Behavior is never just behavior.

In this conversation, holistic academic support coach Elyse Dworin joins me to look underneath school struggles, homework battles, and "I don't feel well" complaints through a whole-child lens. We talk about behavior as a symptom, not a character flaw, and explore how challenges with executive function, overwhelm, social stress, or undiagnosed needs can show up as avoidance, lashing out, or shutdown long before a child has words for what's wrong.

Elyse walks us through simple, body-based tools to help kids (and parents) tune back in: grounding exercises, naming feelings, noticing clenched fists and racing hearts, and using movement, nature, music, and deep pressure to bring the nervous system back online. We also talk about her Whole Child Collective audit for families who feel like they've "tried everything" and are still stuck. This episode is a gentle invitation to step out of blame, get curious, and start working with your child's brain and body instead of against them.

Key Takeaways

• Behavior is a symptom and a form of communication. When we stop treating it as the whole problem and start asking why, new possibilities open up.
• The same behavior can have many different roots. Homework refusal might be about overwhelm, difficulty breaking tasks down, social stress, exhaustion, or relationship dynamics at home.
• Shifting from "my child is being difficult" to "why is this happening" moves parents out of a stuck, victim place and into partnership and problem solving.
• Interoception, the ability to notice and understand internal body signals, is often tricky for complicated kids. "I don't feel well" can cover many different sensations and emotions.
• Naming emotions helps. When a child can connect a big feeling to a word like overwhelm, fear, or frustration, intensity often decreases.
• Connecting feelings to body sensations is a skill. Questions like "Where did you feel that?" help kids map their internal states.
• Mind-body practices support learning and regulation. Grounding, breathing, time outdoors, movement, music, and sensory tools all help when tailored to the child.
• Strategies are experiments, not one-size-fits-all solutions. Reflection helps kids learn what works for their nervous system.
• Adults need this awareness too. Parents can miss their own stress signals, especially during intense seasons.
• A whole-child lens looks at school, home, social life, body, and brain together.

About Elyse Dworin

Elyse Dworin is the founder of Elevated Learning Solutions, a holistic academic support practice that helps students thrive by understanding not only how they learn best, but also what supports their bodies and brains. With a strong background in math and dual degrees in Special Education and Exceptional Learners, she blends subject instruction with metacognition, executive functioning, study skills, and social-emotional strategies. Elyse also works directly with parents to understand learning profiles, build effective supports at home, and navigate challenges with confidence. She lives in Germantown, Maryland, with her husband and two young children.

About Your Host, Gabriele Nicolet

I'm Gabriele Nicolet—toddler whisperer, speech therapist, parenting life coach, and host of Complicated Kids. Each week, I share practical, relationship-based strategies for raising kids with big feelings, big needs, and beautifully different brains. My goal is to help families move from surviving to thriving by building connection, confidence, and clarity at home.

Complicated Kids Resources and Links

🌎 www.gabrielenicolet.com 📅 Schedule a free intro call 📺 Subscribe on YouTube 👾 Tell the Story (anti-anxiety tool for kids) ➡️ Instagram ➡️ Facebook ➡️ LinkedIn 🌺 Free "Orchid Kid" Checklist

Enjoying the show?

If Complicated Kids has been helpful, the best way to support the podcast is to follow, rate, and leave a quick review. It helps other parents find the show—and it means a lot.

If there's a topic you'd love to hear covered on a future episode, reach out at [email protected]. I love hearing what's on your mind and what would support your family.

Thank you for being here. 💛