When our kids are having an epic meltdown, our first instinct as adults is usually to start talking, rationalizing, or explaining. But what if trying to teach a lesson during a tantrum is actually making things worse? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Courtney English, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two.

Courtney explains that talking to a dysregulated child is like trying to have a casual conversation with a fearful flyer during heavy airplane turbulence—their brain simply cannot process your words because it is focused on survival. Instead, we dive into the magic of proactive regulation, how to properly transition your kids after a long day at school, and how to use "heavy work" to ground a disorganized brain.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Airplane Analogy: Why trying to teach a lesson or logic with a child during a meltdown is perceived as a threat to their nervous system.
• The After-School "Recipe": Why kids fall apart the second they get home and how to lower the demands using crunchy snacks and connection.
• The Power of Heavy Work: How active movements like jumping and crashing provide proprioceptive input, sending clear signals of safety to the brain.
• Connection Through Play: Why getting down on their level for just five minutes of child-led play can fill their cup and completely shift the tone of your day.
• The 3-Step Bedtime Circuit: A simple red, yellow, and green sensory circuit to help transition your child from high-arousal energy to a calm state.

Your "Think Like a Kid" Homework This Week: Try Courtney’s 3-Step Bedtime Sensory Circuit tonight!

1. Red (Meet the Need): Make a Blanket Parachute. Put some stuffed animals on a blanket and shake it together to get that last bit of high energy out.
2. Yellow (Organize): Toss the stuffed animals onto the bed. Having a visual target starts to slow down their brain and organize their system.
3. Green (Calm): Finally, tuck them in. Use the stuffed animals to give your child deep pressure squeezes on their arms or legs to down-regulate their nervous system for sleep.

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 2: The Watchdog Brain (Why "Calm Down" Doesn't Work)
• Episode 3: Anxiety, Perfectionism, and the “Smoke Detector Analogy”
• Episode 4: The Power to Choose: Turning Power Struggles into Problem Solving

Featured Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Connect with Courtney English: Follow her on Instagram and check out her website for incredible, easy-to-understand regulation tips.
• Courtney's Regulation Posters: Grab her visual guide posters to help identify Red (meet the need), Yellow (organize), and Green (calm) activities.
• The best way to build strong foundational skills for 4 and 5 year olds through hands-on play.
• Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids eBook: A deeper look into the regulation strategies that help you connect with your child on an emotional level.

Whether you’re in the classroom, the carpool lane, or halfway through your coffee, let’s stop guessing and start teaching the way kids actually learn. Think Like a Kid is your weekly chat to unlearning the "sit still and listen" methods of the past and giving your child a true educational advantage.

Hosted by Danielle Mimbs–mom of three, former teacher, and Learning Behavior Specialist, each episode delivers brain-based strategies and creative STEAM ideas that turn learning into play. We ditch the one-size-fits-all approach to focus on how kids actually learn: through movement, curiosity, and connection. It’s time to make learning fun again and give your child the best head start to early learning! How? By thinking like a kid!

If we continue to parent and teach the same way we were raised, we are preparing our children for a world that no longer exists. With AI and automation rapidly changing the landscape, our goal has to shift from memorizing cold facts to teaching kids how to think. That is exactly what STEAM is all about and it is far simpler than you think.

In this episode, we break down why the "A" in STEAM (Arts) is the missing piece of the puzzle and how we can start wiring our kids' brains for resilience and innovation before they even turn six. I’m sharing how a simple shift in your questioning can transform a standard block tower into a lesson in engineering, and why I actually want my own kids to feel comfortable breaking the rules and making mistakes.

In this episode, we cover:

• What STEAM Actually Is: It is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, but it’s really about teaching creativity and resilience.
• The "Jobs of the Future": Why teaching foundational thinking skills matters more than academics when preparing kids for jobs that don't even exist yet.
• The Sponge Years: Why the most critical window for building confidence and problem-solving skills is between birth and age six.
• Unlearning the "Right Answer": Moving away from the "sit still and get it right" culture to a mindset that encourages questioning and risk-taking.

Featured Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• STEAM Made Simple Website: My online business where I help you teach foundational skills to kids at the earliest ages.
• The STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum: The ultimate tool for parents who want to give their child an educational advantage through play.
• Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids eBook: Learn how to nurture the emotional regulation needed for kids to bounce back from failures.

Your "Think Like a Kid" Homework This Week:

Try a "No-Model STEAM Challenge." Give your child an assortment of blocks, tape, paper, and recyclables. Give them one simple prompt: "Let’s see what you can make". The hard part for you? Do not build it for them, do not tape things for them, and do not show them a "right" way to do it. Just wait it out and watch their creativity grow as they struggle through the process.

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 1: Why I Didn't Like School (My "Why")
• Episode 2: The Watchdog Brain (Why "Calm Down" Doesn't Work)
• Episode 4: The Power to Choose: Turning Power Struggles into Problem Solving

If you loved this conversation, make sure you're following the show so you never miss an episode or a quick win. And hey, if you’re looking for a way to bring this 'think like a kid' energy into your daily learning, check out my STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum. It’s the best way to give your child a head start with an educational advantage that actually feels like play.

You can also connect with me on Instagram @STEAMMadeSimple for daily tools, behind-the-scenes stories, and playful learning ideas.