Inside the Brain of a Defiant Kid (Shocking Brain Map Reveal)

If you’re parenting a defiant kid, you’re probably exhausted, confused, and wondering what you’re doing wrong—but here’s the truth: your child isn’t defiant. In this episode, I take you inside the brain of a defiant kid and reveal what I see again and again on brain maps. What looks like oppositional behavior is actually a dysregulated nervous system stuck in survival mode.

When a child’s brain is overwhelmed, discipline, consequences, and rewards won’t work—because regulation has to come first. Using my Regulation First Parenting™ approach, I explain how brain patterns drive defiance and what parents can do to calm the brain so listening, learning, and emotional balance can return.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

– Why “defiant” behavior is a stress response—not a choice
– What brain maps reveal about a defiant kid’s emotional and executive functioning
– How an overactive limbic system keeps kids stuck in fight, flight, or freeze
– Why discipline fails when the nervous system is dysregulated
– Simple regulation-first strategies to help your child calm, focus, and thrive

Defiance isn’t a personality flaw—it’s communication. When you understand what your child’s brain is really saying, everything changes.

#Parenting #ParentingTips #KidsMentalHealth #ChildBehavior #ParentingAdvice #Dysregulation #SelfRegulation #EmotionalRegulation #ADHDParenting #CalmParenting #DrRoseann #DysregulatedKids #RegulationFirstParenting #NeurodivergentKids #defiance

Get more resources and solutions from Dr. Roseann:

✅ Pre-order The Dysregulated Kid – the parenting playbook that helps you calm the nervous system first so everything else falls into place: https://dysregulatedkid.com/?utm_source=Youtube

✅ The Dysregulation Insider – Get weekly calm parenting tips straight to your inbox: https://drroseann.com/newsletter/?utm_source=YouTube

✅ Quick Calm: 7 Days to a More Regulated Child ✨
Help your child find calm and balance in just one week with our proven tools and framework: https://drroseann.com/quickcalm/?utm_source=YouTube

✅ Take My 3-Min Assessment To Find Out What Your Child’s Brain Needs [Free Brain & Behavior Solutions Matcher]: https://drroseann.com/help/?utm_source=YouTube

ABOUT DR. ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE:
I’m Dr. Roseann, Founder of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and host of the “Dysregulated Kids Podcast” podcast. For over 30 years, I’ve helped thousands of families address emotional dysregulation and dysregulated behaviors in children through my BrainBehaviorReset® program. As a psychologist, author, and mom of two neurodivergent boys, I know firsthand the struggles you face as a parent. The journey to helping your child regulate their emotions begins with understanding and connection. My mission is to provide science-backed, brain-based tools that foster lasting calm, emotional resilience, and happy families. Subscribe to this channel for new solutions every week on managing your child’s focus, anxiety and dysregulated behaviors naturally.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US
⦿ Invite Dr. Roseann to speak: https://drroseann.com/contact-us-media/

⦿ Explore resources: http://www.drroseann.com

⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about psychiatric medications, supplements, or other treatments for your child.