In this episode of Growing Strong Roots, occupational therapist Lee-Anne Bloom explains how to understand and manage aggressive behavior in children through a regulation-focused lens. Instead of viewing aggression as defiance, she explores the sensory, emotional, and communication needs underneath the behavior and offers practical OT strategies for prevention, co-regulation, emotional awareness, and meaningful repair after conflict.

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Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction to the podcast and mission [00:00:27] Raising sturdy children with science-based strategies [00:01:00] The goal: helping children self-regulate before they act aggressively [00:01:12] How OTs view aggression as a signal, not defiance [00:01:40] Looking beneath behavior to identify underlying causes [00:01:52] HALT framework: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired [00:02:23] Why relationship and trust matter for co-regulation [00:02:43] Adults staying grounded and modeling calm [00:03:08] Using tone, body language, and breathing to co-regulate [00:03:36] Sensory diet activities for regulatory support [00:04:03] Creating a safe space for intense emotions and release [00:04:35] Deep pressure tools for calming the nervous system [00:05:10] Structure and predictability during transitions [00:05:38] Teaching emotional awareness and self-expression [00:06:30] Repair, reflect, and reset after aggressive moments [00:06:56] Practicing alternative responses and role play [00:07:18] Supporting meaningful apologies and understanding impact [00:07:41] Introducing consequences with clarity and consistency [00:08:39] Episode wrap-up and future topics

Oak Bloom OT provides holistic, child-led occupational therapy in Oakland, California, helping children develop functional life skills through meaningful activities and strong family collaboration.

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Thanks for listening — see you next time on Growing Strong Roots!