EPISODE · Oct 16, 2025 · 8 MIN
When the kid is in a meltdown, behavior-wise, they just don't listen. Help!
from ESSDACK Resilience Quick Bites · host ESSDACK Resilience Team
Ever felt like you're talking to a brick wall when a child is having a meltdown? 🤯 In this episode of Quick Bites, Eric Nachtigal and Ginger Lewman from the ESSDACK Resilience team dive deep into a common struggle for parents and educators: getting dysregulated kids to listen.We all want to help, fix, and solve problems immediately, especially when kids are struggling. But what if our words are actually making things worse? Discover why using "all the words" can be counterproductive when a child (or even an adult!) is in their "downstairs brain" – a state of fight, flight, or freeze where logic and language just don't register.Ginger shares profound insights, inspired by Dr. Vince Feletti (co-founder of the ACES project), on the surprising power of simply listening. Learn why silence, presence, and creating a safe space are the most effective tools to help someone calm down, process emotions, and eventually be ready to hear you.In this podcast, you'll learn:Why verbal commands often fail during meltdowns.The science behind the "downstairs brain" and why words don't work.The transformative impact of active, silent listening.Practical strategies for helping children (and adults) regulate and open up.The importance of being heard, seen, and valued for emotional processing.Stop talking, start listening! This Quick Bites episode will revolutionize how you approach challenging conversations and build stronger, more resilient connections.#ParentingTips #Education #ChildBehavior #EmotionalRegulation #ListenMore #QuickBites #AzdakResilience #KidsMeltdown #BrainScience #PositiveParenting #TeacherTips #CommunicationSkills #Mindfulness
What this episode covers
Ever felt like you're talking to a brick wall when a child is having a meltdown? 🤯 In this episode of Quick Bites, Eric Nachtigal and Ginger Lewman from the ESSDACK Resilience team dive deep into a common struggle for parents and educators: getting dysregulated kids to listen.We all want to help, fix, and solve problems immediately, especially when kids are struggling. But what if our words are actually making things worse? Discover why using "all the words" can be counterproductive when a child (or even an adult!) is in their "downstairs brain" – a state of fight, flight, or freeze where logic and language just don't register.Ginger shares profound insights, inspired by Dr. Vince Feletti (co-founder of the ACES project), on the surprising power of simply listening. Learn why silence, presence, and creating a safe space are the most effective tools to help someone calm down, process emotions, and eventually be ready to hear you.In this podcast, you'll learn:Why verbal commands often fail during meltdowns.The science behind the "downstairs brain" and why words don't work.The transformative impact of active, silent listening.Practical strategies for helping children (and adults) regulate and open up.The importance of being heard, seen, and valued for emotional processing.Stop talking, start listening! This Quick Bites episode will revolutionize how you approach challenging conversations and build stronger, more resilient connections.#ParentingTips #Education #ChildBehavior #EmotionalRegulation #ListenMore #QuickBites #AzdakResilience #KidsMeltdown #BrainScience #PositiveParenting #TeacherTips #CommunicationSkills #Mindfulness
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When the kid is in a meltdown, behavior-wise, they just don't listen. Help!
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