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Beautifully Complex

274 Looking at Behavior Both Inside and Out, with Gabriele Nicolet, MA, CCC-SLP

Jul 25, 2024
Gabriele Nicolet, a seasoned speech therapist and parent coach, shares insights on understanding children's behavior through both behavioral and neurophysiological lenses. She discusses how to validate kids' feelings without losing control during tough moments, emphasizing co-regulation methods. The conversation also covers the importance of low-demand parenting and the link between hydration and emotional well-being. Gabriele highlights the need for empathy, self-advocacy in children, and offers relatable stories that illuminate these crucial parenting dynamics.
47:07

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Understanding children's behavior requires recognizing internal physiological processes that signal their emotional states rather than merely labeling them as good or bad.
  • Validation and co-regulation are essential strategies for parents to foster cooperation and emotional growth in neurodivergent children during challenging moments.

Deep dives

Understanding Behavior in Context

Behavior in children, particularly among neurodivergent individuals, can often be misunderstood as merely instinctual or a choice. In reality, external behaviors are deeply connected to internal physiological processes that influence how children react to their environments. Recognizing the internal states of a child's nervous system is crucial; behaviors such as meltdowns or shutdowns signal distress rather than merely misbehavior. This perspective shifts the focus from labeling behaviors as good or bad to understanding them as signals of what the child is experiencing internally.

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