Has your child ever gone from calm to upset just because something isn’t happening in the exact way they expected? I remember this happening to me...
Why Kids Panic When Plans Change? (And What Helps in the Moment)
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Neurodivergent Behaviors
My Child Refuses Everything: Why Rewards and Consequences Backfire (and What Works)
I was in the hallway at bedtime, trying to get my oldest to brush their teeth. For some reason, they were choosing tonight to dig their heels in and...
ARFID and the Nervous System: Why Food Safety Is Emotional Safety
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) was a surprise diagnosis for our household, but it immediately explained years of confusing eating...
How Emotional Dysregulation Shows Up in ADHD
Emotional Dysregulation, Kids, and the ADHD Experience The first forty-plus years of my life have been guided by a quote by Maya Angelou that has...
Why is My Kid Melting Down? The Brain Science Behind Why Kids Lose Control
Autism is the most common neurodivergent diagnosis in our household, although I did not understand autism spectrum disorder until much later in my...
Emotional Dysregulation in AUDHD Teens (Autism + ADHD)
You ask your teen (what feels like) a reasonable question. It might be about homework, getting ready to leave, or turning a screen off. Their...
Calming a Dysregulated Child Away From Home (When You’ve Lost Your Safe Space)
You’re at the grocery store. Or a restaurant. Or standing in line at the DMV. Your child becomes overwhelmed. They might start to whine, cry, yell,...
Christmas and PDA: Helping Your Child Feel Secure During the Holiday Season
Many people look forward to the holiday season through a warm, nostalgic lens. Decorations are put up, winter schedules shift around, relatives make...
The Emotional Switch: How Your Child’s Brain Detects Danger
Your child drops a toy, hears a loud sound, or faces a sudden schedule change, and in seconds, they’re crying, angry, or frozen. Autistic children...
What to Say When Your Child Melts Down
Your child is on the floor, crying and feeling frustrated. The shoes you asked them to put on are nowhere near their feet, and your patience is...
Regulation + Respect: The Core of a Responsive Parenting Toolbox
It is six in the evening. The spaghetti clings to the pot, one child cannot find their shoes, and two more argue about a blue cup. Heat rises in...
Calm Is Contagious: How to Stay Grounded and Help Your Child Settle
When big feelings fill a room, your nervous system sets the tone. Co-regulation parenting means pausing, taking deep breaths, and speaking slowly so...