Stress isn’t just a feeling, it’s rewiring how kids pay attention, regulate emotions, and make choices. We sit down with clinical child psychologist and parenting coach Dr. Peter Montminy to break down a simple, powerful framework that helps families flip the script from reactivity to reflection. Instead of white-knuckling through meltdowns or nagging through homework, we teach a shared language—pause, breathe, choose—that makes self-regulation feel doable for kids and the adults who care for them.

We start by mapping the brain’s stress response—how the “downstairs brain” hijacks the “upstairs brain” under chronic pressure—and why neuroplasticity means whatever we practice gets stronger. From there, we dive into the three core steps of the Mindful Solutions Method. Awareness begins with a gentle check-in: “What do you notice?” Kids learn to scan their environment, body, and thoughts without judgment, reconnecting to focus. Acceptance follows with breathing space and a new question: “What do you need?” That shift from resistance to reality opens doors to self-care and problem-solving. Finally, aligned action asks, “What will you choose?” so behavior matches values and goals, not just impulses in the moment.

You’ll hear concrete examples for classrooms and living rooms: how to use prompts during transitions, how to adapt tone for a six-year-old versus a teen, and when to switch from questions to guidance if a child is highly dysregulated. We talk small wins—water breaks, movement resets, page checks—that build the muscles of executive function. With consistent practice at low-intensity moments, families strengthen the neural circuits for attention, calm, and cooperation. The result is a practical toolkit any caregiver can use to create safer, steadier spaces where young minds thrive.

If this conversation helps, share it with someone who needs a calmer afternoon. Subscribe for more science-backed tools, and leave a review to tell us which prompt you’ll try first.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support.

This podcast is brought to you by Jana Marie Foundation and A Mindful Village.

Jana Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in State College, Pennsylvania which harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations build connections, and promote mental health and wellbeing among young people and their communities. Learn more at Jana Marie Foundation.

A Mindful Village is Dr. Peter Montminy's private consulting practice dedicated to improving the mental health of kids and their caregivers. Learn more at A Mindful Village | Holistic Mental Health Care for Kids.

Music created by Ken Baxter.

(c) 2025. Jana Marie Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

This podcast was developed in part under a grant number SM090046 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA, HHS or the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.