Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

When a child is naturally kind and eager to help—especially with a new sibling—it can look beautiful on the outside… and still raise quiet worries on the inside.

In this episode, we talk about how to nurture empathy without teaching a child to disappear herself—and how to keep helping a choice, not a role.

In this episode, you’ll learn:


The difference between helping as a choice and helping as a responsibility


Why constant praise for being “helpful” can unintentionally teach self-sacrifice


What to say (out loud) so your child knows caregiving is not her job


How to praise self-advocacy—not just kindness


Simple shifts that keep your child developmentally centered on herself

This episode is especially meaningful for parents of eldest children and those raising deeply empathetic kids.

🎧 If this big-hearted approach resonates with you, explore Toddlers Made Easy—my practical, developmentally informed course for everyday toddler challenges, in under five minutes a day.

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

Sponsor:

Laundry Sauce

If you’ve ever wondered whether your toddler should be able to listen, wait, share, or calm down—and felt frustrated when they couldn’t—this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about how unrealistic expectations quietly create power struggles, tantrums, and exhaustion—and how small mindset shifts can make parenting feel much easier.

You’ll learn:


Why many common expectations don’t match toddler brain development


How adjusting expectations can prevent tantrums and power struggles


What to realistically expect from 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds


How a big-hearted lens helps you stay calm while holding boundaries

🎧 If this approach resonates with you, explore Toddlers Made Easy—my practical, big-hearted course designed for real-life toddler challenges, and it takes under five minutes a day.
👉 Learn more at Toddlers Made Easy, the online course

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

SPONSORS:

Laundry Sauce

Tantrums aren’t misbehavior—they’re a sign your child’s system is overloaded. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about how your calmness (not your words) is the key to helping tantrums pass without escalating.

You’ll learn:


Why reasoning and “calm down” don’t work in the middle of a tantrum


When to stay close and quiet—and when to step in for safety


How sharing your calm helps your child regain theirs

🎧 Want more big-hearted, practical tools for tantrums, bedtime, and everyday power struggles?
Explore Toddlers Made Easy online course.

RESOURCES:

👉 Join the Big-Hearted membership: ⁠The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting⁠

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about why sharing is so hard early on, what toddlers are actually capable of, and how to handle toy struggles without forcing lessons their brains aren’t ready to learn.

You’ll learn how to support your toddler’s big feelings, keep everyone safe, and gently guide sharing skills as they develop—without pressure, shame, or power struggles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why toddlers aren’t developmentally ready to share (and when that changes)


What to say and do when your child grabs toys or melts down at the park


How forcing sharing can backfire—and what works better instead

Want more big-hearted tools like this?Check out Toddlers Made Easy, my online course with simple, practical strategies for tantrums, boundaries, sharing, sleep, and everyday toddler struggles—designed to make parenting calmer in just a few minutes a day.

👉 Learn more at Toddlers Made Easy

RESOURCES:

RESOURCES:

👉 Join the Big-Hearted membership: ⁠The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting⁠

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

When kids ignore us, it can feel personal. Disrespectful. Triggering.But what if “not listening” isn’t a behavior problem at all?

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why toddlers and preschoolers struggle with cooperation, what’s really happening in their developing brains, and why yelling may work in the moment—but backfires long-term.

You’ll learn how to help your child cooperate without threats, bribes, or power struggles, using big-hearted strategies that help kids feel seen, safe, and more willing to listen.

Because when kids aren’t listening, they’re not being difficult—they’re developing.

RESOURCES:

👉 Join the Big-Hearted membership: ⁠The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting⁠

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: ⁠newsletter