Simplicity Starter Kit
The Simplicity Parenting Podcast with Kim John Payne

The Simplicity Parenting Podcast with Kim John Payne

Hosted by: Kim John Payne/Center for Social Sustainability

Weekly insights on children and parenting from Simplicity Parenting author Kim John Payne.

All Episodes

Episodes

#276: When Kids Are Angry They Are Vulnerable - Emotional Self Regulation - Part Five

In the final part of this five-part series on emotional self-regulation, Kim John Payne explores the idea that when children are angry, they are also deeply vulnerable. He reminds us that difficult behaviors often...
View Episode

#275: Why Screen Time for Kids Makes It Hard For Us - Emotional Self-Regulation - Part Four

In this fourth part of this five-part series on emotional self-regulation, Kim John Payne reviews how screens can disrupt not only a child’s emotional balance but also a parent’s ability to stay centered. He explains...
View Episode

#274: When It All Gets Too Much - Emotional Self Regulation - Part Three

In the third episode of this five-part series on Emotional Self-Regulation, Kim John Payne offers a practical, compassionate invitation to slow down. He introduces the metaphor of a tap overflowing, a symbol for the...
View Episode

#273: What Pushes Our Buttons - Emotional Self Regulation - Part Two

In the second of this five-part series on Emotional Self-Regulation, Kim John Payne explores one of the deepest challenges for parents: the feeling of being unseen, undervalued, or taken for granted. These emotional...
View Episode

#272: Self Care - Not Neglecting Our Own Needs - Emotional Self-Regulation - Part One

In the first of a five-part series on Emotional Self-Regulation, Kim John Payne reflects on the quiet power of micro self-care - small, intentional moments that help parents replenish their emotional reserves. He...
View Episode

#271: If Not Now When - Responding To Requests & Building Up Impulse Control

In this episode, Kim John Payne explores the importance of helping children learn to delay their requests and respect the timing of others. Rather than always responding immediately or brushing kids off with a vague...
View Episode

#270: Aggression Entrapment - How to Work Through Children's Meltdowns

In this episode, Kim John Payne explores a dynamic he calls “aggression entrapment,” where a child’s meltdown becomes a way to secure a parent’s full attention. He explains that frequent meltdowns can signal a child’s...
View Episode

#269: The Art of De-escalation - Walking Away vs Stepping Back

In this episode, Kim John Payne explores how parents can navigate escalating situations without making a child feel abandoned. He draws a clear distinction between “walking away” in frustration and “stepping back”...
View Episode

#268: Helping Older Siblings Feel Secure When a New Baby Arrives

In this episode, Kim shares thoughtful ways to support an older child when a newborn joins the family. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining closeness through physical touch and preserving familiar family...
View Episode

#267: Why Teens Can Seem Distant and How to Stay Connected

Kim John Payne offers a view of adolescence by comparing teenage emotions to an artesian water flow. While younger children often express their feelings outwardly, teenagers tend to turn inward. Their emotional lives...
View Episode

#266: Giving Children Time and Space to Wonder

Kim reflects on the beauty and importance of slow learning. He invites parents to protect and nurture a child’s natural tendency to wonder, observe, and inquire. Instead of immediately reaching for quick answers...
View Episode

#265: Children's Big Feelings

In this episode, Kim John Payne explores how young children experience emotions as full-body states, rather than isolated feelings they can easily identify and name. He expresses concern about the modern emphasis on...
View Episode