How to Stay Calm as a Parent When Co-Regulation Feels Impossible
Parents often think they’re teaching emotional regulation to their children. Developmentally, they’re actually building a regulation system together. By Tess Shirefley, Developmental Psychologist and Child Development Professor TL;DR Parents and caregivers aren’t just teaching emotional regulation, they’re building it alongside their children in real time. The same stress that overwhelms a child’s developing nervous system […]
Meltdowns & Tantrums: Why Emotional Regulation Is So Hard for Kids
As a developmental psychologist (and a mom of three), I break down why emotional regulation is so hard for kids, and how understanding meltdowns and tantrums changes the way you respond. By Tess Shirefley, Developmental Psychologist and Child Development Professor TL;DR Emotional regulation isn’t something kids are born with – it develops gradually through brain […]
“Why Won’t My Child Listen?”
“Why Won’t My Child Listen?” The surprising developmental reasons why kids won’t listen to parents By Tess Shirefley, Developmental Psychologist and Child Development Professor TL;DR Wondering why kids won’t listen? The reasons have little to do with obedience or discipline. Listening depends on developing skills — attention, memory, impulse control, language — plus temperament, the […]