When a child gets frustrated, stressed, overwhelmed, or upset, their ability to navigate through this turmoil is correlated to their ability to regulate behavior, emotions, and reactions—also called executive functioning.

School morning stress is all too real. For some families, it’s the most difficult time of day with emotions running high while everything else seems to come to a standstill. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking, and before you know it, the bus has taken off while the kids are struggling to get their shoes on. What should be an opportunity for the family to catch their breath before getting to work becomes the most stressful part of the day.

We communicate our ideas and values through little, everyday choices like clothes we wear or whether or not we add an emoji to a text. It may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but even the most mundane quirk becomes an important part of who we are and how we connect with others. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important for parents to help their children find healthy ways to express themselves.

While every child has a different approach to learning, those diagnosed with language-based learning differences may need additional support in and outside of the classroom. Currently, 14% of all public schools in the U.S. offer specialized education services, which only covers a fraction of the children who use or need these services to learn important skills—like executive functioning.