Your kid is melting down again, you’ve tried everything you can think of, and nothing works. Many of us know what that's like. We sit down with Wendy Paroz from Sprout Support Center to name what’s really happening under explosive behaviour and to offer a way forward that’s trauma informed, research based, and compassionate to parents who are running on empty. Wendy shares how decades of education and ministry led her to a clear message: challenging behavior is often a sign of lagging skills, not laziness, not “bad character,” and not proof that you’ve failed. We talk through what neuroscience says about the brain’s need for safe relationships, why chronic stress and little t trauma can reshape a child’s nervous system, and how that plays out as big reactions at home, school, and church. The conversation also bridges beautifully with faith, focusing on connection first and growth that does not crush a person’s spirit. Wendy explains how Sprout coaches parents inside the home and tracks progress with three simple markers: frequency, intensity, and recovery time. You’ll hear what de escalation can look like in real time, why kids can’t problem solve when the thinking brain is offline, and the three core skills that make the biggest difference over the long run: flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem solving under pressure. If you’re tired of advice that blames you or ignores neurodiversity, this will give you language, tools, and hope. Subscribe for more conversations on faith and mental well being, share this with a parent who needs a breath, and leave a review so more families can find support. Some reliable and helpful names worth looking up on YouTube include: Dr. Bruce Perry (Neurosequential Network)Dr. Stuart Ablon (THINK:Kids) Think:Kids | Official home of Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS)Dr. Karen Purvis — Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development and TBRI ProgramKaryn Purvis Institute of Child Development - KPICD Dr. Ross GreeneWendy's favourite book at the moment is: Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies That Really Work by Robyn Gobbel. Her website also has some excellent free resources: Home - Robyn Gobbel KEY WORDS FOR GOOGLE SEARCHING: Brain-behaviour connectionRegulation and brain developmentBehavioural NeurscienceAttachment and relational neuroscienceCollaborative behaviour approachesThe most effective approaches tend to combine many of these perspectives. For example: Bruce Perry → “Regulate, relate, reason”Dan Siegel → integration and relational safetyRoss Greene → lagging skills and collaborationRobyn Gobbel → nervous-system-informed parentingTogether, these perspectives are shaping much of today’s trauma-informed and neurodevelopmental understanding of children’s behaviour. SPROUT’s parent training recognises the overwhelm of trying to wade through copious amounts of information online. We draw on the best of these approaches, simplifying them into a handful of practical strategies and a behaviour flowchart that gives parents direction while learning — or when under pressure. We use these strategies daily with some of the most challenging and complex little people and the positive impact proven and experienced by all of our parents. We don’t need to become experts. Just a few tools and a fresh perspective can help parents become more strategic and effective. Over time, challenging behaviour will reduce, relationships can strengthen, skills can develop, and confidence and problem-solving can grow. It is also worth noting that while many of these strategies were originally developed for children impacted by trauma or chronic stress, they are both neuro- and age-inclusive. If they work for the most challenging situations, they will also work for the most compliant children. Enquiries regarding ministry team training, parent training, or private consultation can be made directly to me. wendy.paroz@sproutsupport.com.au If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today 📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey. 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