Nurturing Emotional Resilience in Kids and Classrooms – Exclusive Interview with Jenny Gaynor
- Brainz Magazine
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Jenny Gaynor is an educator, author, and founder of Calm Education, where she helps children, families, and teachers bring more calm, confidence, and connection into their daily lives. After more than 20 years in the classroom, Jenny saw how much emotional well-being shapes how kids learn, grow, and relate to others and she wanted to make those skills just as important as academics.
Through Calm Education, she teaches Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in creative, accessible ways, from mindful games and art projects for kids to coaching sessions and workshops for parents and teachers. Her work blends research-based strategies with mindfulness, breathwork, and a big dose of compassion to help families navigate the ups and downs of everyday life.
A certified yoga teacher and SEL facilitator, Jenny believes emotional intelligence is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and shared, starting right where we are.
In her Brainz Magazine articles, she invites readers to slow down, reflect, and discover practical ways to nurture resilience, connection, and calm in themselves and the children they love.
Jenny Gaynor, Social Emotional Learning Coach and Founder
What inspired you to create calm education and support children, parents, and educators with emotional regulation and behavior?
I was inspired to create Calm Education after more than two decades in the classroom, where I witnessed firsthand how deeply a child’s emotional world affects their ability to learn, connect, and thrive. As an elementary and special educator, I saw that academics alone weren’t enough. Children need tools to understand their emotions, regulate their reactions, and build healthy relationships.
Over the years, I worked with countless students who were bright and capable but struggled with anxiety, frustration, or self-doubt. I also saw parents and teachers doing their best to help, often without the strategies or support to navigate those big emotions. Those experiences became the foundation for Calm Education, a place where emotional well-being is treated as essential, not optional.
Today, I help children, families, and educators strengthen their social and emotional skills through mindful practices, coaching, and creative learning. I believe that now, more than ever, young people need these tools to handle the stress, disconnection, and uncertainty of modern life. My work centers on one guiding idea: when we teach children how to find calm within themselves, we empower an entire generation to grow with empathy, confidence, and resilience.
What core problem do you solve for the families and professionals you work with?
The core problem I help families and professionals solve is emotional dysregulation. These are the moments when big feelings take over, leading to reactions that don’t reflect who we truly are or what we value. Through my work with Calm Education, I teach both children and adults how to pause, understand their emotions, and respond with integrity rather than impulse.
I help people reframe how they see emotions. I teach them to not see emotions as “good” or “bad,” but as data that point to underlying needs. When we learn to read that data with curiosity instead of judgment, we gain the power to communicate clearly, make better choices, and connect more deeply with others.
Whether I’m guiding a child through frustration, coaching a parent through overwhelm, or helping teachers bring calm into their classrooms, my work centers on emotional awareness, mindful regulation, and compassionate connection. These skills are the foundation for learning, growth, and healthy relationships.
Why do so many children struggle with behavior, anxiety, or overwhelm today, and what are people misunderstanding about it?
So many children today struggle with behavior, anxiety, and overwhelm because their worlds are busier, louder, and more demanding than ever before. Kids are constantly absorbing stimulation from technology, academics, and social pressures, but they aren’t always taught how to process what they feel. Their nervous systems are overloaded, and without the tools to regulate, those big emotions often show up as “behavior problems.”
What’s often misunderstood is that behavior is communication. When a child is melting down, shutting down, or lashing out, they’re not trying to be difficult. They’re trying to tell us something. Underneath the behavior is almost always an unmet need: safety, connection, rest, understanding.
Instead of asking “What’s wrong with this child?” we need to start asking “What’s happening for this child?” When we look beneath the behavior and teach emotional regulation, kids learn that feelings aren’t something to fear or suppress. They’re signals, guiding us toward what we need to feel balanced, understood, and whole.
How does your approach differ from traditional behavior management or discipline-based systems?
My approach differs from traditional behavior management or discipline-based systems because it focuses on understanding and supporting the underlying emotions behind a child’s behavior rather than just correcting or punishing the behavior itself. I work with children and adults to recognize that emotions are not “bad” or “wrong.” They are simply data, signals that can guide us toward healthier choices.
