Have a strong-willed child who doesn't respond to consequences, argues like an attorney, and refuses to do things your way? Good! You're in the right place. Celebrate Calm Founder Kirk Martin has given over 1,000,000 parents and teachers around the world practical, life-changing strategies to stop power struggles, yelling, and defiance NOW. Based on work with 1,500 challenging kids (many with AD/HD, OCD, ODD, ASD, etc.) in his home, and years spent in classrooms, Kirk's approach is refreshingly practical, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny! Questions? Visit us at www.CelebrateCalm.com or email us directly at Casey@CelebrateCalm.com
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Your strong-willed kids experience childhood differently than other kids. Sometimes it’s hard to really understand. There’s no instruction manual for these kids. This episode will give you much-needed, rare insight into how to help your kids feel confident and good about themselves. We encourage you to let your kids listen to parts of this episode to prompt helpful conversations. Our Summer Sale continues this week. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/products to take advantage of our Summer Sale on...
This episode delves into understanding and managing childhood anxiety, offering specific strategies to help children navigate new experiences like summer camp, moving, or starting a new school. It highlights why traditional discipline often fails with anxious kids and provides alternative calm parenting techniques focused on validating emotions, giving children a sense of control, and fostering resilience through practical missions and understanding.
Kirk Martin offers practical guidance for fathers struggling to connect with their children, especially strong-willed ones. He emphasizes taking a genuine interest in their world, even if it seems "childish," and engaging without judgment or interrogation. Through specific examples and personal anecdotes, the episode encourages dads to be present, listen actively, and embrace vulnerability to foster deeper, more impactful family relationships.
Our greatest enemy is our own self-inflicted parental anxiety. It sabotages our efforts and hurts relationships. Your anxiety yields the exact opposite outcome you want—your kids resist you and misbehave more! Kirk gives you 7 action steps and scripts to break this negative cycle. Our Summer Sale begins now. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/products to take advantage of our Summer Sale on the Get Everything Package. You get 35 hours of practical strategies for the cost of one trip to a therapist....
You’re supposed to be on vacation relaxing. Instead, your strong-willed child doesn’t listen, makes “bad choices,” and someone gets hurt. This can either ruin your vacation with endless fights OR be an opportunity to change behavior and draw closer to the challenging child. There is A LOT of insight into strong-willed kids in this fun, instructive story. Our Summer Sale begins now. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/products to take advantage of our Summer Sale on the Get Everything Package. You ge...
How do you motivate kids to do tasks without reminding them 18 times...or do uncomfortable things without arguing every single day? What should you do when a child defies you, disregards your instructions, doesn't do school work or go to sports practice? Should you force your teenager to go on family vacation? Kirk's answers may surprise you and give you ideas for handling your toughest situations. Our Mother's Day Sale ends THIS weekend. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/mothers-day/ to purchase ...
Kirk Martin shares 10 ways to prevent power struggles and drama with children of all ages. He offers insights on responding to defiant teenagers, understanding their emotional highs, and implementing effective communication strategies. The episode also covers approaches for "spicy" toddlers, emphasizing positive parental attitudes, embracing their nature, and creating opportunities for success to build resilience and confidence in kids.
Plans get changed, your child gets disappointed or doesn’t get his way. This turns into a nuclear meltdown with defiance and disrespect. But there is a solution. Do you know WHY your kids sometimes go scorched earth? How can you de-escalate everyday situations without threatening consequences or talking too “calmly” to your kids? Kirk gives you five specific action steps and a creative script to use. Our Mother's Day Sale ends THIS weekend. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/mothers-day/ to purchas...
No wonder you second guess yourself—you are doing the hardest job on the planet while being observed and judged by the people you thought would support you in this…and sometimes you even get undermined from within your home. You constantly feel the need to take the temperature of the home and then get accused of coddling your child when you are just protecting your child. You are courageously dealing with childhood trauma and breaking generational patterns. I am so freaking proud of you! I hope ...
I want your kids to have the tools to clean up their own messes in life—with siblings, with a future spouse, with classmates, within themselves. To know how to deal with internal disappointment and frustration. And you, of course, want your kids to clean up their physical messes in your home! How can you do this without ruining your relationship or constantly resorting to consequences? Kirk shares five different ways to get your kids to be responsible for themselves. This is the FINAL Week of Ou...
