Helping Complex Kids Thrive Through Practical Behavioral Parenting Strategies: Jenny Demark, Linda Reinstein and Conrad Leung | Session 332

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Jenny Demark, Conrad Leung, and Dr. Linda Reinstein to talk about their new book, Complex Kids, Simple Solutions: How to Raise Resilient, Confident, Likable Kids.

These are clinicians who've spent years working directly with families dealing with everything from emotion regulation challenges, to childhood anxiety, to severe behavioral challenges, and what I liked about this conversation is that it stayed extremely practical throughout.

We spent a lot of time talking about their "Prepare, Teach, Motivate" framework, and how parents and professionals can think more systematically about helping kids build resilience and coping skills rather than just reacting to challenging behavior in the moment.

Along the way, we discussed:

• Why some children require more intentional and consistent parenting approaches than others.

• How to build stronger relationships with kids who engage in challenging behavior.

• The importance of following a child's interests to create meaningful connection.

• Screen time struggles and how to reduce device dependence without escalating conflict.

• Emotion regulation strategies for children with frequent outbursts.

• Why many young children struggle to generalize skills learned in traditional talk therapy.

• The role of parental accommodation in maintaining anxiety and avoidance.

• Practical approaches to school refusal and helping kids gradually face difficult situations.

• Why parent coaching is often more effective than focusing exclusively on the child in therapy.

• The importance of self-care for parents and practitioners alike.

I think this episode will be especially valuable for behavior analysts, school professionals, clinicians, and of course parents trying to support kids with more complex behavioral and emotional needs.

Related links and resources:

• Complex Kids, Simple Solutions: How to Raise Resilient, Confident, Likable Kids.

• Child Solutions.

• Session 266: What is Primary Care Behavioral Pediatrics?

• Session 300: Chronic Absenteeism and School Refusal.

• Session 84: The Front Lines of Parenting.

• Session 10: Pat Friman on BoysTown, Parenting, and More!

• Session 36: Practical Parent Training Approaches.

• Childhood Empowered (a must-follow parenting IG account!).

Sponsoring this episode:

• CEUs from Behavioral Observations. Learn from your favorite podcast guests while you're commuting, walking the dog, or whatever else you do while listening to podcasts. New events are being added all the time, so check them out here.
• The BOP Patreon. Do you want to get the show ad-free and before everyone else? Click here to learn how!
• The Behavioral Toolbox International. Check out our courses for school-based and other behavioral professionals, including our newest one, Motivational Interviewing: Getting Educator Buy-In.