Securely Attached16 Sep 2025

Big feelings, belonging, and nervous system regulation: Developing emotional intelligence in the middle years with Alyssa Blask Campbell

Parenting in the middle years (ages 5–12) comes with big feelings, new social pressures, and challenges parents don't always see coming. Alyssa Blask Campbell, author of the new book, Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, joins me this week to unpack the emotional, social, and developmental shifts of the middle years.

Together we explore:

The ninth sense: neuroception. How this rarely talked about sense shapes kids' feelings of safety, belonging, and regulation.
What it means to support kids based on their unique nervous system and sensory profile (and why one-size-fits-all strategies don't work).
How to replace control with curiosity to strengthen connection and reduce conflict.
The role of social belonging, identity, and "fitting in" during the elementary years—and why what feels small to us can feel huge to them.
Practical tools for navigating anxiety, dysregulation, and big feelings in ways that foster resilience and confidence.

Big kids really do have bigger feelings—and this episode will leave you with fresh insights, concrete strategies, and a sense of clarity as you support your child through these transformative years.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 https://www.seedandsew.org/

🎧 Listen to the Voices of your Village podcast

🤔 Take the Seed and Sew Regulation Questionnaire - seedquiz.com

📚Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: How to Navigate Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Defiance to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children

📚 Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: Navigating Defiance, Meltdowns, and Anxiety to Raise Confident, Connected Kids

🎧 140. How understanding our child's sensory sensitivities can help us strength their emotional intelligence with Alyssa Blask Campbell

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

📱@seed.and.sew

📱@drsarahbren

REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:

👉🏻 Want 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!

ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about Polyvagal Theory and using the nervous system to wire our children for resilience with Seth Porges

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about understanding sensory sensitivities with occupational therapist Laura Petix

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions with Dr. Eli Lebowitz

🎧Listen to my podcast episode about school refusal with Dr. Erica Miller

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