Mastering Big Feelings: Play-Based Tools to Help Your Child Regulate in Seconds

In this practical, brain-based conversation, best-selling author Jon Fogel breaks down what “big feelings” really are, why they turn into big behaviors, and what kids actually need in the moment to come back to calm. Drawing from his work with families and the tools behind his upcoming children’s book Set My Feelings Free, Jon explains why play, movement, music, and sensory-based strategies often work better than talking when a child is dysregulated. He shares the thinking behind his regulation “games,” how they support the nervous system, and why the most effective tools are the ones kids can actually access when they’re overwhelmed. What You’ll Learn: ✅ What’s happening in your child’s brain during big emotional moments ✅ Why regulation requires sensory awareness before reasoning ✅ How play-based tools activate the thinking brain quickly ✅ Why some strategies work beautifully for one child and completely backfire for another ✅ How practicing regulation skills before meltdowns builds lasting neural pathways ✅ How having simple go-to tools reduces parental reactivity and increases confidence Jon is also the host of The Whole Parent Podcast, where he shares tools, mindset shifts, and real-life applications to help parents move from reactivity to intentional, grounded leadership. Through his writing, teaching, and podcast, Jon empowers parents to build emotionally healthy homes rooted in both warmth and accountability.