Mike on Parenting

10/08/2026

Hey, I’m Mike 👋

If you’re new here, I’m a parent, I’ve worked with kids for 2 decades, and I’ve spent years figuring out what actually helps kids listen, cooperate, and build strong relationships with their parents…without all the yelling, threats, and power struggles.

And if you’ve been here for a while… welcome back. 😄

I’m here to help!

Sometimes that help looks like a 60-second reel that gives you something you can try today.

Sometimes you need a little more than that.

You need to understand why your child is doing what they’re doing, what might be keeping the pattern going, and what you can actually change to make things better.

That’s why I just started my own online community for parents.

A place where we can go deeper, learn together, get support, and actually work on creating the kind of relationship and home you want.

If you want access, comment RIGHT below or click the link in my bio.

I’d love to have you inside. ☺️

10/07/2026

If your kid is only motivated by screens… you don’t necessarily need a better reward.

You might just need to find something they actually value. 👀

Extra time with you.
Choosing dinner.
Picking the family movie.
Staying up a little later.
Choosing the music in the car.
Getting to be “in charge”
Skipping a small chore.

And so many more.

The BEST incentives don’t have to cost money.

They just have to matter to your kid.

Save this for the next time you need a little motivation without reaching for the iPad. 👇 …and comment “Incentives” if you want the full list.

parenting ideas, kids behavior, kids motivation, parenting tools, screenfreekids screen time, toddler tips, parentingtipsandtricks raising kids, mom life

10/05/2026

I don’t give my kids an iPad at restaurants.
Or in the car…
Or while we’re waiting for something…
Or when they say, “I’m bored”
Or just because we have 10 minutes to kill…

There are really only 2 places I’m totally good with the iPad:

👉 On the couch
👉 On an airplane

Because the iPad is ENTERTAINMENT.

It doesn’t need to be the solution for every boring, quiet, or inconvenient moment.

Kids can be bored.
They can wait.
They can look around.
They can talk.
They can figure out what to do.

And honestly… those moments are often where some of the best creativity and independence come from.

That doesn’t mean I’m anti-screen. I’m just intentional about when I use it.

Want some alternatives that actually keep kids engaged without handing them a screen?

Comment “IDEAS” and I’ll send them your way.

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

If we haven’t met, hi, I’m Mike Wallach. I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, former classroom teacher, and dad of four.

I work with some of the toughest kid behavior cases out there. And I use the exact same stuff with my own kids every night.

Here’s the problem though. Most parenting advice is either: Gentle parenting that’s scared of the word “no” or brain science that explains the tantrum, gives you nothing to do…

So I built the RIGHT framework instead, which will help you to finally get your kids to listen and behave.

I’m teaching it inside my parenting community, where you’ll get:
✅ The RIGHT framework course
✅ Weekly live Q&A with me
✅ Other parents who actually get it and share their experience

Comment “RIGHT” to get access to the community 👇

10/04/2026

Staying calm when your kid is having a hard moment isn’t always easy. But these are 3 things I remind myself of that make a BIG difference.

1. Think about what I want this (behavior, moment, routine, etc) to look like in a month.

Not what I want to happen in the next 10 seconds. What do I want my child to learn? What would I like this situation to look like a month from now? Then I focus on making small changes that move us in that direction.

2. Think “Yea, right…”

When my kid is yelling, whining, crying, pinching, etc., I remind myself: “Yea, right. You think THAT is going to help you get what you want?”

Whether they’re looking for attention, trying to avoid something, wanting an item, or seeking sensory input, my job is to show them a more effective and appropriate way to get what they’re after.

3. Remember that I often stay escalated longer than they do.

When I escalate alongside my child, I can end up staying in that emotional state long after they’ve moved on. And when I’m stuck there, I’m much less available to meet them where they are and help them through it.

Staying calm doesn’t mean letting everything slide. It means being in a better position to guide, teach, and influence what happens next.

Follow me for new tools to add to your parenting toolbox. The little things we do differently today can make a BIG difference down the road.

10/03/2026

When your kid is in the middle of a tantrum, sometimes the best thing you can do is… focus on anything other than them.

“The floor in here is really uneven” 🧐

“Wait… has that clock always been broken?”

“Whoa.. there’s a chip in the wall right there..”

It might sound strange, but there’s a reason this can work.

Much like the viral “Jessica!” trick, an unexpected redirection can interrupt the intensity of the moment and lower the temperature in the room.

And just as importantly, it gives YOU something to focus on.

Instead of matching their volume, repeating yourself, or trying to convince them to calm down, you’re showing them:

“Your screaming is pretty much pointless”

That doesn’t mean ignoring their feelings or pretending the tantrum isn’t happening.

It means staying calm enough that the tantrum doesn’t become the most powerful thing happening in the room.

Sometimes changing the energy is more effective than trying to win the argument.

Want more strategies for handling tantrums without yelling, threatening, or getting pulled into the chaos?

Comment TANTRUM and I’ll send you my non-AI Tantrum Fix Playbook.

10/01/2026

“I’m bored”

“Cool” 👍

You don’t always have to fix your child’s boredom.

Instead, give them a little structure and let them figure out what to do.

Help them make a list of 10 things they can do independently… Play-Doh, drawing, reading, going outside, building something, having a snack, etc.

They pick one, do it, and cross it off.

Then they move on to the next one.

The goal isn’t to keep your child constantly entertained.

It’s to help them practice coming up with something to do on their own.

And honestly… sometimes boredom is where the best ideas start.

Save this and make your own boredom list before you hear “I’m bored” 47 times this week. 😂

parenting help, parenting tools, raising kids, toddlers, kids activities, boredom, bored kids, independent kids, independent play, parenting reels

10/01/2026

What if your daily to-do list could actually lead to better behavior AND a better relationship with your kids?

That’s why I created this Parenting Daily Checklist.

It’s a simple list of things you can focus on each day that help build connection, cooperation, and the kind of relationship you want with your kids.

No perfection. No complicated parenting strategy.

Just a few intentional things that, when done consistently, can make a BIG difference.

I’ve included the checklist inside my new community for parents.

Check the link in my bio to get access.

09/29/2026

I’ve worked with kids for 2 decades and been a parent for 13+ years.

I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually needed to RUN toward a child who got hurt.

Because when we see our kid fall, our instinct is often:

🚨 RUN
🚨 PICK THEM UP
🚨 “OH MY, ARE YOU OKAY?!”
🚨 “THAT LOOKED REALLY BAD!”

And I get it. We love them. Our instinct is to protect them.

But with minor falls and little bonks, our reaction can sometimes communicate something our words don’t:

“This is a really BIG DEAL”

So instead of immediately rushing over, most of the time I barely move.

Maybe I slowly walk over.

Maybe I simply say, “You okay?”

And then I let them show me what they need.

Because there’s a difference between being there for your child and catering to every whimper.

If every little bump gets a huge reaction, a lot of attention, immediate rescuing, and an adult taking over, kids can start looking to us to determine how serious a situation is and expecting us to fix every uncomfortable moment.

I want my kids to know:

“Dad is here if I need him… but I can handle a lot of this myself”

That doesn’t mean ignoring them.

It means staying calm enough to let their reaction guide yours.

And OBVIOUSLY this is about minor falls, bumps, and bonks.

If your child is seriously injured or in danger?

RUN. 😂

But for the everyday stuff?

Sometimes the best response is simply:

“Ouch. Let me know if you need help..”

…and then give them a chance to figure out what they need.

Because confidence isn’t built by removing every uncomfortable moment.

It’s built by experiencing those moments and learning, “I’m okay…I can handle this”