So what DOES trigger you? Messes, sibling fights, kids not listening, whining and complaining and tantrums, silliness at bedtime, kids talking back, procrastination? Maybe all of these common things! Kirk gives you specific action steps so you can preserve your sanity, overcome your triggers, stop reacting AND get your kids to be responsible for themselves. Our Mother's Day Sale continues this week. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/mothers-day/ to purchase the Get Everything Package at the lowest...
"How do I get my husband on board with parenting our kids differently?" Kirk provides 10 concrete approaches with actual scripts and examples to use in different situations. You can use a mix soft and tough approaches to motivate and encourage your husband to get on the same page. The perfect way to get on the same page with your spouse is to take advantage of our Mother's Day Sale. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/mothers-day/ to purchase the Get Everything Package at the lowest prices of the ye...
You ask your strong-willed child to do something that’s not a big deal, but they instantly refuse or ask, “Why?” Is your child being defiant, rebellious or difficult on purpose? Or is something else going on? Kirk gives you an actual script and 5 specific action steps so you know how to handle this situation next time. Take advantage of our Mother's Day Sale! Visit https://celebratecalm.com/mothers-day/ to purchase the Get Everything Package at the lowest prices of the year. Moms, do this for yo...
Many of our kids begin to internalize, “I’m a bad kid, I’m slow so I’m not smart, there’s something wrong with me. I’m always in trouble, no one is ever happy with me.” That internal dialogue will sabotage your child’s success and relationships for a lifetime (many of us still struggle with limiting beliefs). The good news is we can change that NOW. Kirk gives you specific scripts to cultivate your child’s confidence and help teachers get on board. Our Mother's Day Sale Begins This Week! Visit h...
I don’t know what it’s like to be a Mom. So I wanted to share the powerful reflections of a real life Mom—not an expert Mom or someone who has it all together—for three reasons. Because her voice, like yours, deserves to be heard and respected and honored. I think this will encourage A LOT of Moms so you feel seen. And you may want to ask/request that your husband listen to this as an early Mother’s Day gift so he really understands you. Our Mother's Day Sale Begins TODAY! Visit https://celebrat...
The normal parenting strategies don't work with strong-willed kids! You are doing all the things you are supposed to do. The time-outs, behavior charts, and taking away phones are not changing your kids' behavior--whether they are toddlers or teens or adopted. Kirk gives you specific action steps that DO work with kids of all ages. This is the final week of our Spring Sale on the Get Everything Package. Get hundreds of practical strategies that really work with your strong-willed kids. Visit htt...
5 Things I Feared About My Son & His Future #470 Our son had extremely intense meltdowns, got in trouble routinely at school, didn't study or try his hardest, had a messy bedroom, and left lights on everywhere. Diagnosed with an alphabet soup of labels, he didn't listen, did argue, and underperformed in school. How did we address these issues and did we really have reasons to fear for his future? This is both very practical and encouraging! This is the FINAL week of our Spring Sale on the Ge...
Moody Child Who Blames YOU? 5 Ways to Avoid Emotional Collisions #467 You have a child who is moody and disrespectful. You tell her that attitude is not tolerated in your home. She keeps coming at you. You try staying calm, but eventually everyone ends up yelling and you impose consequences. She then blames you for her attitude. How can you stop this vicious cycle? Kirk gives you five specific action steps and a script. Take advantage of our Big Spring Sale and Get 50% OFF now at https://celebra...
Why Kids Refuse Homework (ADHD), Fight Siblings & Argue #468 Do you have kids who argue like attorneys, pick on siblings, resist doing homework, procrastinate, and/or do things the hard way? Kids who chew on things, talk loudly, like to push buttons? Of course you do! Kirk gives you scripts and practical action steps to stop the constant power struggles and fights! Take advantage of our Big Spring Sale and Get 50% OFF now at https://celebratecalm.com/products Get hundreds of practical strate...
Why Won't My Child Apologize? Disrupts Family/Sibling Dynamic #467 Your child says something mean to her sister. She knows it's wrong. But when you ask for a simple apology, she digs in and refuses. How can you get contrition instead of a forced, fake apology? Do you have a child who is great one-on-one, but then disrupts the entire family dynamic when you're all together? Kirk shows you practical ways to navigate these tough situations. Take advantage of our Big Spring Sale and Get 50% OFF now ...
