Transforming The Toddler Years- Parents and Educators Raising Calm, Connected, Capable Kids

How much distress tolerance do you and your children have?

Joanna Hardis joins me in this episode to discuss distress tolerance, or the ability to handle emotional discomfort without letting it control behavior or relationships. In this exciting conversation we talk about the idea of “microdosing” discomfort—practicing small, manageable moments of challenge to gradually increase resilience. We also talk about the difference between emotional regulation (managing intensity) and distress tolerance (accepting discomfort).

Joanna Hardis, LISW-S, a Cornell graduate and cognitive behavioral therapist, helps parents build resilience and distress tolerance in her clinical practice. Be sure to grab a copy of her new book, Just Do Nothing (for Parents): How to Parent Better by Doing Less

Want to take your parenting journey to another level? Book your complimentary connection call now!⁠⁠

March 26, 2026
Episode 318
How to Parent Better By Doing Less - The Power of Distress Tolerance with Joanna Hardis

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book ⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠,⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How do you talk to a toddler when they are in the middle of a meltdown?

In this episode I explain how using intentional language helps caregivers connect with toddlers and guide their behavior more effectively. I emphasize the idea that connection is the foundation for cooperation, especially in challenging moments. Giving children space, empathy, and involvement leads to better outcomes and stronger communication.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

March 24, 2026
Episode 317
Meltdown in Aisle Two! How to Talk to Toddlers in the Moment. (Little Linguists Part 9)

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if toddlers are actually listening—but simply choosing a response we didn’t expect?

This episode redefines what it truly means for toddlers to “listen,” challenging the common belief that listening equals immediate compliance. I explain the four steps of active listening and highlight that a child may listen yet still choose not to follow a direction. I emphasize that adults can shift expectations and reduce power struggles with toddlers.

Longing for more community on your parenting journey?

I am launching a community JUST FOR YOU! It's time for us to see each other face to virtual face, hear each other in live time, so that we can really connect deeply and help each other through those challenging and celebratory moments that is toddlerhood. Get on ⁠the mailing list here⁠ so you can get all the details!

March 17, 2026
Episode 316
Why Won't Toddlers Listen? The 4 Steps to Active Listening- Little Linguists Series Part 8

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ ⁠A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book ⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wonder what your child's doodles mean?

Dr. Josephine Deguara joins me to discuss how children often use drawing as an early language to express thoughts and emotions before they can fully use words. We talk about how adults should avoid interpreting drawings themselves and instead ask open-ended questions to understand the child’s meaning. When children are given time, materials, and attentive listeners, drawing helps them process feelings, tell stories, and explore their identity.

Prof Josephine Deguara is an Associate Professor and researcher in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Malta. Her work focuses on early childhood pedagogy, policy, and practice, with a particular interest in how children express their thinking and experiences through drawing. She uses children’s drawings as a way of understanding identity, belonging, play, and children’s funds of knowledge through participatory, rights-based research approaches. Longing for more community on your parenting journey?
I am launching a community JUST FOR YOU! It's time for us to see each other face to virtual face, hear each other in live time, so that we can really connect deeply and help each other through those challenging and celebratory moments that is toddlerhood. Get on the mailing list here so you can get all the details!
March 12, 2026
Episode 315
Children's Doodles: What They Tell You About Their Feelings & Identity with Dr. Josephine Deguara

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book ⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ever feel like your toddler has "selective listening"?
In this episode I share how toddlers may struggle to follow directions when their receptive language skills or emotional regulation are not fully developed. Children move through three brain states—physical safety, emotional safety, and learning, and they can only process instructions and learn when they feel both safe and loved.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

March 10, 2026
Episode 314
My Toddler Can't Follow Simple Directions. Is Something Wrong? Little Linguists Series Part 7

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