Hi all, today on the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting podcast I'm diving deep into a game-changing topic that will profoundly shift the way you view your child's behaviour: HIDDEN TRIGGERS.

Have you ever had a moment when your child or teen suddenly melts down over what seems like nothing? One moment they're fine, but the next, it's chaos over the "wrong" snack, the innocent question you asked, or a change in plans. You're left wondering, "What the heck just happened?!" Yep. I've been there too.

So today, I'm letting you in on the truth: your kids aren't being difficult; they're responding to unseen triggers that their brains and nervous systems register long before they can articulate their feelings.

Imagine if you could spot these triggers before they escalate into emotional blow-ups?! That’s the power of emotional intelligence in parenting! Trust me.

Today I've got 11 hidden triggers that can sneakily and instantly impact your child’s emotions and behaviour, along with a few practical solutions for each that you can implement right away to support them in a more emotionally intelligent way. I explore everything from sensory overload and hunger to the effects of parental stress and overwhelming expectations.

You'll hear about:

• Overstimulation and sensory sensitivities
• "Hangry” meltdowns
• Keeping your kids hydrated (seriously!)
• Creating a supportive emotional climate that models self-regulation
• How to create smoother transitions between activities
• Perceived injustices (definitely a hidden trigger for many kids!)
• Physical discomforts and pain that you can't see
• Adjusting your expectations to fit their developmental level (NOT age)
• Conflict exposure
• And the last one I'll keep a secret cause it's my ultimate favourite - sorry not sorry!

Here's where you can really deepen your emotional intelligence and see the results... less conflict, fewer arguments, reduced yelling - seriously! And more calm, connection, and understanding.

Tune in and let me give you a few more tools to navigate your kids' big emotions with grace and emotional intelligence.

🌟🌟🌟

Hi, I'm Stephanie Pinto. I'm an Emotional Intelligence best-selling author, award-winning coach and international speaker. I'm also a paediatric anxiety therapist (and previous speech language pathologist!) and I love helping people use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives.

✅ Want me to speak to the staff your school/preschool, team or organisation on Emotional Intelligence? Email us and we'll make it happen!

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@stephaniepinto.com and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

🩷Join over 130,000 people in my online community! ➡️ www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com for free resources, courses, coaching, collaborations or speaking engagements.

🥳 Find me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: www.fb.com/stephpinto

YT: www.youtube.com/c/StephaniePinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever hear people throw around terms like “fight, flight, freeze,” “nervous system,” or “relational safety” and think… what are they actually talking about? Yep, me too.

As a parent (and someone who works with families), I didn’t really understand what those phrases meant... until I came across Mona Delahooke’s work. And let me tell you, once I did, everything about my kids’ behaviour suddenly made a LOT more sense!

In this special re-release of our 2022 interview, Mona - who’s a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience - breaks down the science behind those frustrating, baffling behaviours our kids send our way.

But this isn’t just theory—Mona shares practical, real-life strategies to help you stay calm and support your child when they’re overwhelmed.

This conversation feels even more meaningful today because, in 2023, Mona survived a brain aneurysm—an experience that’s led her to slow down and prioritize her health. I feel so lucky we still have her voice and wisdom to learn from, and I’m beyond grateful to share this life-changing conversation with you.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ Why your child’s “bad behaviour” is often a sign their nervous system is in distress

✅ How understanding the brain makes parenting so much easier (and less stressful!)

✅ Simple, effective ways to respond without yelling, punishing, or losing your cool

If you’re ready to stop feeling frustrated and start feeling empowered, this one’s for you.

🌟🌟🌟

Hi, I'm Stephanie Pinto. I'm an Emotional Intelligence best-selling author, award-winning coach and international speaker. I'm also a paediatric anxiety therapist (and previous speech language pathologist!) and I love helping people use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives.

✅ Want me to speak to the staff your school/preschool, team or organisation on Emotional Intelligence? Email us and we'll make it happen!

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@stephaniepinto.com and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

🩷Join over 130,000 people in my online community! ➡️ www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com for free resources, courses, coaching, collaborations or speaking engagements.

🥳 Find me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: www.fb.com/stephpinto

YT: www.youtube.com/c/StephaniePinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if parenting didn’t have to be a battle of wills? And wouldn't it be nice to welcome your child's "no!" instead of it igniting a power struggle?! I feel you.

Today on the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting Podcast, I sit down with Vivek Patel, founder of Meaningful Ideas, to explore what some call a radical yet deeply effective approach—Noncoercive Collaborative Parenting.

Vivek shares why kids resist us more when they trust us less - and how the common fallback to coercion damages that trust.

But instead of simply telling us what not to do, Vivek offers clear, practical steps for building a relationship where cooperation flows naturally.

We dive into:

✨ The "Model, Guide, Friend" framework and how it can transform your parenting.

✨ Why hearing “no” from our kids feels so triggering and how to embrace it as a gift.

✨ How to teach kids to set boundaries and resist peer pressure, without controlling them.

✨ Debunking the myth that noncoercive parenting raises “soft snowflakes” or kids who walk all over us.

✨ Inspiring through values—and the importance of knowing and living your own.

Vivek also shares his personal journey of raising his now-28-year-old daughter this way—despite being raised in a home filled with control and coercion. His insights are powerful, practical, and guaranteed to shift the way you think about guiding your child.

💡 One of Vivek’s most powerful reminders:

“When your child says no, say: ‘Thank you so much for telling your truth.’” Mindblowing?! Yup. Have you ever tried it? Probably not. Radical, powerful - TRY IT.

If you’re ready to move beyond power struggles and create a parenting approach built on trust, connection, and collaboration—this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how to guide your child while respecting their voice.

Find out more about Vivek’s work here:

W: meaningfulideas.com

IG: @meaningfulideas

FB: facebook.com/meaningfulideas

YT: youtube.com/c/meaningfulideas

🌟🌟🌟

Hi, I'm Stephanie Pinto. I'm an Emotional Intelligence best-selling author, award-winning coach and international speaker. I'm also a paediatric anxiety therapist (and previous speech language pathologist!) and I love helping people use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives.

✅ Want me to speak

to the staff your school/preschool, team or organisation on Emotional

Intelligence? Email us and we'll make it happen!

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us

at hello@stephaniepinto.com and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

🩷Join over 130,000 people in my online community! ➡️

www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com for free resources, courses, coaching, collaborations or speaking engagements.

🥳 Find me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: www.fb.com/stephpinto

YT: www.youtube.com/c/StephaniePinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.