Get on Their Turf with Dr. Suzanne Simpson
Are you worried about your teen’s anxiety, screen time, or emotional distance? You’re not alone. Get on Their Turf is the parenting podcast that helps you support your child’s mental health and build lasting connection. I’m Dr. Suzanne Simpson, teacher and researcher with 3 decades of experience, and biweekly I share expert interviews, parenting strategies, and real stories from my work in classrooms and a youth psychiatric unit. Episodes explore teen anxiety, depression, screen time struggles, listening without fixing, and spotting early warning signs of stress or crisis. Let’s raise kids who feel safe, seen, and heard—because connection changes everything.
Get on Their Turf with Dr. Suzanne Simpson
What Teens Actually Need When They Misbehave (It's Not Punishment)
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What do teens actually need when they misbehave? If you have been stuck between being too harsh and too soft, this episode will shift your thinking entirely.
In this episode of Get on Their Turf, I share five discoveries from my research on teen behaviour and emotional regulation that completely changed how I think about guiding teenagers. What surprised me most: it wasn't the kids who struggled with the concept of discipline. It was the adults.
I spoke with young people from classrooms to a youth psychiatric unit, and not one of them defined discipline as punishment. They defined it as preparation. They wanted guidance, not control. And they wanted the adults in their lives to teach them how to regulate themselves, not just correct them when they got it wrong.
Here is what you will learn in this episode:
- Why teens have fewer negative associations with discipline than most parents expect
- What teens actually said they need when they misbehave
- Why connection before correction determines whether your guidance lands or tears them down
- What a meta-analysis of 150 studies found about emotional regulation and adult outcomes
- The one question to ask yourself before you respond to your teen's misbehaviour
Teaching teens emotional regulation is not a soft approach to parenting. It is the most research-backed, practical thing you can do to set your child up for success in work, relationships, and life.
Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi7xFsX7h7tdxBsVx38UIRVrvnCc_9IBW
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Please note that the contents of this website are not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My scope of practice is as an educator, and this work is intended to provide information for educational purposes only. Testimonials of lived experiences are opinion only and have not been scientifically evaluated.