"I'm fine!" "I'm only upset because you made me!" "Leave me alone!" As a school psychologist, I often remind parents that children “speak” in more ways than just words. Much of what we can learn about a child’s emotional and psychological functioning comes from carefully observing changes in their behavior, tone of voice, and daily habits. When parents tune into these subtle shifts, they gain valuable insights into how their child is feeling and can intervene early when conce

As a school psychologist, one of the most common concerns I hear from parents is, “What do I do when my child gets upset because they don’t get their way—or when they refuse to do something they don’t want to do?”  These everyday struggles are natural parts of parenting, but how we respond in those moments can either escalate the situation or help children learn to regulate themselves. It so happens I recently witnessed this in full effect the other night at a restaurant when