Talking about feelings can be hard, for kids AND parents.

Some kids talk freely, others shut down, and many sit somewhere in between.

If you’ve ever felt unsure how to help your child open up, or worried about what’s going on beneath the surface, this episode is for you.

Silence isn’t defiance — it’s a signal. Kids can shut down when they don’t feel emotionally safe, even when the environment is calm, loving, and well-intentioned.

Today I unpack how emotional intelligence, nervous system awareness, and self-regulation change the way kids experience communication and connection.

You’ll learn why kids decide (unconsciously) whether it’s safe to share, how our tone, presence, and reactions matter more than the “right words,” and how letting go of control actually builds trust. I also share simple phrases, somatic calming strategies, and mindset shifts that create space for openness without pressure, fixing, or compliance.

If you want deeper connection, more trust, and conversations that happen naturally, without forcing, this episode will change the way you think about talking to your kids.

If this way of thinking resonates, my book on Amazon goes deeper into these ideas — emotional intelligence as the foundation for calmer, more connected parenting. Think of it as a companion to this conversation. 📚 Find my book From Chaos To Connection by Stephanie Pinto on Amazon here!

🩷 Hi! I’m an award-winning Emotional Intelligence parenting consultant, best-selling author and international speaker. I’m also a paediatric anxiety therapist and I love helping kids, parents and educators use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives!

Book a FREE 30 min consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

E: hello@stephaniepinto.com

W: www.stephaniepinto.com

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

IG @emotionally.intelligent.parent

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are 148,000+ parents in the community!

🎉 Join Let's Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids now.

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This one’s an eye-opener. An 11-year-old boy is suspended from school for bullying. His parent is devastated, confused, and in shock.

They turned to my parenting community online for help and ask a question so many parents would ask in that moment: “Besides taking away electronics, what else can I do?” What followed was a flood of responses.

Some were deeply supportive, insightful, and grounded in emotional intelligence. Others were confronting, punitive, and honestly… alarming.

So today in this episode I unpack that post from my Facebook community, Let’s Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids, and the huge range of responses it received.

I talk about:

• Why punishment feels like the obvious answer, but often misses the mark
• What bullying behaviour is really telling us about a child
• How shame-based consequences ALWAYS backfire
• The big (and hugely important) difference between accountability and punishment
• What emotionally intelligent parents focus on instead
• How to support a child who has caused harm without excusing the behaviour

This is not about “letting kids off the hook.” And it’s definitely not about ignoring the impact on the other child.

It’s about teaching responsibility, empathy, and change in a way that actually sticks.

If you’ve ever thought, “What if this was my child?” or “How would I even handle that?” This episode is for you. Enjoy.

🎁 Want to get my book From Chaos To Connection FOR FREE? This month you can get it at no cost when you get my How to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids online course, which is also 50% off!! The only place to access it is here and use code 2026JANSALE.

📚 Find my book on Amazon here!

🩷 Hi! I’m an award-winning Emotional Intelligence parenting consultant, best-selling author and international speaker. I’m also a paediatric anxiety therapist and I love helping kids, parents and educators use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives!

Book a FREE 30 min consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

E: hello@stephaniepinto.com

W: www.stephaniepinto.com

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

IG @emotionally.intelligent.parent

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are 148,000+ parents in the community!

🎉 Join Let's Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids now.

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

You promise yourself you won’t yell… and then suddenly, you have. Maybe your child’s tantrum isn’t even that big, but something in YOU snaps.

If you’ve ever wondered why you react the way you do, even when you know better, this episode is for you.

Today I’m not talking about how to “fix” your child, stop tantrums, or get quick compliance. I’m talking about the missing piece most parents were never taught: emotional intelligence, and how it completely changes the way you experience triggers, yelling, and discipline.

I unpack why reacting is often automatic, not a failure… Why punishment and control don’t create calm (even when they seem to work short-term)… And why self-awareness, not willpower, is the skill that gives you choice in hard moments.

This conversation will help you see your triggers differently, understand what’s really happening in your nervous system, and shift the focus from controlling behaviour to building connection and emotional safety.

No scripts. No step-by-step formulas. Just powerful orienting principles to help you respond more intentionally, even on the haaard parenting days.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck in the same cycle, and you’re ready to parent with more calm, clarity, and confidence… this is one you don’t want to miss. Press play and let’s start changing the way you show up at home.

I mentioned my book From Chaos To Connection (How parenting with emotional intelligence raises kind, confident, resilient kids) - find it on Amazon here!

If you prefer to watch the video, find this episode on YouTube here.

🩷 Hi! I’m an award-winning Emotional Intelligence parenting consultant, best-selling author and international speaker. I’m also a paediatric anxiety therapist and I love helping kids, parents and educators use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives!

Find my best-selling book on emotional intelligence, From Chaos To Connection on Amazon here!

Book a FREE 30 min consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

E: hello@stephaniepinto.com

W: www.stephaniepinto.com

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

IG @emotionally.intelligent.parent

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are 148,000+ parents in the community!

🎉 Join Let's Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids now.

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