offer hope and practical solutions that have worked for me and countless other parents.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:00 - Podcasting in a heatwave

00:56 - Parenting in a war zone

05:48 - Common traits of headstrong children

08:36 - How to reframe a situation

13:45 - How to empower by giving our kids choices

17:12 - Strong-willed children learn from experience

18:54 - Communicate regularly

21:19 - Family values

23:30 - Be quick to apologise

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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