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YES, I'M IN!How to Increase Self-Control in Children | Nervous System Strategies | E298
FAQs
Why does my child lose control so quickly?
Their nervous system is overwhelmed, making impulse control harder. Calming comes before teaching.
Are self-control skills teachable?
Absolutely. Self-control strengthens with repetition, modeling, and structured activities.
Do brain-building games really help?
Yes. They strengthen the prefrontal cortex, which supports planning, patience, and impulse control.
Should I enforce waiting or make it playful?
Playful, low-pressure waiting builds patience far better than strict enforcement.
Tired of not knowing what’s really going on with your child?
The Solution Matcher gives you a personalized recommendation based on your child’s behavior, not just a label. It’s free, takes just a few minutes, and shows you the best next step.
Go to www.drroseann.com/help
Self-control isn’t simply a matter of knowing the rules or wanting to make a better choice. Kids need a regulated brain to pause, think, manage impulses, and access the skills they already know.
In The Dysregulated Kid®, I help parents understand why self-control disappears when the nervous system is overwhelmed and why more correction in that moment often makes things worse. You’ll learn how to regulate first and build the brain-based foundation your child needs for stronger impulse control, flexibility, and better decision-making. Get The Dysregulated Kid® at dysregulatedkid.com (https://dysregulatedkid.com/).
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a licensed therapist, certified school psychologist, and leading expert in emotional dysregulation in children. With over 30 years of experience, she helps parents understand the root causes of meltdowns, anxiety, ADHD, and challenging behavior through the lens of nervous system regulation. Dr. Roseann teaches practical, science-backed strategies for co-regulation and how to calm a dysregulated child using her Regulation First Parenting® approach. She is the host of the Dysregulated Kids Podcast and author of The Dysregulated Kid.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Emotional Dysregulation in Children & Nervous System Expert
Regulation First Parenting® | CALMS Protocol™
Host of the Dysregulated Kids Podcast (Top 1% Globally)
Author of The Dysregulated Kid
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Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge: Helping Families of Dysregulated Kids Thrive Through Regulation First Parenting®
As the creator of Regulation First Parenting®, she’s helping families of dysregulated kids discover a compassionate, brain-based path forward. Through The Dysregulated Kids™ Podcast (top 2% globally), she offers practical strategies that help parents understand their child’s brain and support lasting change.
Through The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann, LLC, she’s created resources like the Neurotastic® Brain Formulas and the Regulation First Parenting® framework—meeting families where they are and supporting them through challenges like ADHD, anxiety, OCD, PANS/PANDAS, and behavioral struggles.
Recognized by Forbes as “a thought leader in children’s mental health,” Dr. Roseann is changing how we understand emotional dysregulation in children—one family at a time.
