Breathing, Behavior & Brain Development: What Every Parent Should Know with Dr. Leslie Pasco Ep. 113

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Leslie Pasco, founder and CEO of MyoWay Centers for Kids, to explore a topic that many families have never been told to consider: how your child breathes.Dr. Leslie is a former general dentist of nearly 30 years who made the bold decision to retire from clinical dentistry to focus on one critical issue she believes is at the root of so many modern childhood challenges—sleep-related breathing disorders and improper jaw and airway development.We discuss:Why children today are experiencing more behavioral challenges than ever beforeHow mouth breathing activates the fight-or-flight responseThe connection between sleep, hyperactivity, and focusWhy jaw development has changed over thousands of yearsHow non-invasive myofunctional therapy can transform a child’s sleep, behavior, and long-term healthIf you’ve ever wondered whether there might be a deeper reason behind your child’s focus struggles, emotional regulation challenges, night terrors, snoring, congestion, or orthodontic needs, this conversation will open your eyes.This episode beautifully aligns with our heart for getting to the root cause and supporting children in growing into confident, thriving learners, at home and beyond. Join the Conversation:Head over to the Home Education with Ease Facebook Group and answer this week’s questions:Have you ever noticed your child breathing through their mouth during the day or night?Has your child struggled with sleep, snoring, congestion, or night terrors?What was your biggest “lightbulb moment” from this episode?Share your answers with the community, ask questions, or DM Christine!Takeaways: Mouth breathing is not harmless, it activates the body’s fight-or-flight response.Chronic mouth breathing can shift brain development toward short-term survival rather than long-term reasoning and focus.Jaw development has changed over centuries due to softer, processed diets.Many children may be medicated for behavioral symptoms that could be linked to sleep-related breathing disorders.Myofunctional therapy is a non-invasive way to retrain muscles and support proper jaw and airway growth.Early intervention (especially before age six) can create dramatic improvements.Trust your parent intuition—if something feels off, it’s worth investigating further.Quotes:“Our bodies are not designed to be loud or make any noise when we’re breathing or sleeping.” - Dr. Leslie Pasco“When we mouth breathe, our brain turns on the fight-or-flight response.” - Dr. Leslie Pasco“Children are developing into their own breathing obstruction.” - Dr. Leslie Pasco“It would be wrong to have this information and not do something with it.” - Dr. Leslie Pasco“Trust your mommy gut or your daddy gut.” - Dr. Leslie Pasco“If I don’t know about this, how many other families don’t know about this?” - Christine Furman“Let’s get to the root cause.” - Christine Furman“It’s very easy to say, ‘They have ADHD,’ and move straight to medication. But what if there’s something deeper?” - Christine Furman“Once I learn something that could help families, I’m not going to stop sharing it.” - Christine FurmanResources & Links: Connect with Dr. Leslie Pasco:🌐 MyoWay Centers for KidsWebsite: https://myowaycenters.com(Free consultation booking available)https://x.com/DrLesliePasco https://www.youtube.com/@MyoWayCentersforKids https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-leslie-pasco-03a096a1/ https://www.instagram.com/myoway_centersforkids/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Myoway-Centers-For-Kids/61558102876773/ 📺 Connor Deegan Story - Connor’s Airway & Academic Transformation Story📘 Course Corrected - Featuring both Christine and Dr. Leslie’s stories🌟 Connect with like-minded families, build community and access resources in the Home Education with Ease Facebook GroupConnect with Christine:If this episode resonated with you and you’re wondering what next steps might look like for your family, I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out and send me a message. Email: [email protected]: Home Education with Ease Facebook Group Instagram: @thehomeeducationexpert | @eduplaylearningYouTube: EduPlay Learning YouTube If you’d like to connect more personally, you’re welcome to complete the EduPlay Learning Questionnaire and share about your family’s learning journey. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to support and encourage you every step of the way.🎧 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow mom that could use some inspiration and encouragement!