RIDGEFIELD, Conn. - s4story -- Parents are trying everything — therapy, discipline strategies, reward systems — and still finding themselves stuck in the same exhausting cycle:

Meltdowns that escalate quickly.
Emotions that feel unpredictable.
Power struggles that repeat day after day.

For many families, the hardest part isn't just the behavior.

It's not knowing what to do in the moment.

A new book, The Dysregulated Kid: The Parenting Playbook for Helping Your Child Find Calm in a Chaotic World, aims to change that.

Written by children's mental health expert Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, the book offers something many parents say has been missing:

A clear, simple way to understand what's happening — and how to respond in real time.

What Makes This Book Different

Most parenting books focus on managing behavior after it appears.

The Dysregulated Kid takes a different approach.

Instead of asking parents to react to behavior, the book shows them how to recognize when the nervous system is overwhelmed — and how to help it reset.

Because when the brain is calm, the behavior follows.

"Parents don't need more strategies," says Dr. Roseann. "They need a starting point that actually works in the moment their child is overwhelmed."

From Reaction to Regulation

At the center of the book is Dr. Roseann's framework:

Regulation First Parenting®

A simple but powerful shift:

Regulate → Connect → Then guide behavior

Instead of trying to correct behavior first, parents learn how to calm their child's nervous system so the brain can access emotional control, learning, and cooperation.

"You can't teach or discipline a dysregulated brain," she explains. "Calm has to come first."

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Simple Tools Parents Can Use Immediately

One of the defining features of The Dysregulated Kid is its focus on practical, easy-to-implement tools that work in real life—not just in theory.

The book introduces:

• The CALMS Protocol™ — a step-by-step way to respond during dysregulated moments
• RESET to Regulate™ — a simple process to help parents calm themselves first
• The Love Pause™ — a quick reset before reacting
• 10-Minute Resets — short, daily practices that support regulation over time
• Device Dysregulation™ — understanding how screens impact emotional regulation

These tools are designed to help parents:

• de-escalate meltdowns in the moment
• reduce power struggles
• create calmer, more connected interactions
• build long-term emotional regulation skills

Why So Many Parents Feel Stuck

Many families arrive at this point after trying multiple approaches:

Behavior charts
Consequences
Therapy
Different parenting styles

Sometimes these strategies help temporarily—but the same patterns return.

According to Dr. Roseann, that's because the real issue often isn't behavior.

It's the nervous system.

When a child's nervous system is overwhelmed, the brain shifts into survival mode, making it difficult to access thinking, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

What looks like defiance is often a stress response.

A Practical Path Forward

The Dysregulated Kid helps parents move from:

Reacting → to understanding
Escalating → to calming
Feeling stuck → to having a clear plan

For many families, this shift becomes the turning point.

"Parents aren't failing," says Dr. Roseann. "They've just been missing the first step."

Part of a Larger Shift in Parenting

Dr. Roseann describes her work as part of a broader movement:

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The Nervous System First Parenting™ Movement

A growing shift among clinicians, educators, and families that recognizes emotional regulation as the foundation for behavior, learning, and mental health.

Through her clinical work, speaking, and her top-ranked Dysregulated Kids podcast (2M+ downloads), Dr. Roseann has helped thousands of families rethink behavior through the lens of brain science.

Release Information

The Dysregulated Kid will be published by Page Two Books and released September 22, 2026.

Pre-orders and exclusive bonuses that gives you immediate regulation tools are available at:

🌐 https://dysregulatedkid.com

Available for Television, Podcast, and Media Interviews

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is available for interviews with television producers, podcast hosts, and journalists on topics including:

• how to calm a child during a meltdown
• what's happening in the brain during emotional overwhelm
• why traditional parenting strategies often fail
• how parents can regulate themselves to help their child
• simple, science-backed strategies families can use immediately

Her ability to translate complex brain science into practical, real-world tools makes her a sought-after voice for today's overwhelmed families.

About Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a licensed therapist, certified school psychologist, and internationally recognized expert in children's mental health and nervous system regulation. With more than three decades of clinical experience, she has helped thousands of families address ADHD, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and complex behavioral challenges.

She is the creator of Regulation First Parenting®, a science-based approach that prioritizes calming the nervous system as the foundation for emotional, behavioral, and learning success. She is also the host of the Dysregulated Kids podcast, with more than 2 million downloads worldwide.