DCPS Behavioral Health

03/27/2026

Developing strategies and ways to communicate emotions is key in helping children regulate and understand their emotions.

The Kids Mental Health Foundation is a nonprofit providing free resources to empower grown-ups with the skills to help children's mental health before a crisis.

03/10/2026

All behaviors serve a purpose.

Free WHAT A CHILD’S BEHAVIOUR IS REALLY TELLING YOU POSTER

LIKE the photo and comment "CHILD" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

Most people see a “naughty child”.
They miss what is really happening.

A child who is screaming, hitting, running away, or refusing to listen is often not being difficult.

Their brain is overwhelmed.

Imagine trying to think while a loud alarm is ringing in your ears, bright lights are in your eyes, and people are touching you at the same time. For some children, everyday environments can feel exactly like that.

Noise.
Crowds.
Bright lights.
Clothing that feels wrong.
Strong smells.
Too many people talking.

When the brain receives more sensory information than it can handle, the child goes into overload. They may panic, shut down, cry, or explode because their brain simply cannot cope with what is happening around them.

What looks like “bad behaviour” can actually be distress.

The child is not trying to embarrass you.
They are not trying to be manipulative.
They are overwhelmed.

Instead of asking:
“Why is this child behaving like this?”

We should be asking:
“What is this child trying to cope with?”

Because behaviour is communication.

And sometimes it is the only way a child can say:
“This is too much for me.”

03/09/2026

It's contest time!

We are moving the PSA contest to the month of March. This will allow us to select a winner and announce at the 11th Annual Student Mental Health Conference on April 15th!

Winners will receive gift cards at varying levels.

Contest is open to all DCPS Students for middle and high. DCPS Teachers/Classrooms for elementary. Find details on https://www.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/psa-contest

03/09/2026

Pause-Name-Choose Model

Parenting often happens in the middle of big emotions - ours and our kids’.

The Pause – Name – Choose model is a simple way to build impulse control and emotional awareness:

🟣 Pause: Take a breath.
🟣 Name: What am I feeling right now?
🟣 Choose: What response will help this moment go better?

Practicing this together helps children learn that feelings are normal and that we always have choices in how we respond.

02/26/2026

It’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, do you know the warning signs?

It can be hard to know all the signs of all eating disorders in children, but it’s important to increase awareness.

Why? Because quick responses have been shown to lead to shorter treatment times and higher recovery rates.

We have more on the 4 most common eating disorders in children, how you can prevent eating disorders, what the warning signs are and what to do if you’re concerned there could be an eating disorder.

What are common eating disorders that impact children, what are the warning signs and what can a parent do to help?

02/20/2026

DLC Developmental Disabilities Awareness FUNdraiser

02/20/2026

Parents, let’s Clear the Air

📣Parents can’t ignore va**ng and ma*****na any longer. Vapes are more powerful, ma*****na products are more concentrated, and synthetic substances are more common, leaving many parents unsure where to start. That’s exactly why Clear the Air exists. 🤝Together with the Partnership to End Addiction, we provide information and trusted resources and tools for parents.

Join us March 31st for our in-person event and gain the confidence you need to start conversations with your teens. You don’t need all the answers, just the right tools! Lunch provided.

Register today at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/clear-the-air-a-parents-guide-to-youth-va**ng-and-ma*****na?impact_chain_source=susan%40drugfreeduval.org

02/17/2026

Grieving the death of a loved one is difficult for adults and can be even more impactful for you.

Check out this upcoming event with Camp Erin.

Our next Camp Erin Online event is a special one for kids and families grieving the death of someone close. Shooting Stars: A family grief expression event will feature simple arts and crafts, storytelling, and a guided poetry activity.

Inspired by the moon and stars, we will explore how love continues to shine, even after someone dies.

Register by March 9 for this free event: https://elunanetwork.org/events/shooting-stars-a-family-grief-expression-event/

02/08/2026

Meltdowns are survival.

When a young person is in meltdown, their nervous system has moved into survival mode.
This means the thinking, reasoning, language-based parts of the brain are offline.

So phrases like:
“Calm down.”
“You don’t need to be upset.”
“Use your words.”
or “Stop it.”
aren’t just unhelpful — they can intensify the overwhelm.

Not because the child is choosing not to listen —
but because they are not able to in that moment.

This post breaks down what not to say at each stage of the meltdown cycle:

• Escalation
• Crisis (the peak)
• Recovery (the Blue Phase)

Because the timing of our response matters just as much as the words we use.

If you want a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the brain during these stages — and how to support each phase with calm, connection and safety — you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

FOLLOW for our next post - What to Say During a Meltdown

02/08/2026

Statements to make your child feel safe an supports throughout the day.

Goodbyes can be surprisingly big moments for children. A few words at the door can shape how safe, confident, or anxious a child feels for the rest of the day. When adults name feelings, offer reassurance, and show connection, children learn that separation is manageable and that their emotions matter. These everyday moments help build trust, emotional security, and resilience over time.

Like the photo and comment "BYE" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

02/07/2026

Dysregulated children cannot process rewards or consequences. Teach regulation skills when the child is regulated so they can use them when they are dysregulated. .

When a child is dysregulated, their thinking brain goes offline. In that state, they cannot process rewards, consequences, or logical reasoning. The most effective response? Stay calm, stay close, and help them feel safe. Connection first. Teaching later. 🌈

02/05/2026

Kids are impacted by stress too!

Some children don’t escalate slowly.

They go from okay to overwhelmed in seconds.

This isn’t because they’re dramatic or defiant.

It’s because their stress threshold is already full.

Fatigue, anxiety, transitions, sensory load, pressure to cope — these stack quietly throughout the day.

Sometimes they miss the physical cues of their body being stressed.

So when one small thing happens, it tips them past their capacity.

What looks like “0 to 100” is often the moment their nervous system says I can’t hold this anymore.

The goal isn’t to toughen children up.
It’s to notice the load earlier and reduce it where we can.

Understanding this changes how we respond —
from punishment to support,
from reacting to preventing.

Save this for the days it feels sudden.
— 💛