Overpowering Emotions Podcast: Helping Children and Teens Manage Big Feels

• 182. Are you making kids’ meltdowns worse without knowing it?

  Helping Kids Regulate Their Emotions – Without Escalating the ChaosEmotional regulation isn’t just about calming kids down—it’s about teaching them how to handle their emotions effectively. In this episode, Dr. Caroline chats with Leslie Josel, ADHD parenting coach and executive function expert, to break down why emotional regulation is a crucial executive function skill—and how we can support kids without making things worse.You'll learn: ✔️ Why kids' executive function struggles make emotions even harder to manage ✔️ The #1 mistake adults make when responding to kids' emotional outbursts ✔️ How to de-escalate meltdowns by working with the child’s brain, not against it ✔️ Simple strategies to set limits without power strugglesPlus, Leslie shares practical, real-life scripts to help kids feel heard while keeping the peace at home. Tune in and transform the way you handle emotional moments!Prefer to watch? Check it out: https://youtu.be/EjuaF-8mCsYHomework Ideas to Rewire Your Responses to Emotional OutburstsStart with one strategy today and see the difference! 🚀The "WAIT" StrategyWhen your child is overwhelmed, stop and ask yourself: "Why Am I Talking?"Instead of offering solutions, just listen. Try phrases like “I’m here,” “Go on,” or “What do you need from me?”Reflect: Did staying quiet help de-escalate the situation?Preempt Emotional Storms with "Time & Topic"Instead of abruptly asking your child to do something, prep them with both a time frame and the subject. Example: “Hey, I need 10 minutes of your time after dinner to talk about tomorrow’s schedule.” Watch how their response changes!Set phone reminders to cue yourself to use this approach during daily interactions. Identifying Your “Non-NegotiablesWhat behaviours are truly non-negotiable? Write them down.Are there areas where you can offer more control without compromising your values?Test giving your child more autonomy in one area and observe their reaction.Have a meeting to set clear expectations while giving kids a voice in rules. About Leslie Josel:Leslie Josel, an award-winning ADHD-student and parenting coach, is the founder of Order Out of Chaos® – a 20+ years company whose mission is to champion parents & professionals raising neurodivergent students. She's an award-winning author of three books, creator of the award-winning “Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®,” and an internationally acclaimed speaker. Leslie’s been named as one of the top time management experts in the world by Global Gurus eight years in a row. And until recently, she wrote the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine. Get in touchWEBSITE: orderoochaos.com. SHOP SITE: for our books and videos and courses: shop.orderoochaos.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/order.out.of.chaos/ FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/orderoutofchaos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/orderoochaosFREE* ONLINE VIDEO: How To Build a Successful Student: https://www.shop.orderoochaos.com/products/p/the-student-coaches-corner-how-to-build-a-successful-student-in-the-21st-century *You will need to go through the check out process on our site to access but it is free.Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

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• 181. What’s the best way to help kids handle big feelings?

  Emotional regulation isn’t about staying calm all the time—it’s about recognizing emotions, processing them, and responding in a way that helps rather than hurts. In this episode, we break down how kids develop emotional regulation skills, why adults must model these behaviors first, and practical strategies to help children manage frustration, disappointment, and stress.You’ll learn:✔️ Why telling kids to “calm down” doesn’t work (and what to do instead)✔️ How to model self-regulation in high-stress moments✔️ The #1 mistake parents make when trying to teach emotional regulation✔️ How to help kids recognize and name their emotions✔️ Simple daily practices to build emotional resilienceThis episode is packed with real-world examples, actionable strategies, and tools to help guide children in developing strong self-regulation skills.Watch now and start building a calmer, more emotionally aware environment.💡 Want to improve your own emotional regulation while teaching kids? Try these exercises!✅ Identify Your Triggers: Write down 3-5 things that regularly cause strong emotional reactions. Pay attention to patterns.✅ Self-Regulation Practice: Try the “Name it to tame it” technique: When emotions rise, name them out loud. ("I’m feeling frustrated right now.")✅ Body Awareness Exercise: When you feel overwhelmed, pause. Where do you feel it? Tight chest? Clenched jaw? Learning to notice helps you regulate better.✅ Use Scaling Questions: Next time your child is upset, instead of saying "Calm down," try: "On a scale of 1-10, how hard does this feel?" Then ask, "What would help move it down a point or two?"✅ Address Emotions Underlying Needs: Identify a few go-to strategies when emotions run high. Check out this resource on Helping Kids Manage Emotions https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/helping-kids-manage-emotions/🛠️ Downloadable Resources:📌 Emotion Cards/Wheel – Helps kids name their emotions. https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/emotioncardsbodyoutlines/📌 Emotion Regulation Strategy Chart – A printable guide to address underlying emotional needs. https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/helping-kids-manage-emotions/📌 Self-Reflection Worksheet – Helps adults track emotional triggers and responses. https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/adultemotionregulationselfreflection/✨ The best way to teach emotional regulation? Master it yourself first. Start practicing today! Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

