123 The Hidden Stressors Impacting Kids’ Emotions with Safiya
Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSelf Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacallIn this episode of Kids With Big Emotions, I sit down with Safiya Omosanya to explore the often-overlooked stressors that can impact how our kids think, feel, and behave. From sensory overload to environmental triggers, Safiya shares her insights on what’s really going on beneath the surface when children experience big emotions—and how we as parents can create calmer, more supportive environments.Together, we talk about moving beyond quick fixes, the importance of parent self-care, and why embracing neurodiversity can transform not only our children’s lives but also our own parenting journey.Whether you’re in the thick of meltdowns, struggling with school expectations, or simply wondering what else might be affecting your child’s emotional regulation, this conversation is here to guide you.🔑 Key TakeawaysHidden stressors—like noise, smells, light, or overstimulation—can play a bigger role in your child’s meltdowns than you might realize.Shifting from punishment to understanding opens the door for real connection and growth.Parent self-care is not optional—it’s foundational to modeling regulation for your child.Schools and specialists are helpful, but parents are the strongest advocates and anchors for their child’s needs.Embracing neurodiversity allows children to thrive in their uniqueness rather than feeling “broken” or “less than.”⏱️ Episode Highlights[00:00] Introduction and Safiya’s background[04:20] Why traditional discipline often misses the root cause[09:45] How hidden environmental stressors affect kids’ behavior[15:10] The role of parental regulation and self-care[21:30] Rethinking reliance on schools and specialists[28:40] Embracing neurodiversity and celebrating strengths[34:15] Safiya’s takeaways for parents navigating big emotionsTo reach out to Safiya Omosanya you can book at call or contact her on LinkedIN. 20 minute complimentary “I’m ready to break cycles” session book at www.calendly.com/SafiyaOmosanyaLinked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/safiya-omosanya-aaa46a260
--------
44:00
--------
44:00
122 How to help your child in the Middle of a Meltdown
Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSelf Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacallMeltdowns are not a sign your child is being disrespectful—they’re a sign they’re overwhelmed, stuck, or trying to communicate something they don’t yet have the words for. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on how to meet your child where they are in the middle of an emotional outburst, and what to do (and not do) to help them feel safe, seen, and supported.You’ll learn how your own nervous system impacts your response, why some kids shut down completely, and what’s actually happening in their brains when they “lose it.” You’ll also get ideas you can try today—even if your child refuses every tool you’ve learned.💡 Key TakeawaysYou can’t teach during a meltdown—the moment is for safety and regulation, not lessons.How your own stress animal influences your response—and what to do if you're triggered too.Why some kids go silent or “freeze” in the middle of a meltdown, and how to support them without pushing.Co-regulation doesn't always look like calming your child down—sometimes it means just being a calm presence beside them.Strategies like turning on a calming show or offering stillness aren’t “giving in”—they’re resetting the nervous system.🕰️ Episode Highlights with Timestamps[03:20] What’s really happening in your child’s nervous system during a meltdown—and why logic doesn’t work at that moment.[06:12] The difference between a tantrum and a meltdown—and why assuming your child is “in control” can make things worse.[09:05] What to do if your child shuts down or goes silent—and why stillness doesn’t mean they’re fine.[13:40] How your own stress response shows up in these moments—and how to ground yourself first, even if it’s just one breath.[17:55] The one thing that makes co-regulation effective—and why trying to “fix” the meltdown too soon backfires.