The Follow-Up: What Reinforces Behavior

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness, Parenting

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona revisits one of the most downloaded PedsDocTalk conversations, her discussion with Dr. Loretta Breuning on how rewards and threats shape a child’s brain. They break down why yelling, pleading, and bribing often backfire, and how attention itself can accidentally reinforce behaviors parents want to stop. You will hear why giving in after resistance makes behaviors stronger over time, and how inconsistency trains kids to escalate. This episode focuses on building healthier reward pathways with clarity and consistency, without fear, shame, or constant power struggles. If certain parenting moments feel stuck on repeat, this conversation helps explain why and what to do differently. Want more? Listen to the original, full episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:24.5	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:29.9	Welcome back to the follow-up, where we revisit a favorite episode from the Peds.
0:36.7	Doctop podcast in less time than it takes your kid to figure out which button gets the biggest reaction out of you.
0:42.5	Today's clip comes from my conversation with Dr. Loretta Bruning, author and founder of the Inner Mammal Institute,
0:47.7	where we break down the science of rewards and threats and what they actually do to a child's brain.
0:54.0	We talk about how yelling,
0:55.6	pleading, and bribes can accidentally wire behaviors we are trying to stop and how to build
1:00.9	healthier reward pathways instead. This is one of our most downloaded episodes and I know it
1:06.6	resonated because so many of you told me how it changed how you looked at everyday power struggles.
1:12.1	If this episode resonates, make sure to subscribe to the podcast, download and listen to the full
1:18.4	episode available in the caption, and follow us at the Peeds Dock Talk podcast on social
1:23.6	media if you love the show. Let's get into this amazing conversation.
1:31.8	Thank you. social media if you love the show. Let's get into this amazing conversation. Let's talk about rewards and maybe utilizing some of that research that you know.
1:36.7	How do rewards impact and shape the young brain and how can parents utilize that in their parenting?
1:42.9	Sure. So a reward is anything that meets a need from your
1:47.2	brain's perspective. So dopamine is known as the reward chemical. And in daily life, like when you
1:53.6	get something that you want it, it's like, wow, how exciting. Like if you're playing cards and you
	...

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