Written by Dr. Cath Covacin, Ph.D. | Founder of Keys to Potential | Children’s Emotional Wellbeing Educator Key Takeaways There is a question that thousands of parents quietly ask themselves, usually late at night when the house is finally still. Am I a bad parent? If your child is struggling emotionally, with anger that seems to come […]

Key Takeaways
• Research published in Psychological Science confirms that a mother’s stress is physiologically transmitted to her child, even when she says nothing at all.
• Children do not simply observe parental anxiety. They absorb it through a process called emotional contagion, which directly affects their nervous system.
• The mirror effect is not about blame. It is about awareness, and awareness creates the power to change.
• Children aged 9 to 16 are in a critical developmental window where emotional patterns can be learned, reshaped, and replaced with healthier ones.
• When parents begin to respond rather than react, children learn to do the same.

Early development involves processing vast information, forming beliefs from experiences. These beliefs guide future reactions, which can lead to automatic negative responses. By understanding and practising emotional intelligence techniques, we can respond appropriately to present situations instead of being influenced by past experiences. Our Development and Information Processing Our bodies develop at an amazing rate

In a recent enlightening conversation on the “Keys to Potential” show, Dr. Cath Covacin shared her unique journey from being a parasitologist to developing impactful emotional intelligence courses for children and adults. Her story is a testament to the power of embracing change and finding one’s true calling, all while addressing a critical need in