[21:30] Tools that don’t require your child to engage—like a calming show or sitting in quiet together—that reset their nervous system without adding pressure.[25:10] Why your child may reject every tool in the moment—and how to stop taking that personally.[29:00] A reminder that meltdowns are built up over time—and your response today is one step in a longer journey of safety and trust.🔗 Resources Mentioned“Stress Animals” Framework (Dolphin, Shark, Turtle, Clownfish) Episode 110 https://andiclark.com/podcast/ Book a free coaching call: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall 💬 If this episode helped you see meltdowns in a new light, please share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps more parents feel less alone.🎙 Listen to all episodes at: https://andiclark.com/podcast/
--------
25:09
--------
25:09
121 Behavior is a Signal, Not the Problem with Amy Dooley
Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSelf Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacallIn this powerful conversation, former special education teacher and parent coach Amy Dooley joins Andi to explore what it really means to parent from a place of connection, not control. Amy shares her personal shift from traditional classroom discipline to connection-based parenting, and how that journey led her to support parents in transforming their own limiting beliefs.Key Takeaways:Behavior is a signal, not the problem. When kids act out, it’s often a cry for safety, not defiance.You are worthy, even in the mess. Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent—they need a present one.Parenting shifts begin with self-work. To truly support your child, start by noticing and healing your own patterns.Control isn’t connection. Old-school discipline methods may suppress behavior, but they don't meet your child’s underlying needs.Safety comes before strategies. When your child feels seen and supported, their nervous system calms—and so does yours.Episode Highlights:[00:00] – Welcome + Amy's background as a teacher and homeschool parent[02:00] – Early career belief: “Control = good teaching”[04:50] – The moment Amy realized she wasn’t seeing the child—just the behavior[06:30] – The Coke bottle metaphor: why behavior is the symptom, not the problem[08:30] – Shifting from labeling kids to understanding them[10:00] – Step one: Assigning positive intent to your child[12:30] – Why parents must start with their own healing[14:10] – “I am worthy. Period.” and what today’s kids are demanding[16:00] – Parenting through generational change[17:50] – The screwdriver and screw analogy: why parent shifts must come first[20:00] – Why Amy left the classroom to work with parents[22:30] – A child’s progress is limited when the home foundation is shaky[25:30] – How presence—not perfection—builds trust[28:00] – Feeling like you’re not enough as a parent[30:00] – What “being enough” really looks like in the messiest moments[33:00] – Why your own regulation matters more than the strategy[35:00] – Amy’s story of timing meltdowns vs. being present[37:00] – When you shift, your child’s behavior shifts too[39:00] – Forgiving your former self and building new tools[42:00] – The parenting purse analogy: replacing outdated tools[45:30] – Final message: You are worthy. Your mess doesn’t disqualify you.Resources Mentioned:💡 Amy Dooley's Free Quiz: Discover your parenting strengths and get 3 connection-based strategies: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/683657ece9067900158eb2a9 📱 Follow Amy on Facebook: The Empowered Parent: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredparentcoach/Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amy.dooley_parentcoach) + TikTok: @the.empowered.parent (https://www.tiktok.com/@theempoweredparentcoach)💬 Loved this episode?If Amy’s message about worthiness and connection-based parenting spoke to you, take a moment to reflect: What outdated tools are you ready to let go of?You don’t have to do this alone.Start by exploring Amy’s free quiz to see where your child is struggling and how you can create more calm, connection, and clarity—together.👉 Tap the links in the show notes to take your next step.