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• 180. Are you challenging kids the RIGHT way? How to find their learning sweet spot

  Finding the "Just Right" Challenge: How to Help Kids Grow Without OverwhelmLast week, we talked about the importance of resilience and how stress plays a role in helping kids develop the skills to navigate life’s challenges. But how much challenge is too much? And how can we push kids just enough without overwhelming them?In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, we explore the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)—the sweet spot where kids stretch beyond their comfort zones while still feeling supported. Think of it as the "Goldilocks Principle" for learning: not too easy, not too hard, but just right.You'll learn: ✔️ How to recognize kids' ZPD and adjust challenges accordingly ✔️ The key difference between guiding and rescuing (and why less talking is often better!) ✔️ Why frustration and mistakes are essential for growth ✔️ Practical, real-life challenges you can use to build independence and problem-solving skillsPlus, check out below for activities designed to help kids push their limits in a way that fosters confidence, resilience, and lifelong motivation.🎧 Listen now and start helping your kids embrace challenges with courage and curiosity!Homework Ideas to Build Resilience & Critical ThinkingScaling Questions → Ask kids to rate a task on a scale of 1-10 (10 = impossible). Then brainstorm ways to make it feel more manageable.Problem-Solving Jar → Write down everyday challenges (or print out the 60 challenge ideas!) and have your child draw one each day to practice creative solutions.Try Again Tracker → Create a simple chart where kids track how many times they try again before getting something right. Bonus points every time they learn!“What’s Next?” → Whenever a setback happens, ask “What’s next?” instead of solving the problem for them.Independent Decision-Making → Let your child plan a meal, run an errand, or research a new skill with minimal guidance. 👉 Check out (better yet, try out) one of these 60 challenges this week and let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear how your child is growing. https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/pushing-the-limits-zpd/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

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• 179. How do we raise resilient kids (even when life gets tough)?

  Resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about learning to face them. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, we’re breaking down exactly what resilience looks like, why kids need stress and adversity to grow, and how parents and teachers can help build it in everyday life.💪 What you’ll hear in this episode:✔️ Why stress and failure are essential for resilience✔️ How to stop shielding kids from challenges and start guiding them through✔️ The best ways to model resilience so kids learn by watching✔️ Simple, everyday activities that strengthen kids’ problem-solving and confidence✔️ A fun family activity to track resilience growth over time💡 Your Challenge: Start Small, Build StrongThis week, focus on small ways to let kids experience, process, and overcome everyday challenges. Here are some simple activities to get started:✅ Resilience Jar – Write down moments of resilience (big or small) and add them to a jar. Review regularly as a family to celebrate growth.✅ What’s Next? – When a challenge arises, ask, “What’s next?” instead of jumping in to fix it. This shifts focus to problem-solving.✅ Weekly Challenge – Encourage kids to tackle something slightly outside their comfort zone each week, then reflect on what they learned.✅ Responsibility Role – Give kids an age-appropriate task to manage entirely on their own (e.g., planning a meal, organizing a school project).✅ Normalize Mistakes – When a child makes a mistake, replace “Don’t worry, I’ll fix it” with “What do you think you can do about this?”Looking for more challenges? Check out these ideas! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/building-resilience-activities-kids/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

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• 178. Are we raising confident kids—or just keeping them (overly) safe?

  Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline chats with Justyna Bronski, a life coach and former high school math teacher, to explore the emotional challenges teens face today. From identity struggles to social media pressures, Justyna shares how parents and educators can create an environment where teens feel truly heard, valued, and empowered.You’ll learn:✅ Why today’s teens feel disconnected (despite being more "connected" than ever)✅ How social media influences identity and emotional avoidance✅ Simple ways to help teens build confidence and emotional awareness✅ Why embracing mistakes is key to growth—and how to model it for kids✅ The power of stepping outside comfort zones (for both teens and parents!)PLUS: Justyna reveals why parents need to focus on their own emotional well-being first—and how that transformation impacts their kids. Homework Ideas:Self-Reflection: Identify moments where your own emotions impact your interactions with kids. Write down one personal trigger and explore where it comes from.Validation Challenge: Go one full day without offering solutions to your teen’s concerns—just listen and validate their feelings.Step Outside Comfort Zones: Pick one new experience to try (preferably with your teen). Discuss the emotions it brings up.Mistake Modelling: Share a personal failure with your teen and discuss how you learned from it.Check out Justyna's free video training series: Freebie: What Your Teen Want You to Know ( But Does Not Know How To Ask)About Justyna:Justyna is a former high school teacher with 15 years of experience, during which she gained unique insights into the minds and hearts of hundreds of teens. Now a dedicated life coach for teens, she specializes in helping them navigate overwhelming emotions, build a positive self-image, and foster meaningful relationships. Justyna has also worked as a coach for educators, empowering teachers with strategies to better support their students. Her passion is guiding teens to uncover their authentic selves and thrive emotionally and socially.Website: www.justynabronski.com Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

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