Q&A: Kids Interrupt On Phone, Co-Parenting, Kids Who Lose It When Lose Games, Focus in Classroom #466 How can you stop your kids from interrupting while you’re on the phone? How do you handle a child who loses it emotionally (in front of all the other parents!) when he loses a game? How can you co-parent better when you have joint custody? How can you improve focus in the classroom? You find something grown up in your teen’s bedroom—how do you address that? Kirk answers all these questions w...
Stop Lying & Stealing. Help for Adopted Kids. Alternatives to Spanking? #465 Most of our kids lie and you may be surprised why. Many of our kids—especially our adopted kids—steal. Kirk gives you creative strategies and scripts to stop the lying and stealing while building trust (without spanking or yelling). Visit https://celebratecalm.com/products to take advantage of our Spring Sale on The Get Everything Package. Get hundreds of practical strategies that really work with your strong-willed...
Defiant, Disrespectful Child: A Script to Repair Your Relationship #464 You have a challenging child who says disrespectful things to you. You would be justified in punishing this child, but that won’t fix the underlying relationship that’s strained or broken. This is a powerful real life story with a script and action steps to repair this relationship with a strong-willed child. Share with Dads. These ideas are from the No B.S. Program, part of the Get Everything Package now 50% OFF with our Sp...
Adoption #2: Kids Who Never Seem Full or Happy, Unhealthy Attachments, Separation & Sleep Issues #463 In this special episode, Kirk addresses these specific issues from parents of adopted kids: Our son will attach himself to anyone who gives him positive or negative attention. Our daughter always wants to be attached to only me and won’t separate. Our child has a "love bucket" with a giant hole in the bottom. Our kids never seem full, even with so much constant attention and love. It seems l...
Q&A: Kids Who Complain, Compete with Siblings, Quit Sports? Anxiety and OCD Issues? Teen Priorities? #462 Do you have kids who complain incessantly and seem like they are miserable (especially when you’re supposed to be having fun!)? Should you allow a child to quit a sport? How can you help a child anxious and obsessed over something? What should we focus on in the teen years? How do you handle kids who one-up each other or compete for attention with a younger sibling? Kirk answers these qu...
3 Easy Ways to Change Your Child’s Behavior Quickly (Discipline That Works!) #461 What is one easy way to change your kids’ behavior that has nothing to do with changing them? How can you teach your kids impulse control and delayed gratification? Want to replace behavior charts with a tool that will get to the root of the behavior? Kirk shares over a dozen practical strategies you can begin ASAP to change your family. These ideas are from the updated Discipline That Works program, part of the Ge...
Do Adopted Kids Struggle More? Part #1 #460 Parents often believe if you adopt a child from birth and provide a loving home, that will mitigate most issues. It doesn’t usually work that way. There is no judgment here. Just the reality that trauma triggers different issues. That can manifest in kids with an insatiable craving for intensity, sensory pressure, connection, food, and things. Adoptive parents should not feel guilty or alone when their kids struggle. Please share this with support grou...
A Life-Changing Script for Kids With Negative Self-Talk (Forgetful, ADHD) #459 Do you have kids who react angrily, lash out, or have a meltdown when you correct them or remind them to do something? Does your child struggle with short-term memory or forgetting things? Do you have a child who beats himself and says things like, “I am so stupid!”? It can be painful to watch this and hear the negative self-talk. Kirk provides a script and action steps that can completely change how your child sees h...
Raising A Resilient, Responsible Child (Even When They Thrash About!) #458 How do you NOT react and get triggered when your child is in a bad mood or slamming dresser drawers, then acts like nothing happened? I want your kids to feel frustrated and distressed…so they learn that they are capable of working through hard things in life. Kirk shows you how to resist jumping in to fix situations so your kids can develop the confidence and resilience to solve their own problems. Super important so ple...
Kids Ignore, Resist, or Fight You? Get Them Moving More Quickly. #457 Why can't your kids just come when you ask them? Does it always have to be a fight? It's like they can't hear you when playing video games. They aren't grateful for time with friends--they lash out when you pick them up. And when you call them for dinner, all you hear is, "Just a couple more minutes" and they ignore you. It's frustrating! Kirk shows you a powerful strategy that melts resistance, gets kids moving, and creates b...
