116: How to Translate the Language of Your Child or Teen's Behavior with Wendy Snyder

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s behavior and thought, “What is going on right now?”—you’re not alone.

In this episode, we go beyond surface-level parenting advice and get into something deeper: what your child’s behavior is actually trying to communicate.

Wendy Snyder introduces a powerful framework that helps you “translate” your child’s actions in real time. Instead of reacting with frustration, you’ll start to see patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities to teach life skills. It’s a shift that can completely change how you experience everyday parenting moments.

Along the way, you may find yourself rethinking what it really means to be a “strict” parent, and whether the strategies you’ve been using are actually helping in the long run.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The four hidden reasons behind most misbehavior
• How to tell if your child is seeking attention, power, revenge, or support
• Why punishment often makes behavior worse instead of better
• What to do when your child says hurtful or dramatic things
• How to stay calm when your child is upset with your rules
• The difference between firm boundaries and “strict” parenting
• How to stop power struggles before they escalate
• Why your mindset matters just as much as your parenting strategy

If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of frustration or wondering why nothing seems to “work,” this conversation will give you a new lens to look through ... and a few moments that might just change how you respond the next time your child pushes back.

Did you miss part 1 of this episode? Watch or listen here.

Resources We Mention for Understanding Your Child's Behavior

• Pre-order Wendy's new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.
• My mini-episode about boundaries especially for teens
• Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna Kappadakunnel
• Listen to Wendy's episode on parenting "cactus kids"
• More on power struggles, positive parenting, and forgoing traditional discipline in this episode with Amy McCready
• My episode on the Fresh St

Check out the cookbook FOR kids, BY kids at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

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