MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

Dr. Whitney

BIG KIDS, BIGGER FEELINGS:NERVOUS SYSTEMS, NEURODIVERSITY, AND WHY REGULATION COMES FIRST WITH ALYSSA CAMPBELL

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

January 29, 2026

BIG KIDS, BIGGER FEELINGS:NERVOUS SYSTEMS, NEURODIVERSITY, AND WHY REGULATION COMES FIRST WITH ALYSSA CAMPBELL

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: Dr. Whitney

About the Episode:


When kids move out of toddlerhood, many parents expect things to get easier. More sleep. More independence. Fewer meltdowns. But for many families, the opposite happens.


In this episode, Dr. Whitney Casares talks with Alyssa Campbell, founder of Seed and Sow and author of Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, about why the elementary and middle school years bring new emotional challenges, especially for neurodivergent kids.


Together, they explore:


  • Why adults often fall into the “they’re old enough to know better” trap and why it backfires
  • How identity, belonging, and social awareness shift around age 7 (drawing on research often discussed by Brené Brown)
  • The difference between neurotypical and neurodivergent nervous systems and why comparison doesn’t help
  • Why sensory regulation must come before connection, behavior, or learning
  • How two kids in the same family can need completely different responses in the same moment
  • Why meltdowns aren’t failures and why repair matters more than perfection
  • How schools can reduce behavior issues dramatically by supporting regulation first
  • Letting go of the myth that doing everything “right” leads to calm, compliant kids


Alyssa also shares concrete examples of how understanding a child’s sensory profile can transform parenting, teaching, and family dynamics—and why the goal is not constant calm, but access to regulation when it matters most.


This episode is especially meaningful for parents of kids with ADHD, autism, sensory sensitivities, or big emotions and for any caregiver who’s tired of feeling like they’re doing it wrong.

About Our Guest:


Alyssa Campbell is a teacher, emotional development expert, and the founder and CEO of Seed & Sew, an organization dedicated to helping parents, caregivers, and educators understand and meet the needs of unique nervous systems so that humans—young and old—can regulate, connect, and thrive. At the heart of her work is a simple but transformative idea: regulation comes before behavior, learning, and connection.


Alyssa holds a master’s degree in early childhood education and co-created the Collaborative Emotion Processing method, an approach she has researched and shared nationally. Her mission is to change the way adults experience children’s emotions so we can respond with intention and help raise emotionally intelligent humans.


She is the author of Big Kids, Bigger Feelings and Tiny Humans, Big Emotions, and she brings research-backed tools, compassionate insight, and real-world stories to parents and professionals through books, speaking, workshops, and her popular Voices of Your Village podcast.


Through Seed & Sew’s work—whether it’s one-on-one coaching, school partnerships, or free resources like the Regulation Questionnaire—Alyssa equips families and educators with practical strategies to support better emotional regulation, deeper connection, and more resilient communities.


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Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

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By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By Dr. Whitney November 13, 2025
Stop being so busy, and start being more present.