Parenting can feel particularly overwhelming when children’s behaviour doesn’t make sense.
In this episode of Where Parents Talk, host Lianne Castelino speaks to pediatrician and author Dr. Kristen Cook, who shares science-based insights into child behaviour and development, helping parents better understand what’s happening inside their child’s brain.
With more than 15 years of experience caring for children, Dr. Cook explains why the brain doesn’t fully mature until the mid-20s and how that reality affects everything from toddler tantrums to teenage risk-taking.
The conversation explores how modern parenting is evolving toward emotional intelligence and how parents can shift from punishment to discipline that teaches lifelong skills.
Dr. Cook also discusses:
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Why misbehaviour is often a sign of an overwhelmed brain
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How to parent children with different temperaments
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What brain science reveals about teen decision-making
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How empathy and boundaries work together in effective parenting
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Why staying calm as a parent can shape a child’s emotional regulation
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Simple strategies to reduce parenting stress and guilt
DR. KRISTEN COOK
Pediatrician
Child Behaviour Expert
Podcaster
Author
Mom of 2
“Misbehaviour is usually an expression of an overwhelmed brain — not an act of defiance.”
