10 Quick + Powerful Videos That Will Make You an Even Better Parent
Every parent I know would love to stay calm, cool, and collected no matter what their kid throws at them.
But when your toddler unspools a roll of toilet paper into the toilet bowl and flushes, overflowing musty wastewater all over your hardwood floors?
It’s human nature. Your emotions are bound to get the better of you. While you clean up the mess, you might huff, stomp, or raise your voice in frustration.
So much for being a calm and loving parent no matter what.
The Secret to Being a Calm Parent Isn’t What You Think
I used to think that if I could just figure out the secret for becoming a “zen mama,” positive parenting would come naturally to me every moment of the day.
But then I had an epiphany that changed my whole outlook on positive parenting.
Here’s the important thing I realized: Many people want to have a happy life. But happiness isn’t something you achieve one day and check off your list.
Being a calm parent is the same way. It’s not something you check off your list and never have to think of again. It’s a temporary state.
In other words, nobody can be perfectly happy all the time, just like nobody can be a perfectly calm parent all the time.
Here’s What You Can Do: Quick Positive Parenting Videos
In order to exist in that calm parenting mode as much as possible, we need to continually inspire ourselves to be better, more chill parents.
But if we’re being honest with ourselves?
As busy parents, we don’t always have the time or mental…freshness to read long think-pieces about parenting in the New York Times.
Sure, we need to keep reminding ourselves of our positive parenting goals, but how are we supposed to focus long enough to read a whole parenting book or even an inspirational article?
My favorite quick fix is to watch one of a few powerful positive parenting videos I’ve curated over the years.
Related: 24 Best YouTube Videos for Kids to Change How They See The World
10 Positive Parenting Videos That Will Make You a Better Parent
Below, you’ll find a list of the best, most inspirational parenting videos I’ve discovered over the years. The list below includes useful tips, real-world solutions, and thoughtful guidance on how to handle your biggest parenting challenges.
But most importantly, all these videos are short—perfect for when you need a quick dose of inspiration to reclaim your zen parent status.
When you’re in survival mode and struggling to keep your cool because your kid Facetimed your boss while you were in the shower, watch one of these quick positive parenting videos and you’ll get back on track.
Go ahead and bookmark this page, and watch the videos at your own pace, like one a day or one a week. Come back to it whenever you need another dose of parenting inspiration.
Also, I know firsthand that a houseful of loud kids can make it impossible to watch even a short video. So where possible, I’ve also included snippets of quotes from the videos so you can quickly scan for inspiration.
1. What Your Child Needs to Hear
I wish I’d seen this video when I was just starting out as a parent instead of several years into my parenting journey. Because if I had, it would have made countless challenging moments so much easier—for me and my children.
While the title of the video has to do with grief, the takeaways apply to any emotional upset your child (or you) might experience in life, big or small. And the suggested phrase at the end of the video works like magic to comfort toddlers and preschoolers all the way to tweens and teenagers—and beyond.
“Why does it seem like our best efforts to help somebody feel better always backfire?
…Cheering people up, telling them to be strong and perservere, helping them move on—it doesn’t actually work…It seems counterintuitive, but the way to help someone feel better is to let them be in pain…
Acknowledgement makes things better, even when they can’t be made right.”
2. Don’t Offer Sympathy
“When someone’s in a deep hole and they shout out from the bottom and they say, ‘I’m stuck. It’s dark. I’m overwhelmed…’
Sympathy is: ‘Ooh, it’s bad, uh-huh? Uh…you want a sandwich?’
Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable choice because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling.
Rarely, if ever, does an empathic response begin with ‘At least…” And we do it all the time. Because you know what? Someone just shared something with us that’s incredibly painful, and we’re trying to ‘silver lining’ it.”
Dr. Brené Brown
Related: Empathy Is Tough to Teach, But Here’s One Trick That Will Boost It
3. Does Your Face Light Up?
“When my children used to walk in the room when they were little, I looked at them to see if they had buckled their trousers or if their hair was combed or if their socks were up. And so, you think your affection and your deep love is on display because you’re caring for them.
It’s not.
When they see you, they see the critical face. ‘What’s wrong now?’
But then if you let your…face speak what’s in your heart? When they walked in the room, I was glad to see them. It’s just as small as that.”
