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m joined by the incredible Janine Halloran—a licensed counselor with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families as they build their coping toolkits.

Janine has dedicated her career to developing accessible, effective resources for families, from workbooks and activity cards to evidence-based strategies you can use at home. In our conversation, she shares her personal journey into counseling, why healthy coping skills are so essential, and how every child's way of managing emotions is unique. We dig into what parents can expect at different developmental stages, how the digital age is changing the way kids regulate emotions, and why having a variety of coping options is so important.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or therapist, you'll walk away with practical insights on helping kids handle life's stresses in healthy, safe ways—and maybe even a few new ideas for yourself! Stay tuned as we explore the colorful world of coping skills with Janine Halloran.

In this episode you'll hear about:

Janine's journey to becoming a counselor
Experience as a school counselor and focus on coping skills
Development of resources (checklists, workbooks, card decks)
Core mission: teaching coping skills to kids, teens, and adults
Defining Coping Skills
Janine's definition: strategies for dealing with big feelings, thoughts, and stressful situations
Healthy vs. unhealthy coping skills
Example for children: handling frustration during play without harming others
The Individual Nature of Coping
Emphasis on the need for personalized coping strategies
Importance of finding what's helpful for each individual
Developmental and Cultural Norms in Emotional Regulation
Children's first experiences with emotions
Emotional intensity in young children and its developmental trajectory
Brain development periods: toddlers and teens
Variability in emotional regulation based on age and development stage
Variability in Coping from Day to Day
Reasons for inconsistent coping ability (e.g., sleep, stress, environment)
Parental expectations vs. daily reality
Helping Kids Identify and Label Emotions
The importance of naming and talking about emotions from a young age
Using books and media (e.g., Bluey, Mo Willems books) as conversation starters
The Digital Age and Changing Coping Skills
Impact of growing up in a digital era (in-person vs. online interactions)
Learning and managing social skills in virtual environments
Emotional regulation during digital activities (e.g., video games, social media)
Recognizing when digital engagement becomes unhealthy
Family Communication and Screen Time
Importance of open communication about screen habits
Understanding each child's unique interaction with screens
Aligning digital habits with family values
Practical Example: Screen Fasting
Host's experience with family "screen fasts"
Observations and outcomes from time off screens
Children's awareness of their own emotions and self-regulation post-fast
Developing and Choosing Coping Skills Strategies
Janine's process for developing resources
Iterative development based on real-world results
Challenges of implementing coping skills in the heat of the moment
Importance of practice and early intervention
Using visuals and making concrete plans for expected stressors
Post-challenge reflection: what worked, what didn't

Links and Resources From Today's Show

Connect With Our Guest, Janine Halloran

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for over 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast and the founder of the Coping Skills Community Hub. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.