Calm Parenting Podcast
Kirk Martin
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
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 29, 2026 • 25min
Child Great One-on-One, But Disrupts Family Dynamic, Won’t Apologize to Sibling? #577
They tackle kids who behave perfectly one-on-one but disrupt family time and spark chaos when everyone’s together. They explore why demanding apologies and strict consequences often escalate power struggles. Practical tactics are offered for giving children ownership, aligning parents, and using a calm script to deescalate tense moments.
Mar 25, 2026 • 24min
Help For Kids Who Want To Quit, Complain, Be Negative, Are Messy & Forgetful, Compete With Siblings, Have ADHD #576
Practical fixes for kids who complain, sulk, or use negative self-talk. Tips for messy or forgetful kids, including organization strategies and memory tools. Guidance on sibling rivalry and one-upmanship, plus how to build real confidence. Advice on letting children quit activities and managing short attention spans. Quick strategies for venting and helping kids understand their emotional wiring.
Mar 22, 2026 • 24min
Teaching Impulse Control With Screens, Teens, Toddlers & Teachers II #575
Practical tactics for teaching impulse control with screens, from a 24-hour cart rule for teens to drafting texts before sending. Hands-on tools for little kids include a tactile choice ball and classroom talk tickets to curb blurting. Strategies cover sensory diets, exercise to burn excess energy, setting phone response limits, and collaborative risk planning to build delayed gratification.
Mar 20, 2026 • 23min
We Got Our PDA/ADHD/ND Son Off Screens & Out of the House! #574
A family's struggle with PDA/ADHD/ND sparks creative solutions to pull a child off screens and out of his room. They build a thrifted inventor's workshop and use hands-on business projects to teach real-world skills. Dad reconnects by partnering on projects and gradually expands responsibilities and social experiences. The story highlights small wins, negotiated steps, and practical ways to rebuild trust.
12 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 23min
22 Ways to Teach Impulse Control & Delayed Gratification #573
Practical tactics for teaching kids impulse control and delayed gratification are unpacked in short, actionable ideas. Play-based drills, food-waiting exercises, and family traditions are highlighted. Concrete money strategies, waiting rules, and screen-management tricks are offered. Modeling self-control and embedding simple routines make patience a repeatable habit.
Mar 15, 2026 • 22min
Kids Who Get Angry, Say "I'm Stupid" or Shut Down When You Remind or Correct Them? #572
How reminders can feel like shame to sensitive or neurodivergent kids and spark meltdowns. Ways to normalize forgetfulness instead of blaming. A strength-focused script to counter “I’m stupid” self-talk. Concrete memory tools, routines, and gentle correction tactics. A weeklong challenge to notice strengths and rebuild confidence.
Mar 11, 2026 • 23min
Raising A Resilient, Responsible Child (Even When They Are Slamming Things!) #571
They discuss why letting kids feel frustration builds resilience and confidence. Parents are urged to step back, model regulation, and stop fixing moods. Hear practical strategies like sensory tools, motion to shift emotion, and apologizing when you micromanage. The conversation highlights praising self-calming and creating space for growth.
14 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 22min
Get Resistant Kids to Get Off Screens, Come to Dinner, Transition Without Fights #570
Strategies for melting resistance when kids ignore calls to come in or get off screens. Tips on entering a child’s world to build connection before guiding transitions. Using color-coded cues and reset routines to reduce nightly fights. Ways to turn gaming interests into bonding moments and easier conversations.
Mar 4, 2026 • 23min
Be The Cycle-Breaker: 3 Scripts to Break the Parenting Patterns You Grew Up With #569
Practical scripts for interrupting the parenting patterns you inherited. Short prompts and affirmations to reparent your inner child. Concrete examples of learned roles like perfectionist, caretaker, and peacemaker. Reflective questions to help you spot which habits to change.
Mar 1, 2026 • 24min
5 Scripts When Kids Argue, Prove Their Point, Won't Relent. #568
Strategies for handling relentless, justice-driven kids are laid out in five practical scripts. Learn how to acknowledge argumentative skills without conceding. Discover ways to redirect intensity into responsibility and delayed decisions to teach impulse control. Hear techniques for validating fairness, asking what the child truly wants, and rebuilding trust through ownership.