Instead of relying solely on rules, consequences, or external control, I teach tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and social mindfulness. This helps children respond to challenges with integrity, empathy, and problem-solving skills rather than fear of punishment. The goal is long-term resilience and self-guided growth, rather than short-term compliance. By fostering emotional intelligence, we create environments where children feel understood, empowered, and capable of making better choices on their own.
Can you explain how you support children’s nervous systems and why this method works so effectively?
I support children’s nervous systems by teaching practical tools that help them regulate their bodies and emotions in the moment. Techniques like deep breathing, guided visualization, and a variety of other mindfulness exercises work directly with the central nervous system to shift children out of a fight-or-flight response and into a state of calm. These tools help calm the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats and triggering intense emotional reactions, so children can respond to big emotions rather than react impulsively.
By practicing these techniques regularly, children learn to notice when their bodies are becoming stressed or overwhelmed and to use strategies to self-soothe. This strengthens their ability to manage anxiety, frustration, or anger in a healthy way, building emotional resilience and supporting long-term social and emotional growth.
What are the biggest mistakes parents or educators unknowingly make when trying to help a child who is struggling?
One of the biggest mistakes parents or educators make is treating behavior as something to control or “fix” rather than as a signal of what a child is feeling. When adults react from their own big emotions, enacting punishment, threats, or pressure, it can unintentionally heighten the child’s stress and trigger their fight-or-flight response, making the behavior worse rather than better.
Another common misstep is dismissing emotions by telling a child to “calm down” or “stop being upset.” This can make them feel misunderstood and alone. Children need guidance in understanding and naming their emotions, not judgment. It is important for adults to give children space and permission to feel.
Finally, adults often overlook the importance of modeling emotional regulation themselves. Children learn how to handle big feelings by watching the adults around them. When parents and educators slow down, breathe, and respond with calm and empathy, children learn to do the same.
What results or transformations have your clients experienced after working with you?
After working with me, many children have expanded their emotional vocabulary and learned practical tools to manage big emotions as they arise. Parents often notice that their child appears calmer, more grounded, and more confident at home. Educators have shared that when students practice these social-emotional learning techniques, they not only handle challenges more effectively but also show increased confidence and improved academic performance. Overall, the transformation is about giving children the skills to navigate their emotions with awareness and integrity, which positively impacts both their relationships and their learning.
For parents or teachers who feel overwhelmed, what is the first step they should take right now?
The first step for parents or teachers who feel overwhelmed is to pause and focus on their own nervous system. Even just a few deep breaths, a short grounding exercise, or a moment of mindful awareness can help shift the body out of stress and bring clarity. When adults are calmer, they can respond to children from a place of presence rather than reaction.
From there, start small by choosing one tool. Some examples could be breathing, visualization, or a simple check-in question to practice with your child or students. Consistency matters more than perfection. Over time, these small, intentional steps build emotional resilience for both adults and children, creating a calmer, more supportive environment for everyone.
If you’re not sure where to start or want guidance tailored to your child or classroom, I encourage parents and educators to reach out to me. I can provide tools, strategies, and support to make these steps practical and sustainable.
What programs, tools, or services do you offer that can help people create calmer homes and classrooms?
I offer a variety of programs and services designed to help children, parents, and educators create calmer, more emotionally supportive environments, both in person and virtually. For children, I provide one-on-one coaching and small group classes where they learn practical social-emotional skills, emotional regulation tools, and strategies for responding to big feelings.
For parents, I offer the “Calm Families” class, which teaches skills to bring SEL into the home, as well as personalized coaching sessions to guide parents in supporting their children emotionally and creating a calmer household.
For educators, I lead wellness workshops focused on practical SEL tools, classroom strategies, and ways to foster emotional resilience in students. All of these programs are designed to make emotional regulation accessible, practical, and sustainable for families and schools.
How can readers connect with you, learn more about your work, or get personalized support?
Readers can connect with me and learn more about my work through my website, where they can find information on my programs, classes, and one-on-one coaching services. I’m also active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, where I share tips, resources, and updates.
For personalized support, parents and educators can reach out directly to schedule one-on-one coaching sessions or join group classes. Additionally, my YouTube channel offers free guided visualizations and meditation exercises for both kids and adults, making it easy to start practicing calm and mindfulness at home or in the classroom.
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