As a pediatric occupational therapist, one of the most common questions I hear from parents of twice-exceptional (2e) children is: "Why does my child have such big reactions when they're so incredibly smart?" Twice-exceptional children are those who are both gifted and have one or more learning, developmental, or neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, anxiety, or sensory processing differences. These children often possess remarkable creativity

In Action: Examples and Scenarios (Part 4 of 4) The first article in this series provides an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. Then, the second article outlines A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management. In the third article, we discuss the Importance of Co-Regulation. In this final article in the series, we provide Real-Life Examples and Scenarios. We also include a Reference and Resource List. Plus, you can download this template of the 3-Step Pathwa

Important to Know: The Role of Co-Regulation (Part 3 of 4) The first article in this series provided an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. Then, the second article outlined A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management. In this third article we ground ourselves in the importance of co-regulation. We begin with ourselves. As with all skills, learning self-regulation and emotional management strategies isn’t accomplished in isolation—children will learn from

A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management (Part 2 of 4) The first article in this series provided an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. In this second article we address the question “How do we put all of this information into action?” Based on our synthesis of the available information, small group discussions, and hands-on work with dozens of families of 2e learners, we suggest a 3-step pathway that simplifies and combines ideas on self-regulation and

Understanding 2e and Self-Regulation (Part 1 of 4) As part of REEL’s mission is to ensure Silicon Valley twice-exceptional students thrive in school by raising parent and educator awareness and understanding of practical, research-based strategies to address their needs successfully, we host quarterly topical Facilitated Small Group Discussions. We launched our first group in Fall 2024 focused on the topic of emotional regulation and twice-exceptional learners. During these

Emily will break down the 4-step process of emotional regulation so we can help our kids who are "a little bit extra" find healthy ways to manage their emotions.