What is Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids?
What if the parent you become when you're tired and triggered isn't who you have to be? What if there's a way
to be both loving and effective, even with your most challenging child, even on your toughest days?
Clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Markham teaches parents how to stay grounded in the hardest moments, lead with connection instead of control, and create a home where children feel deeply safe, seen, and loved.
When you make that shift—from reactive to regulated, from triggered to grounded—something magical happens: your child actually wants to cooperate.
You get the more peaceful home you’ve been dreaming of, and your child gets the strong emotional foundation they need to thrive. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Meet Dr. Laura Markham
Dr. Laura Markham trained as a clinical psychologist at Columbia University — and she’s also a mom, so her work bridges the science of child development and the realities of everyday family life.
She is the author of three bestselling parenting books translated into more than 27 languages, and the creator of the relationship-based parenting approach known as Peaceful Parenting.
Her work draws on neuroscience, mindfulness, and decades of child development research to help parents reduce conflict, strengthen connection, and raise emotionally intelligent, resilient children.
At the heart of her work is a simple commitment: to help parents become the calm, connected leaders their children need — especially in the hardest moments.
Dr. Markham has been featured in thousands of articles and media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, and Parents Magazine.
Changing the world one child at a time
by supporting parents.
Because when parents feel calmer and more connected, children thrive
— and that changes everything.
The Peaceful Parenting approach taught by Dr. Laura Markham isn’t just another parenting philosophy. It's the answer to that gap between the parent you want to be and the parent you are on your toughest days.
Peaceful Parenting uses evidence-based practical approaches that really work to give you a clear path to becoming the parent you are on your best days—every day. You’ll find the scripts, daily practices, and support you need to become the calm, emotionally generous parent your child deserves.
What Is Peaceful Parenting?
When you shift from reactive to regulated, from triggered to grounded, your child changes too. This approach works because it addresses the real root of behavior. When children feel understood and emotionally secure, they are far more able to listen, learn, and collaborate.
Peaceful Parenting helps parents respond thoughtfully instead of reacting in the heat of the moment. That's what helps your child WANT to
cooperate, without yelling, threats, punishment or bribes.
Here’s the simple framework that makes that change possible:
Calm
Kids learn to manage their emotions when their parents model how it's done. That’s why Dr. Laura’s free coaching emails give you a blueprint for self-regulation, and the self-care that makes it possible.
Connect
From tantrums to texting, the secret of happy parenting is a close relationship with your child. Without that connection, we have little influence (”My kids won’t listen!”) and parenting becomes exhausting.
Coach
Coach, instead of trying to control, so your child wants to cooperate with you. Sure, you need to set limits—but if you set them with empathy and respect, you’ll find your child is much more likely to comply.
If you’d like help putting this into practice in real life…
Parenting can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to stay calm, connect more deeply, and guide your child without yelling or power struggles.
10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Parenting is a short, practical guide with small shifts you can start using right away to reduce tension, strengthen connection, and feel more confident — even on hard days.
Start with the Free GuideDr. Laura’s Parenting Books
Dr. Laura Markham’s three bestselling parenting books, translated into more than 27 languages, have helped millions of parents create calmer, more connected families. They offer practical, step-by-step guidance you can use every day — even in the hardest moments.
What parents are saying
"Your sage advice to stop, drop, and breathe has been a game changer for our sole parent house with the tension of multiple health issues in Daughter. To ‘catch myself’ before I fell into my own response has let me be a lot closer to the parent I want to be. Thank you for guiding me through that child section. Note do teenagers please!"
- Emma
"Peaceful Parenting has changed our lives! The biggest change for our family has been the increase in empathy. My husband and I are more empathetic with our kids and that's led to them being more empathetic with each other. My son (age 6) was sobbing when our recent trip ended. My daughter (age 8) immediately empathized with him, sharing that she was also sad we were leaving and then offered to share her stuffed animal for him to hug. His sobs turned to sniffles and he was able to work through his big emotions. Thank you for helping us learn and share such important skills!"
- Lucy H.
"The simple mnemonic 'Stop, drop it, breath' changed a destructive pattern that I was unintentionally reinforcing with my then-12 year old son.
Before Peaceful Parenting, I would feel that I urgently needed to stop his rude behaviour and would get angry and yell at him (and on the worst days, I'd physically rush at him to emphasize that he must stop what he was doing immediately.) One day I was yelling at him in his room when I suddenly remembered: Stop. Drop. Breath. My anger melted and I quietly stepped away. It turned out that my anger and big reactions had been reinforcing his behaviour. When I stopped reacting, he stopped trying to provoke me. It was like magic.
Thank you so much for your help. Today my son is 20 and is thriving in every way"
- Mum of a 12 year old
"I received Dr. Laura's emails and they were extremely helpful. I started following her peaceful parenting tips and saw the difference they made. So I did the course and I am so thankful for her wisdom and guidance. I know now that what I was doing with traditional consequences would have created more problems in the long run. Now I will have more cooperation and much better relationships with my children and that is absolutely priceless.
Thank you so much for the important work you do Dr. Laura!!"
- Grateful parent of twin 9yr olds
"I grew up with a lot of yelling and punishment. Peaceful Parenting gave me the tools to give my children a different experience. The ideas are doable in the moment, and create safety and a joyful relationship."
- Mandy, mother of 6
Dr. Laura Markham has been featured in thousands of articles including…
"Dr. Markham coaches parents to “hit the pause button” before taking any action, even in the face of a screaming child."
"In the Atlantic Magazine’s animated video series about parenting, Dr. Laura Markham reveals the surprising childrearing method that promotes not only generosity, but also resiliency."
"Dr. Markham suggests explaining to your kids that chores are important because that's how you show respect and contribute to your family."
"Dr. Laura Markham’s Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids was a favorite among our panelists."
"Empathize, but don't take responsibility for the child's boredom," says Dr. Laura Markham, a New York clinical psychologist who specializes in coaching parents."
"Dr. Laura Markham is America's Parenting Coach"
Looking for help with a specific challenge? Feel like you've tried everything? Wherever you are in your parenting journey, you’re in the right place.
Do you want your child to WANT to cooperate, without yelling, bribes, threats or punishment?
Would you like to connect more with your child to build a stronger, sweeter bond instead of constant power struggles?
Do you want to raise kids who grow up into happy, responsible, emotionally healthy adults?
Do you consider yourself to be using some or all of the practices of “gentle” or "conscious" parenting, and want an experienced resource to consult about the challenges that emerge with each stage?
Do you want to know how to raise a 21st century kid using eternal values?
Do you want to feel more inspired and confident as a parent?
You’re not alone — millions of parents have turned to PeacefulParentHappyKids.com for practical, research-based guidance that actually works in real life.
What Becomes Possible
That voice in your head saying you'll never stop yelling, and your child won't listen? Together, we'll prove it wrong.
You can change, with the right support - and when you do, everything else shifts.
I've seen morning battles become smooth, connected starts to the day. Bedtime struggles transform into delightful, warm snuggles. Defiant attitudes evolve into collaborative problem-solving.
Your strong-willed child learns to channel their intensity into leadership, while your sensitive child grows in confidence and resilience. Your home becomes a place of safety and joy instead of stress and conflict.
And you? You'll feel confident handling any situation that comes up, because you'll understand what your child really needs. Most importantly, you'll rediscover the joy of parenting.
The peace you're looking for isn’t out of reach. I’m here to help you build it, step by step.
