More than Milestones
Hosted by pediatric physical therapist, wife and mom of three, Dr. KC Rickerd, More Than Milestones is the podcast that goes beyond baby checklists and dives deep into real motherhood, real development, real relationships, and everything in between.
Whether you’re supporting your baby’s motor development, navigating big kid emotions, or navigating a new stage of life & parenting, this show blends expert-backed education with the honest, unfiltered reality of motherhood.
Each week, KC brings you conversations with trusted professionals—pediatricians, therapists, sleep and feeding experts, mental health pros, and more—plus raw, relatable stories from fellow moms and caregivers. No pressure to be perfect. Just honest conversations, support, humor, and community for the journey you’re on.
If you're looking for clarity, connection, and a reminder that while supporting our children’s development is important, so is supporting ourselves - you’re in the right place, because it’s always more than milestones.
More than Milestones
25. Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: Alyssa Campbell on Supporting Emotional Development in Ages 5 to 12
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Alyssa Campbell joins More than Milestones to dive into one of the most overlooked yet critical stages of child development: ages 5 to 12. With a master’s degree in early childhood education, research experience in emotional development, and as the founder of Seed and Sew and a two-time bestselling author, Alyssa helps parents understand why big emotions in big kids are not something to fix, but information to listen to. We explore how emotional and social development shows up differently in school-aged kids compared to toddlers, why connection is the foundation for everything, and how parents can stay close even as peer influence grows. This conversation offers practical insight for navigating big feelings, conflict, honesty, and tough topics with confidence and compassion.
Key Topics Covered
- Why ages 5 to 12 are a critical and often overlooked stage of emotional development
- How big emotions show up differently in school-aged kids versus toddlers
- Why big emotions are not a phase, but important information
- The nine senses and how they influence emotional regulation in kids
- How to identify what triggers your individual child and what they truly need
- Staying connected as kids start prioritizing peer relationships
- How to repair after missteps in connection with your child
- Talking to kids about puberty, sex, drugs, and peer pressure earlier than expected
- Why lying can be developmentally appropriate at this age and how to respond
- Navigating conflict between kids and knowing when to step in versus step back
Follow Alyssa on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/
Alyssa’s Website: https://www.seedandsew.org/about
Free Questionnaire: https://regulationroadmap.softr.app/
Get Your Copy of Alyssa’s Book Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/Tiny-Humans-Big-Emotions-book
Get Your Copy of Alyssa’s Book Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/big-kids-bigger-feelings-book
Links & Resources
💻 Website & Blog:
https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/
📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates
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Go deeper with KC on Substack
More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.