BratBusters Parenting Podcast

BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Lisa Bunnage is a Parenting Coach, mom and grandmother. Lisa is not a licensed psychologist or counsellor. Her services do not replace the care of psychologists or other healthcare professionals. For a full disclaimer, please visit bratbusters.com/disclaimer

Raising Confident Problem Solvers as a Calm Parenting Leader Dec 01, 2025

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#120 Welcome to the final episode of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses what she believes the payoff of calm leadership parenting is including laying the foundation for calm leadership parenting, raising problem solvers, tips for parenting teenagers, not showing judgement when your teenager makes a mistake, and part-time jobs for teenagers.
Lastly, Lisa addresses six listener questions, covering how to move forward after making parenting mistakes, strategies for getting kids to listen and not fight in the car, raising a child who is polite but not a pushover, managing meltdowns caused by a 5-year-old's perfectionism, what to do when kids won't fess up to making a mess, and how to effectively incorporate play and fun as a calm leader.

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3-Year-Old Transition & Height of Calm Leadership Parenting Power Nov 30, 2025

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#119 Welcome to part six of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses parenting kids ages 3-12 covering topics including the BratBusters Behaviour Board, consequences for parents, the importance of connecting with your kids, the fork in the road at thee, and wanting to tackle everything on day one of calm leadership.
Lastly, Lisa addresses nine listener questions, covering how to stop using tablets for kids around dinner, a 5-year-old who whines and cries when told "no," what to do with behaviors that aren't on the BratBusters Behaviour Board, a 3-year-old who bosses around friends at daycare, strategies for morning routines with a 3-year-old, a 6-year-old who gets upset when he doesn't get his way, a 3-year-old who cries during preschool drop-off, appropriate consequences when out in public, and tips for staying consistent as a calm leader.

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BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Toddler Parenting Guide (Moving Past the Overwhelm) Nov 29, 2025

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#118 Welcome to part five of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses parenting toddlers where she covers her top five tips for parenting toddlers, saying no to your toddler, feeling overwhelmed as a toddler parent, preparing a toddler for a new baby, her approach to grandparenting, and her main focus as a calm leader.
Lastly, Lisa addresses eight listener questions, covering a toddler who is constantly saying no to everything, a 29-month-old starting hitting and pushing other children, a 17-month-old screaming for attention or when challenged, when the reason for toddler hitting isn't clear, a toddler attempting to hurt a new sibling, what to do when other kids grab toys from a timid 18-month-old, a toddler hitting food and drink away, and the concept of making compromises with a toddler.

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BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Handling the Parenting Chaos: Tantrums, Whining & More! Nov 28, 2025

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#117 Welcome to part four of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses handling the chaos as a parent, how she approaches tantrums, the difference between tantrums about needs compared to tantrums about wants, whether or not all kids have tantrums, public tantrums, how she approaches whining, and her view on kids who are more defiant.
Lastly, Lisa addresses eight listener questions, covering how to definitively know when your kid is having a tantrum, navigating tantrums when a husband handles them differently, managing tantrums that occur around bedtime, whether to pick up a toddler during a tantrum, strategies for approaching toddler tantrums when they're interrupting the household, how to handle 13-month-old tantrums, when and how to discuss emotions with kids, and the best way to address attitude and yelling.

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BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Discipline Basics & Staying Calm During the Storms Nov 27, 2025

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#116 Welcome to part three of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses how discipline looks as a calm leader depending on the age of your kids, staying calm during the storms, discussing bad behaviour with kids, her thoughts on warnings, timeouts, the countdown method, yelling, and threats, consequence ideas, the importance of connection, and having fun and being goofy as a parent.
Lastly, Lisa addresses six listener questions, covering a 4-year-old breaking multiple rules, a 4-year-old hitting others, an 11-year-old who won't complete their consequence, a toddler hitting their older sibling, how to manage a media blackout when you have multiple kids, and toddlers who won't share.

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Why Connection & Fun With Your Kids Is So Important Nov 26, 2025

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#115 Welcome to part two of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses the importance of connecting with your kids in their world as a parent. She covers topics including why she believes connection is important, how connection looks throughout different ages, approaching connection and play when you’re not naturally goofy, balancing connecting and working full-time, grandparents giving unsolicited advice, whether or not connecting with your kids more often makes it easier when you need to stop the fun or leave a fun place, kids reactions to heightened emotions, what connecting with your kids in their world looks like, and connecting during mundane tasks.
Lastly, Lisa addresses six listener questions, covering a 3-year-old throwing things at their parent, kids throwing tantrums in the middle of dinner or when leaving the house, toddlers' behavior being impacted by extended family, children not wanting to leave the park, a toddler telling their mom to go away when around other people, and how to approach situations when other kids who aren't your own break a rule at your house.

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BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Foundations & Core Concepts of Calm Leadership Parenting Nov 25, 2025

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#114 Welcome to part one of the seven part Calm Leadership Parenting Series. In this episode, Lisa discusses what she considers to be the foundations and core concepts of calm leadership, the pool story, the difference between the authority, pleaser, and calm leader parenting styles, why some parents feel like they want to raise their kids differently from how they were raised, why the goal of calm leadership isn’t blind obedience, and what qualities she sees in parents who are calm leaders.
Lastly, Lisa addresses five listener questions, covering whether to reward a 7-year-old for good behavior at piano lessons, specific examples for the BratBusters Behaviour Board for a 9-year-old, how to approach behaviors that aren't on the board, dealing with a 34-month-old's aggressive behavior at daycare, and the feeling of constantly handing out consequences to your kids.

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Courses:

BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Stop With the Constant Reminders as a Parent (Breaking the Micromanaging Cycle) Nov 20, 2025

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#113 In this episode, Lisa discusses how to stop micromanaging as a parent. She touches on topics such as how she would approach the situation when your kids aren’t listening to you, her thoughts on the word obedient, the temptation to micromanage and nag as a parent, and what calm leadership parenting is all about.
Lastly, Lisa addresses five listener questions, covering a 4-year-old jumping too close to a new baby, a 3-year-old struggling with the morning routine, a 3-year-old testing boundaries, a 3-year-old who won't listen and sit at the table for dinner, and strategies for getting kids to listen the first time.

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Courses:

BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

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Podcast Questions:

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The Big Parenting Shift When Your Kids Turn Three Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

#112 In this episode, Lisa shares her thoughts on the fork in the road when kids turn three. Throughout the conversation she covers topics like preparing for this stage in the toddler years, the difference between discipline for toddlers and discipline for kids, the fact that parenting can be hard, and the importance of connection with calm leadership.
Lastly, Lisa addresses seven listener questions, covering a 3-year-old hitting their 2-year-old sister, a 3-year-old interrupting conversations, defiant behavior and screaming from a 3-year-old, the struggle of losing your cool as a parent, maintaining structure while homeschooling, a toddler pushing other kids at daycare, and a 3-year-old who is constantly whining.

Thank you for joining us!

Courses:

BratBusters Behaviour Board (Plus Toddler Basics) No-Cost Mini Course

Learn More:

Podcast Questions:

Have a question you'd like to submit for a chance to be featured in an upcoming podcast episode?