The neuroscience of raising emotionally resilient kids: Supporting your child's emotional growth and regulation with Dr. Kristen Lindquist

Neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Kristen Lindquist joins me for a fascinating conversation about how children develop emotional regulation — and how we as parents can support that growth not just through what we say, but how and when we say it.

Together we explore:

• Why the ability to feel and name emotions is something children build slowly over time — and what role parents play in that process.

• What neuroscience reveals about how the brain develops emotional literacy from infancy through adolescence (and even into adulthood!)

• How emotion regulation is like a "software update" that builds on the brain's existing "hardware."

• Why the timing of emotional teaching matters — and how to use the "before" and "after" moments (not the meltdowns themselves!) for the most impact.

• How tools like play, books, and nonverbal attunement can build emotional awareness without overwhelming sensitive or avoidant kids.

• The role of interoception — our sense of internal bodily cues — in helping kids (and adults) understand and manage what they feel.

If you've ever tried to label your child's feelings mid-tantrum and been met with more screaming, or felt unsure how to help your child build real coping tools, this episode will help you take a science-backed, developmentally informed approach that fosters connection and long-term resilience.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 https://www.kristenalindquist.com/

🔗 https://psychology.osu.edu/people/lindquist.83

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

👉🏻 Want more games specifically designed for fostering emotion regulation? Go to drsarahbren.com/games to get my ✨FREE✨ guide packed with games you can play with kids of all ages!

👉🏻 Want to get my research-backed framework for increasing cooperation and emotion regulation skills so you can get back to enjoying parenthood? Check out Parenting by Design, my guided program for increasing behavioral and emotional regulation in sensitive kids.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 24. The psychology behind dysregulation with founder of Parenting Translator Cara Goodwin

🎧 06. Teaching children emotion regulation skills through coregulation with Dana Rosenbloom

🎧 202. Regulation, reward systems, and rest: Rewiring the way our kids interact with screens with Alé Duarte