Helping Impulsive Kids Make Better Decisions

Impulsive behavior can feel constant, confusing, and overwhelming — especially when consequences don’t seem to change anything. But for many children from hard places, impulsivity isn’t defiance. It’s rooted in trauma, survival responses, and differences in brain development.

In this session, Chuck Hagele will unpack how trauma impacts the developing brain and why impulsivity shows up the way it does. Through the lens of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI), he’ll offer practical, connection-based tools that help move kids from reaction to regulation — and from chaos to growth.

Because when caregivers understand the “why” behind impulsive behavior and respond with structure, nurture, and connection, kids begin to build the skills they’ve been missing — and better decisions start to follow.

You’ll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of how trauma impacts impulse control and decision-making
• Insight into what’s happening in the brain during dysregulation
• Practical TBRI-based strategies to increase regulation and build skills
• Tools to create structure and felt safety without escalating power struggles
• Greater confidence in your ability to guide your child toward wiser, healthier choices