Get your free gift on the nervous system at drjeffreyrutstein.com/links Want to leave a question? Call 866-357-5156 You want to raise a child whose nervous system is a resource, not a battlefield. A child who recognizes their own dysregulation, reaches for regulation instead of shame, and learns emotional healing from the inside out. But children's nervous system development doesn't come with a manual — and most of us never got one ourselves. So where do you actually begin? In this episode of Wired for Well-Being, Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein — psychologist, trauma expert, and nervous system specialist — responds to a listener asking exactly that: how do I build nervous system regulation in my children before the world makes it harder? Jeffrey reframes what parenting for nervous system health actually looks like — and why it starts with the parent's own emotional healing, not the child's. Drawing on polyvagal theory, nervous system science, and decades of trauma-informed clinical work, Jeffrey and Steve unpack the three nervous system states every parent needs to understand, why children experience dysregulation so much more intensely than adults, and how co-regulation — not perfect technique — is the real foundation. They also explore the zones of regulation, how to build a calm corner that works, what nervous system modeling looks like in real daily moments, and what the research says about "good enough" parenting. This one is for any parent or caregiver who wants to give their children what they didn't get — or who's quietly wondering if what they have is already enough. Have a question for Jeffrey? Leave a voicemail at 866-357-5156. If you can't reach that number, record a voice memo or email [email protected]. Claim your free 20-minute video on the three nervous system states and practices for moving from dysregulation back to regulation at drjeffreyrutstein.com/links. The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional mental health advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical or mental health concerns.

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