Gillian Minshall explains emotional regulation.

Understanding Executive Function: The Brain’s Air Traffic Control System

Executive Function is a set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, remember instructions, control impulses, and regulate emotions. A helpful way to picture executive function is to imagine an air traffic controller.

Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory provides insight into how our nervous system influences our emotions, behaviors, and connections with others. Simply put, when we feel safe, we thrive. But when our nervous system remains stuck in fight-or-flight or shutdown mode, it can impact our ability to regulate emotions, engage in relationships, and navigate daily life.

SSP is designed to help shift the nervous system back into a regulated, balanced state, allowing people to feel calmer, more connected, and better able to handle life’s challenges.

Kids are weird—and that’s a good thing! Their quirks, from superhero costumes in public to unusual hobbies, are signs of creativity and confidence. But being different isn’t always easy. Not everyone will celebrate their uniqueness, so it’s important to equip kids with the confidence to handle criticism. By embracing their individuality, teaching self-awareness, and practicing responses to negative comments, we help them grow into bold, self-assured individuals. Let’s celebrate their weirdness—it’s their superpower!