--------
46:17
--------
46:17
120 When Simple Tasks Turn Into Big Struggles
Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSelf Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall💡 Key Takeaways:If your child melts down over getting dressed, avoids homework, or can’t stick with a simple routine—it’s not defiance or laziness. Their brain might be overwhelmed by the steps we’re asking them to take.Many kids are expected to follow plans or routines before they’re ready—because no one has helped them with the basics their brain needs first.Before kids can follow a list or stay focused, they need help with skills like noticing what’s happening around them, managing distractions, and stopping themselves from going off track.When we slow things down and meet them at the step they can handle, they feel more successful—and that’s when real progress begins.Your child isn’t failing. They just need support that matches how their brain works.⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:[00:01:15] Why even adults struggle with attention—and how screens play a role[00:06:40] Real-life examples of attention struggles and how they affect daily routines[00:08:15] Introducing the fire metaphor: Kindling, logs, and flames of executive functioning[00:10:20] The four foundational skills that must come before planning[00:13:10] Why giving your child a “beautiful visual schedule” might still lead to meltdowns[00:14:35] How skipping steps on the ladder causes overwhelm, shutdowns, and feelings of failure[00:16:00] The hidden complexity of getting dressed—and why it’s not just one task[00:18:45] How brain maturation and scaffolding work together over time📚 Resources Mentioned:Want to better understand your child’s executive functioning challenges? Start with the Kids With Big Emotions Self-Assessment: 👉 https://andiclark.com/assessmentReady to explore personalized support? Book a free 30-minute call to see if 1:1 coaching is the right fit for your family: 👉 https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall
--------
34:07
--------
34:07
119 From Meltdowns to Connection with Megan Hamm
Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSupport Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/Self Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacallIn this powerful conversation, I sit down with Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist Megan Hamm, who has spent 17+ years supporting children and families through trauma, crisis, and complex emotional needs. Together, we unpack why traditional views of “bad behavior” miss the mark—and what parents can do instead to truly support their children in moments of big emotion.Whether you’re navigating daily meltdowns, feeling stuck in reaction mode, or simply want to build a deeper connection with your child, Megan offers a compassionate, grounded framework to help you shift from managing behavior to understanding it.Key TakeawaysBehavior is communication: Every outburst or meltdown is a signal, not a problem to be fixed.Connection comes before correction: Real change begins with relationship, not control.In-the-moment responses aren’t the time for teaching: Kids in crisis need safety, not consequences.You can’t teach what you haven’t practiced: Parents must build their own regulation tools first.Modeling matters more than managing: Your calm presence teaches more than any strategy.Changing the environment matters: Preventing crisis often starts with how we set up the home and routine.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Introduction to Megan and her background in trauma-informed care[04:00] - The shift from changing behavior to understanding behavior[07:00] - What to do when your child is in meltdown: A crisis-response lens[09:00] - Why calm connection beats consequence every time[12:00] - How to prepare your home and your nervous system for high-emotion moments[16:00] - Practicing regulation when things are not chaotic—why timing matters[20:00] - Why Megan does more parent coaching than direct child therapy[25:00] - What children really need during a meltdown—and why “fixing” doesn’t work[30:00] - Letting kids learn through experience and mistakes, without shaming[36:00] - What to say when others don’t understand your parenting approach[41:00] - Modeling, natural consequences, and what actually builds lifelong skills[48:00] - Megan’s book and how to work with herResources Mentioned🔗 Megan Hamm’s Website: www.meganmhamm.com 📖 Book – The Heart of the Matter: Buy here https://buy.stripe.com/5kA4hxcDc2zd0GkbIJ 🔗 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meganhamm-lpc 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhammlpc/ 👥 Facebook: facebook.com/megan.hamm.554041🎧 Want to reflect more deeply on your parenting journey?If this episode stirred something in you or helped you see your child’s behavior in a new light, I invite you to take a quiet moment to explore what support might look like for your family. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
If your child has big emotions that affect your daily life, you are not alone.
Since my son was born he has experienced intense anxiety and emotional outbursts that have been challenging.
This led me to become a sleep, stress, and resilience coach helping me understand and learn how to regulate my son's nervous system so he was not living in a stressed fight or flight state all of the time.
The school environment heightened his anxiety as they focused on managing his outbursts rather than understanding their root causes.
While navigating these complexities, I’ve faced numerous challenges and setbacks.
However, each phase of my son's development has brought new opportunities for growth and learning for both of us.
It’s a continuous process, but it is possible to support and understand children with big emotions more effectively.
Through this podcast, I aim to reassure and inspire you. Many children experience intense emotions, and together, we can discover better ways to support not only them but also your entire family.
Join me on this journey, and let’s learn from each other.
Visit my website at www.andiclark.com to learn more about my experiences and access valuable resources. With over 30 years in the health world, I'm here to share my knowledge and support you every step of the way.
España