A Conversation with Stephanie Pinto on the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting Podcast
As both a speech-language pathologist and a parent of two neurodivergent children, I know how overwhelming it can feel when our kids are having a hard time and we aren’t sure how to help.
In those moments, it’s easy to jump into problem-solving, correcting, explaining, or trying to make the big feelings go away as quickly as possible. But over the years, I’ve learned that what our children often need most isn’t for us to fix the feeling, it’s for us to help them move through it.
I recently had the pleasure of joining Stephanie Pinto on the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting podcast to talk about one of my favorite topics: co-regulation.
In this episode, I share my ABCs and 123s of Co-Regulation framework and discuss what we can do when our children are overwhelmed by big emotions, sensory experiences, transitions, or life’s everyday challenges.
In our conversation, we explore:
- Why behavior is often a form of communication rather than the actual problem
- What happens in the nervous system during moments of overwhelm
- Why reasoning and consequences often don’t work when a child is dysregulated
- How our own regulation impacts our ability to support our children
- Simple, practical co-regulation strategies families can use in everyday moments
- Ways to help children build resilience and emotional awareness over time
One of the messages I hope listeners take away is this:
Our job isn’t to stop the waves of emotion. Our job is to help our children stay afloat while the waves pass.
I know many parents worry they’re getting it wrong when their child is struggling. The truth is, there is no perfect response. Repair matters. Connection matters. Showing up with curiosity and compassion matters.
I hope this conversation offers encouragement, practical tools, and reassurance that you don’t have to navigate these moments alone.
Looking for More Support?
If you’d like additional tools to help you support your child’s emotional regulation in everyday life, you can download my Get Regulation in Real Time Toolkit, filled with practical strategies and visual supports for home and school.
Thank you to Stephanie for creating space for these important conversations. I hope this episode reminds you that emotional regulation isn’t about eliminating big feelings, it’s about building safety, connection, and confidence so our children know they can navigate them with support.