I'm baaaackkk! Are you ready?
- Heidi Hawkins
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Helping You Navigate the World of Child Development and Psychology
Nest Psychological Services, PLLC
As Summer Fades: Helping Children Navigate Big Emotions Before School Begins
Hey there,
As summer slowly begins to fade and the back-to-school season approaches, I find myself thinking about all of the emotions that quietly build beneath the surface this time of year.
For some children, it's excitement.
For others, it's worry, grief over the loss of freedom, fear of new teachers, frustration with changing routines, or simply the stress that comes whenever life asks our brains to adapt.
And often, those feelings don't come out as words.
They come out as behavior.
A child who suddenly becomes more argumentative.
The teenager who withdraws.
The preschooler who melts down over something that seemed "small."
The child who can't seem to get moving in the morning.
The student who appears unmotivated when they're actually overwhelmed.
One of the greatest lessons I've learned over more than twenty years as both a child psychologist and a mother of seven is this:
Behavior always tells a story.
When we learn to understand the brain underneath the behavior instead of simply reacting to the behavior itself, everything begins to change.
That doesn't mean lowering expectations.
It means responding in ways that actually help children develop the regulation skills they're still building.
Over the years, I've been deeply influenced by the work of Dr. Bruce Perry, Dr. Daniel Siegel, Dr. Gabor Maté, and Dr. Karyn Purvis. Their research has reinforced something I've witnessed thousands of times in my own practice, in schools, and around my own kitchen table:
Children do well when their nervous systems feel calm and safe enough to do well.
One practical strategy you can begin using today is something called
"Connect Before You Correct."
Before offering instructions or consequences when emotions are high, spend just 30-60 seconds helping the child's nervous system settle.
That might sound like:
"I'm right here."
"This feels hard."
"Let's figure this out together."
A calm voice, gentle eye contact, sitting beside instead of standing over, or simply slowing your own breathing can communicate safety to a child's brain far more effectively than another lecture.
Connection isn't permissiveness.
It's preparation.
Once the brain feels safe, learning, problem-solving, and self-control become much more available. This is true for children with ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental differences, trauma histories, anxiety, giftedness, and honestly...
for all of us.
A Personal Update
Many of you have been thinking and praying for our family, and I wanted to share a joyful update. I'm still in Atlanta as my son continues recovering from his autologous stem cell transplant following chemotherapy to treat his beta thalassemia major.
Before treatment, he required blood transfusions every three weeks for his entire life.
Today...
He is transfusion free.
Even more amazing, his sister—who underwent the same treatment before him—is also transfusion free.
Watching both of them move toward a future they never thought possible has been one of the greatest gifts of our lives. Recovery continues to have its challenges, but gratitude has become woven into our everyday moments. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with prayers, encouragement, patience, and kindness. Our family has felt every bit of it. I am especially grateful for your patience with my practice as I navigated parenting and professional roles during this time.
Their journey has reminded me once again that healing rarely happens all at once.
It happens one day, one choice, one relationship, and one hopeful step at a time.
And that is true for our children emotionally as well.
Resources to Support You
Whether you're a parent, teacher, therapist, social worker, school psychologist, counselor, or another professional who supports children, I've created resources designed to give you practical strategies you can begin using immediately.
On my website you'll find:
• Free downloadable resources and articles
• My one-hour Brain-Based Better Behavior Workshop for only $27, filled with practical tools you can use right away.
• My comprehensive intensive training course, including 16 hours of continuing education documentation, designed for professionals and parents who want a much deeper understanding of behavior, emotional regulation, trauma, learning differences, and brain-based intervention. There are individual and group enrollment options to make it affordable for teams, schools, and centers with lifetime access.
My hope is always the same:
To equip the adults so the children can thrive.
As we move into another school year, remember that every interaction with a child is an opportunity to build a brain, strengthen a relationship, and create hope.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.
With gratitude,
Heidi
"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction becomes the biggest step of your life. Walk gently, trust the process, and never underestimate the power of showing up with love."
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