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New · Published September 22, 2026
The Dysregulated Kid®
The parenting playbook for helping your child find calm in a chaotic world. A science-backed guide that starts with the nervous system — because when the brain is calm, behavior follows.
Paperback, eBook and audiobook. Published by Page Two. BookLife Editor's Pick.
If parenting feels harder than it should
You are not failing.
You're missing the foundation most parenting advice skips: how to calm the nervous system first.
Meltdowns, anxiety, impulsivity, refusal, shutdowns and emotional outbursts aren't signs of defiance or bad parenting. They're signs of a dysregulated nervous system. Regulation isn't a personality trait — it's a skill. And skills can be taught.
This book is for you if…
- You've tried therapy, rewards or consequences and still feel stuck
- Your child is reactive, anxious, emotional or overwhelmed
- School, transitions or daily routines feel like battles
- You want a brain-based approach that fits real life
- You're looking for calm — not control
What you'll learn inside
A practical playbook for real life
Decode behavior
What your child's behavior is really telling you — and why rewards and consequences stall.
Co-regulate
How to stay calm when your child isn't, and co-regulate through meltdowns and overload.
Reset in minutes
Quick, science-backed nervous system resets for real family life, plus the CALMS® Dysregulation Protocol®.
Break the cycle
Step out of the yelling, bribing and punishing loop — for good.
Build lasting skills
Focus, resilience and emotional regulation that last beyond the hard moment.
For professionals too
Written for parents, with a new lens for educators, therapists and school teams.
Praise for The Dysregulated Kid
What experts and parents are saying
Capanna-Hodge draws from her personal experiences as a parent to two boys as much as her professional expertise, providing parents with boots-on-the-ground techniques that have been tested in real life.
BookLifeEditor's Pick review, a Publishers Weekly platformSource: dysregulatedkid.comDr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge translates brain science into clear, actionable steps. This book shifts parenting at its core, making calm and resilience achievable for families.
Dr. Aaron HartmanTriple board-certified physicianSource: dysregulatedkid.comPutting the nervous system first isn't just groundbreaking — it's a practical lifeline every parent wishes they had sooner.
Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, NDNew York Times–bestselling authorSource: dysregulatedkid.comAs an ADHD parent coach who's worked with thousands of families, I know how often parents are told to 'just be more consistent.' Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge flips that narrative.
Cindy Goldrich, CCSPFounder, PTS CoachingSource: dysregulatedkid.comI work with parents who are at their breaking point… They're exhausted and hopeless. This book is the one that finally works.
Lauren Lee Stone, PhDClinical nutritional specialistSource: dysregulatedkid.comThis is the one resource I wish I had sooner.
TuckerParentSource: dysregulatedkid.comSchools, clinics & organizations
Put the whole team on the same page
Bulk copies for staff, parent groups and book clubs, with volume pricing from 25 copies. Pair them with a keynote or CALMS training for real follow-through.
Popular pairings
- Staff copies + an educator keynote: You Can't Teach a Dysregulated Brain
- Parent-night book club with a live Q&A
- Full-day CALMS® Protocol training for school or clinical teams
More from Dr. Roseann
Her other books
It's Gonna Be OK!™
Proven ways to improve your child's mental health, from natural approaches to working with schools.
View on AmazonTeletherapy Toolkit™
A therapist's handbook of activities for treating children and teens in virtual sessions.
Brain Under Attack
A guide to recovery from autoimmune encephalitis and PANS/PANDAS, with Beth Lambert, Maria Rickert Hong and others.
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