Toni Morrison
4. Which Wolf Will Win the Fight?
This is a powerful analogy about two wolves fighting in your heart. When I watch this, I think of the red wolf as the anger and frustration I feel as a parent—and everything clicks.
“There is a story, usually attributed to the Native American tradition, which illuminates different ways of paying attention.
An elder, talking to a child, says, ‘I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is fearful, vengeful, envious, resentful, and deceitful. The other wolf is compassionate, loving, generous, truthful, and peaceful.’
The child asks, ‘Which wolf will win the fight?’
The elder responds, ‘The one I feed.’
…That doesn’t mean we try to deny or hurt or kill the angry wolf. If we did that, we’d end up in a long battle, all the while somehow making that wolf more powerful through our hostility and fear.”
Related: How to Stop Being an Angry Mom Now…Using 5 Hair Ties {Printable}
5. Things We Should Say More Often
This is just one of many gems from Kid President. Too often, we forget that our kids deserve the same courtesy and kindness that we would extend to one of our adult friends. Out of all these powerful + positive parenting videos, this one is most likely to put a big smile on your face!
Here’s a sample of the list…
20. Thank you. (And not just on Thanksgiving, everyday!)
19. Excuse me.
18. Here’s a surprise corn dog that I bought you because you’re my friend. (There’ll be more corn dogs and more happy people. This is a good idea!)
17. I’m sorry.
16. I forgive you.
15. You can do it!
Related: How to Make Your Child Feel Absolutely Loved: 75 Positive Words for Kids {Printable}
6. Love the Kid You Have
This short film has no dialogue but always reminds me of this quote:
“Parenthood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you’d have. It’s about understanding your child is exactly the person they are supposed to be. And if you’re lucky, they might be the teacher who turns you into the person you’re supposed to be.”
The Water Giver
To read more about this short film, check out How Society Kills Your Creativity – In An Award Winning Pixar-Esque Short Film.
7. The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto
This clip is from an appearance on Oprah with Dr. Brené Brown, who is a researcher, professor, and author. Dr. Brown is also a parent, and Oprah asked her to share her Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto.
Here’s a taste for you:
“Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable.
You will learn this from my words and my actions, the lessons on love, and how I treat you and how I treat myself.
I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness.
You will learn that you are worthy of love belonging in joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.
We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability.
We’ll share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both…”
Dr. Brené Brown
8. The Way We Talk to Kids Matters
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Everyone we meet throughout our day can make a difference. All the difference.
Talk with us, not at us.
Teach us what we need to know. That’s how we get smarter.
And when you talk with us and teach us, give us bigger and bigger words. Words that we can use to read and understand. And that will take us places we could never reach without you.”
9. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen to You
Josh Shipp is a parent, author, and advocate for youth. He has a few great positive parenting videos, but this one’s my favorite.
“When you ask a kid a question, you are inviting and evoking critical thinking. And ultimately as parents, that’s what we want. A fully functioning teenage human being who—without us there, in our absence—can analyze a situation and know in that moment what the wise choice is.
Focus on questions [and] get them to come to those conclusions so they will own those conclusions for life.”
Josh Shipp
10. Your Normal May Be Their Magic
This sweet video shows a normal day from both the mother’s and the child’s perspectives. Never forget that your “normal” may be their magic.
Before you go, get my FREE cheat sheet: 75 Positive Phrases Every Child Needs to Hear
Your Turn
What are your favorite positive parenting videos? Share in a comment below!
Thank you for these beautiful reminders. The biggest a-ha moment was Toni Morrison’s. Bringing positive emotions to the forefront of my interactions by wearing them more deliberately is pure parenting genius.
What a lovely way to summarize that one, Kathryn! So glad to hear it resonated with you too. <3
Thank you. My 8 year old daughter has ADHD and ODD and she has recently being diagnosed with Autism. She has many talents and at times displays more emotional intelligence than I do. I have made so many mistakes as a mother, but am trying everyday. Watching the videos has helped. Probably the most profound thing for me was to hear that I need to show compassion to myself.
These were awesome. Thank you!
Thank you for the email. These are beautiful and thoughtful videos. I pinned this page to watch more later. But if I’m being brutally honest the pin itself is a completely boring stock photo of a woman and kid. I will probably blow right past the pin and never think to click on it again. The actual images from these videos make for much more memorable pin i may remember and want to re-watch.