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Punishment-Free Parenting

The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice

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Punishment-Free Parenting

Written by: Jon Fogel, Tina Payne Bryson - foreword
Narrated by: Jon Fogel, Tina Payne Bryson
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About this listen

A no-judgment, simple-to-follow step-by-step parenting guide to help you manage your emotions, meet your child’s needs with empathy, and create a calmer home—without ever resorting to threats or punishment

Every parent has had that painful moment they realize there must be a better way to raise kids than the old-school yelling, threats, bribes, and punishment way.

For Jon Fogel, that realization set him on a path toward wholeness: understanding himself, learning about the brain, and empowering parents to raise kids who live physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy lives. In just a few short years, he became an inspiration to more than a million people around the world who were also striving to do better and become the best parents they can be.

Now, with Punishment-Free Parenting, Fogel—parenting educator, pastor, and father of four—brings to parents the hard-won wisdom from his research and work as a parenting coach. With memorable stories, advice, and compassionate insight, he offers moms and dads a clear path to their own wholeness as parents—from learning to recognize and name their own emotional triggers to responding with a deeper awareness of their children’s developmental processes. What emerges is a collaborative partnership with children—free from the drama and pain of punishment.

In a book packed with the most helpful research findings from child developmental psychology, neurology, and pediatric medicine, listeners will meet other parents just like them and children just like their own who have learned to use the tools and tips that Fogel provides. Punishment-Free Parenting is the simple, accessible, no-judgment book for parents who want the support and guidance of a dad just like them.

©2025 Jon Fogel (P)2025 Random House Audio
Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Human Brain

What the critics say

“Jon Fogel speaks directly to our history of being parented to help release us from old, unhelpful patterns that we may have adopted as we adapted to our own childhood experiences of punishment. With humor and wisdom, our supportive guide emphasizes what discipline is all about—intentional teaching, parental regulation, and attuned relationships—in order to become the parents we wish we’d had. The children growing in such a caring, connecting, and compassionate home will be given the starting point to thrive in the challenging world in which we all now live.”—Daniel J. Siegel, MD, executive director of the Mindsight Institute and founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center, author of The Whole-Brain Child

“[An] empathetic debut . . . The guidance is compassionate, and Fogel’s exhortation ‘to extend to ourselves the same grace and forgiveness that we aspire to extend to our children’ will help readers work through their own emotional baggage. Parents will find this a balm.”—Publishers Weekly

Punishment-Free Parenting is not only a gift to parents, it’s a gift to humanity. Jon Fogel did what he does best: dig into the scientific research to help us all understand why punishment is a path worth avoiding, and providing other practical and effective paths we can take instead. As a therapist, an author, and a parent, I found this book engaging, helpful, and hopeful. A must-read for anyone determined to give their children a secure experience.”—Eli Harwood, author of Raising Securely Attached Kids and executive director for Jai Institute of Parenting

What listeners say about Punishment-Free Parenting

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This book is a game-changer!

As a mom of four kids under the age of eight, life can get *wild*—so finding parenting advice that’s practical, doable, and grounded in research feels like striking gold. That’s exactly what Jon Fogal delivers in his new book, *Punishment-Free Parenting*.

I was lucky enough to be an advance reader with a PDF copy, but as soon as it hit Audible, I snagged the audio version too. Why? Because multitasking is the survival strategy of every busy parent! In fact, here’s my favorite parenting hack: I have my husband play the audiobook in an earphone while he puts the kids to bed in a dark room. Why just sit there when you can level up your parenting skills at the same time?

This book is a breath of fresh air. The chapters are short and manageable—perfect for sneaking in during naps, school pick-ups, or even while hiding in the pantry to eat snack (we’ve all been there). Jon’s writing style is approachable and empathetic, and his advice is packed with practical strategies. I especially loved the catchphrases, like “Get curious, not furious” and “Don’t argue with lizards.” They’re funny, memorable, and so helpful when you’re in the thick of a tantrum or sibling meltdown.

What sets this book apart is the balance between real-life application and research-backed strategies. Jon references studies and insights from other parenting experts, so you know his advice isn’t just fluff—it works. The emphasis on positive discipline over punishment is a refreshing mindset shift, especially for those of us raised in households where yelling or timeouts were the go-to strategies.

Jon shows us that guiding our kids doesn’t have to involve yelling, punishing, or power struggles. Instead, it’s about understanding behavior, setting boundaries with compassion, and fostering long-term growth for both kids *and* parents.

If you’re a parent looking to bring more peace into your home and feel more confident in handling everything from toddler tantrums to sibling rivalries, this book is a game-changer. Whether you read it or listen to the Audible version (my personal favorite), *Punishment-Free Parenting* is an absolute must-have.

Highly recommend! Happy parenting!

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Don't fight a Lizard

I really enjoy this book. I will need to listen multiple times (as I am distracted as I listen) to fully process the concepts and methods of parenting, and then it will take a long time to get proficient at but I believe it to be a great way to parent my children. Really A+ stuff here from Jon. I will be recommending it to my friends for sure.

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Hits the mark!

Everything is starting to make sense and it feels like Jon is speaking to me and my family. He is honest and for the first time in a long time, he made me shed a little of the guilt I've been carrying. I feel like my kids and I are on a new journey together, of connectedness, understanding and joy ❤️

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