Brittany Miller

My session proposal "Why Your SEL Curriculum Isn't Working: Fostering a 'Brain-Building' Culture" has been accepted for the 2026 Smart Start Conference!

Join me May 4-7, 2026 in Greensboro, NC as we explore innovative ways to better support our youngest learners.

#smartstart #childdevelopment

The transition to college can be overwhelming. The biggest struggle isn't academic difficulty; it's the sudden demand for self-management.

Our Executive Function coaching provides your student personalized strategies and skill development to help them thrive.

#CollegeGoals #Collegeprep

"Why is it so hard for me to stay calm when my kid is whining, yelling, and screaming?"

Because your brain changed and your nervous systems are now linked!

Learn more at www.dynamiclearningalliance.org/post/tantrums-meltdowns-and-the-art-of-co-regulation

#MindfulParenting #Tantrums #Toddlers

Every item requires a decision. Where does it go? What do I do next?

When focus is low, that’s a mountain of mental work.

Don't try to "get organized." Just put one thing away. Close one tab.

The win isn’t a clean room; it’s breaking the cycle of overwhelm.

#ExecutiveFunction #ADHD

That pile of unopened mail.
The 50 open browser tabs.
The clean clothes left in a pile.

It’s not a moral failing - it's a symptom of a brain that has run out of decision-making energy.

Rules typically exist to keep kids safe.

"Stop Running" is a common rule at the pool.
It's intended to stop them from falling.

But what do they do?
Walk quickly. Skip. Cartwheel.

Instead of “No Running,” it should be "Walk Only"
Tells them what not to do, while they figure out what to do.

Staring at a task you need to do but can't?

That isn’t laziness - it’s an executive function wall.

Your brain perceives the task as a threat due to overwhelm or fear of failure.

Make the task safe enough to start.

Break it down.

Do the easiest part first.

#Procrastination #ADHDparalysis

Toddlers throw things because big feelings feel scary in a small body.

Throwing is a release valve.

First, let them release the tension safely such as stomping feet.
Then, talk to them through what they are feeling, even if they can't speak it themselves.

#consciousparenting #toddlerbehavior

That toddler whine?

It’s not manipulation - it’s a nervous system signal.

Before the full meltdown, their body sends out a low-level SOS.

A call for food, sleep, or connection.

Answer the signal, and you can often skip the storm.

#gentleparenting #toddlerlife #parentingtips

After-School Meltdown You know the scene. You pick up your child from school, and the teacher tells you they "had a great day." They were helpful, focused, and kind to their friends. You feel a swell of pride. Then, you…

Your child has an amazing day at school, but once they're home, it's a different story.

Whining. Yelling. Meltdowns.

Why do they save their worst behavior for you?

Learn why this happens and how to handle those intense after-school melt downs.

#positiveparenting #parenthood #bigfeelings

I wish we could all be more honest about our struggles.

We all struggle. Perfection is an illusion with unnecessary stress to maintain.

Cry. Be honest. Name your faults. Own your mistakes. Speak your truth.

It is far more powerful than perfection.

#blueskycommunity #norms #relationships

Naming and categorizing objects is part of how young kids develop executive function skills – new research Kids with good executive function tend to grow up to be financially stable, healthy, productive adults. Past attempts to teach these skills have flopped. New brain research on language may change…

Learning to name and categorize objects in early childhood may be key to building executive function, psychologists say, according to a fascinating new brain scan study. These skills are linked to growing into financially stable, healthy and productive adults.

You’re not fixing their problem; you're teaching them how to and building trust in your relationship.

#parenting #teens #preteens

After giving them some time - tell them they seem upset or stressed to you and ask:

"What do you need to feel a little more in control right now?"

They might not have an answer, but the question itself teaches them to pause, reflect, and eventually, find their own way back to calm.

Your teen is short with you walking in the door from school.

Tone is annoyed.

They walk out of the room.

It is very possible they are stressed or overwhelmed with something that has nothing to do with you.

Reacting to them with with annoyance, punishment, or dismissal isn't going to help.

Children learn social norms by observing other's reactions.

Positive or neutral reactions signal that a behavior is acceptable, while negative reactions indicate it is not. Children learn through social feedback.

You can use this to teach and to parent.
#parenting #toddlers #gentleparenting

She put her hand on my shoulder.

She never bit me again.

When her sister was 2 and started to bite (as all littles do at some point), I reenacted the same thing.

I pretended to cry when she bit me. Biting never became a problem for her.

When my eldest was 2, she was a biter.
I had explained, disciplined and showed why we can't bite.
Nothing worked.

Until the day I cried.

I was pregnant with her sister, exhausted and overwhelmed. She bit me so hard while playing that I burst into tears.

I couldnt help it.

But she paused.

Too often we address behavior without looking beyond the surface.

Disciplining tantrums.

Punishing lost homework.

Labeling as lazy.

In truth, children and adolescents need practice to develop their executive functions but most adults do not understand these skills. #behavior #parenting

"Why won't my child get ready for school?"
They're still learning to plan their morning.

You can help by breaking down tasks: "First, put on your socks. Then, your shoes." Scaffold a growing brain to teach them to manage their own mental "to-do list."

#parenting #toddlers

When your child is building a tower or making mud pies, they're not "just playing." They're activating their executive functions.

- Planning
- Focus
- Working memory

Play is the ultimate training ground.

It's not a distraction from learning; it is learning.

Executive functions drive how we navigate, understand, and respond to ourselves, our relationships, and our world.

Understanding and developing them is core to personal growth, regardless of age.

Come learn with me.

#students #parents #toddlers #behavior

A meltdown isn't "bad behavior." It's a dysregulated brain.

You can't reason with a brain that's in chaos.

Instead of "stop crying," try "I'm right here with you," offer a hug, or squeeze their hand.

You're not giving in to the tantrum; you're teaching self-regulation.

#tantrums #parenting

I'm going to statr intentionally mispelling things so you know I'm human. 😅

In an internet now full of AI generated content, be unapologetically human.

Where are my human-centered folks at?

Staying calm when your toddler is having a meltdown is one of the greatest challenges of parenthood. But also one of the most important.

Model calm and calm will come. Teach them to meet stress with calm control and they will learn to do so in the future.

#parenthood #selfregulation #toddlers

Hello world. I am so excited to start something new.