S3 EP15: SEL Summer Camp Week5 - Deep Dive into Anger, Reactivity & Rage | Why Tweens Explode (And What to Do Instead)

🍎Apple Listeners: The show’s ratings were hacked & dropped to  3.1 rating from 4.9. It is under investigation currently. If you could help out & provide a positive star rating, it would mean everything! So grateful! Best, Suz & Steve🐶—————————————————-In this special Deep Dive episode, Suzanne is joined once again by therapist Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, for one of the most important conversations of the Summer Camp series. Together, they explore what is really happening beneath explosive behavior—and why anger is so often protecting something much more vulnerable. 💜Using Hawaiian volcanoes 🌋, ocean currents 🌊, and stories from Suzanne’s years in the middle school classroom, this episode unpacks the science and psychology behind emotional regulation in a way that is practical, compassionate, and surprisingly hopeful.🧠 In this episode, you’ll discover:• Why anger is often a secondary emotion • What happens inside the brain during emotional reactivity • How the amygdala can hijack logical thinking • The power of co-regulation—and why connection comes before correction • How to recognize the body’s warning signs before an emotional eruption • Why regulation is not about suppressing feelings • How to help tweens build awareness instead of shame • Practical strategies parents, educators, and caregivers can use todayFREE ACTIVITY FROM MIGHTIER:⛑️Anger Volcanoes: Strategies to help   Effectively Deal with Teen/Tween Anger: https://www.mightier.com/resources/7-effective-anger-management-activities-for-kids/Along the way, Suzanne shares personal stories, educational insights, and a few adventures with Lieutenant Steve and the Coconut Kingdom 🐾🥥—because learning does not have to be boring.Whether you are raising a tween, teaching one, counseling one, or trying to better understand your own emotional responses, this episode offers science, encouragement, practical tools, and plenty of hope. 🌈Because, as always…💜 People grow best when they know they belong.🏕️ Special thanks to our Summer Camp sponsor, Mightier! Visit Mightier.com and use code MARYPOPPINS to save 15%. Suzanne does not receive payment for Mightier, as she loves the system!🎙️ Hosted by Suzanne M. Swain, EdS LMSW 🌂 The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast ✨ Stop. Regulate. Listen.🎧 A heartfelt thank-you to my incredible producer, Janine Stella of StellaMix. Your creativity, talent, and countless hours behind the scenes help transform these conversations into something truly special each week. Thank you for believing in this mission and helping bring The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast to families around the world. 💜SEO TopicsMiddle school anxiety • Cognitive distortions • Parenting tweens • Tween mental health • Emotional regulation • School anxiety • Adolescent brain • Friendship drama • Self-esteem • Parenting middle schoolers • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Executive functioning • Neurodivergent children • Autism • ADHD • Anxiety in girls • Anxiety in boys • Parenting podcast • Teacher resources • Family mental health • Brain-based parenting • Cognitive behavioral strategies • Middle school behaviorSend Suzanne a Question or Comment:Support the show