Emily Kircher-Morris and Robyn Gobbel, author of Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors, chat about those baffling behaviors, and how they can leave parents and teachers scratching their heads. It’s also important to understand how adults' emotions can affect how they react to kids' behavior, and why it's so important to create an environment that helps kids feel safe and connected. The conversation also includes some practical tips for parents and teachers about understanding baffling behaviors. It’s all on episode 254!

TAKEAWAYS

• Baffling behavior requires deeper understanding rather than judgment.

• Trauma can significantly impact a child's nervous system and behavior.

• Co-regulation is essential for emotional support and development.

• Neurodivergent children often experience heightened sensitivity to stressors.

• Behavior is often a response to unmet needs or stress.

• Parents and educators should look for underlying triggers in behaviors.

• The brain-body sensory approach can help in managing behaviors.

• Children develop self-regulation through experiences of co-regulation.

• Behavior is often an attempt to find regulation.

• To be helpful co-regulators, adults must navigate their own emotional states.

• Reactions are often based on personal history, not just current conditions.

Check out Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students, a course for educators by Emily Kircher-Morris, in the Neurodiversity University. You’ll find a variety of courses available there as well, with more being added soon.

Robyn Gobbel, MSW holds a Master of Social Work degree and specializes in relational neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and child development. She has dedicated her career to supporting helpers, healers, educators, and parents working with children impacted by trauma.

Robyn has provided professional development workshops, keynote presentations, and ongoing educational resources for those seeking to better understand the intersection of brain science and behavior. She is the author of Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work and the host of The Baffling Behavior Show podcast. Her work focuses on practical strategies for building connection, emotional regulation, and resilience in both children and caregivers.

BACKGROUND READING

Robin’s website

Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors

The Baffling Behavior Show podcast

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