Ep. 294: You Can’t Teach Calm If You Can’t Be Calm: The Power of Self-Regulation

In You Can’t Teach Calm If You Can’t Be Calm, Dr. Meg Meeker welcomes guests Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gerstenzang, co-authors of The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8. Together, they unpack how parental self-regulation plays a crucial role in helping children build emotional resilience and develop lifelong emotional skills.

This episode dives into why your own calm sets the tone for your child’s behavior, especially when dealing with post-COVID stress, emotional outbursts, or peer conflicts. Kahlila and Sarah share practical, science-backed tools to help parents recognize emotional contagion, model regulation, and foster secure attachments.

Whether you're managing meltdowns or building daily routines with intention, this conversation reminds us: you can’t teach calm if you can’t be calm yourself.

👉Want personalized guidance from Dr. Meg?

If you're struggling to stay calm in the chaos of parenting—or just want expert advice tailored to your family's needs—Dr. Meg offers one-on-one coaching for parents who are ready to grow, heal, and lead with confidence. Learn more here.

🧷Links

The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8 by Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gerstenzang

https://amzn.to/4gLC8fq

Meg's Amazon Favs

https://amzn.to/42QT3re

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📌 Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Parenting Challenges

00:33 – Launch of the Self-Regulation Workbook

01:26 – Why Parental Self-Regulation is Key

02:40 – Staying Calm in Heated Moments

05:29 – How Emotions Transfer Between Parent & Child

08:31 – Addressing Post-COVID Anxiety in Kids

11:08 – Helping Kids Develop Emotional Awareness

12:34 – Simple De-Escalation Tools for Parents

17:44 – Matching Strategies to Different Child Personalities

18:37 – Connection-Based Discipline

21:28 – Children’s Core Emotional Needs

23:31 – Teaching Kids to Cope with Stress

25:15 – Managing Peer Conflict and Social Stress

28:30 – Healing Emotional Wounds in Childhood

30:50 – Balancing Work, Stress & Parenting

36:14 – Final Thoughts & Resources

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