In this conversation, toddler expert Devon Kuntzman returns to reframe the years we’re told to dread as a season rich with firsts, wonder, and essential brain development. She explains why toddlerhood and the teen years are “parallel tracks,” and how learning the skills now—setting realistic expectations, scaffolding independence, and embracing the full spectrum of emotions—pays off for the long haul. Devon’s new book, Transforming Toddlerhood, distills real-life challenges into 45 fast, practical chapters with scripts, FAQs, and red flags, so you can flip straight to “tantrums,” “sharing,” “whining,” or “leaving the park” and get calm, actionable help.
You’ll hear why less is more during meltdowns (create safety, ground yourself, uphold warm limits), how to handle the “broken granola bar” moments without panic or bribery, and why it’s not your job to make your child happy—it’s your job to help them feel seen, heard, and loved. We dig into playful transitions, outside-first playdates, roughhousing as a surprising path to self-regulation and consent, and the sneaky ways screens can reinforce the behaviors you’re trying to reduce. This is a hopeful, dignity-honoring guide for raising resilient kids—and growing right alongside them.
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