Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children TPP 452: Dr. Laura Markham on Peacefully Parenting Siblings in Neurospicy Families
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Markham to unpack the often messy world of sibling dynamics—especially when one or more kids are neurodivergent. We talk about why peaceful parenting starts with connection, how to handle those inevitable "it's not fair!" moments, and how to repair after conflict. Laura shares thoughtful, practical strategies for supporting each child’s unique needs while nurturing more positive sibling relationships, even when things feel really hard.
About Dr. Laura Markham
Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling and Start Connecting, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life, and The Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using mindfulness and connection to raise resilient, joyful children and rediscover your love of parenting.
Dr. Laura Markham earned her PhD in clinical psychology at Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless families across the world. Over 170,000 moms and dads enjoy Dr. Laura’s free weekly coaching posts via email. You can sign up on any page of her website, Peacefulparenthappykids.com, which serves up Aha! Moments for parents of babies through teens. Dr. Laura’s aspiration is to change the world, one child at a time, by supporting parents. The proud mother of two thriving young adults who were raised with her peaceful parenting approach, she lives with her husband in New York.
Things you'll learn from this episode
- Why parenting that prioritizes connection over strategy lays the foundation for healthy sibling dynamics
- How self-regulation in parents shapes the emotional tone and effectiveness of conflict resolution between siblings
- Why it’s important to embrace sibling conflict as a normal and teachable part of growing up, while guiding repair and emotional processing
- How acknowledging each child’s unique needs and avoiding comparison fosters a sense of fairness and individual worth
- Why modeling compassion, calm, and appropriate behavior teaches kids how to navigate conflict and build emotional intelligence
- How recognizing the goodwill in children and validating their feelings helps strengthen sibling bonds, even during tough moments
Resources mentioned
- Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham
- Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham
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