Ep. 12: Why Behavior Gets Worse Before It Gets Better (And How to Survive It)

If you've tried a new parenting strategy and your child's behavior immediately got worse — this episode explains exactly why that happens and what it actually means.

An extinction burst — when behavior temporarily intensifies before it improves — is one of the most misunderstood moments in behavior change. Most parents quit right before the strategy starts working. In this episode you'll learn how to recognize an extinction burst, what real escalation patterns look like across common routines and conflicts, and how to stay consistent through the hardest part of the process.