👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Rebecca Torpie, founder of Sensory Smart Kids, about:

✅ What sensory profiles actually mean for children with ADHD

✅ The difference between sensory seeking and sensory avoiding (and why your child might flip between the two)

✅ How to spot common sensory challenges—and what to do about them

✅ The truth about all those sensory tools (where to invest, what to skip)

✅ Real-life strategies to make home life calmer, happier, and less…well, sticky!

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Discovering Sensory Integration Passion

05:03 Understanding Sensory Sensitivities in Children

09:39 "Regulation and Sensory Processing Impact"

11:16 Managing Sensory Overwhelm

16:15 Self-Care Tips for Busy Parents

18:04 Managing Post-School Emotions

22:42 Family Dynamics and Emotional Regulation

25:05 Invest in OT; Encourage Active Play

30:43 "Morning Sensory Routines for Kids"

33:46 Evening Playtime and Activity Tips

36:39 "OTs: Embracing Deeper Problem Solving"

--------------

Rebecca Torpie is the founder of Sensory Smart Kids, an Occupational Therapy clinic in Belmont, and support children and families in the Greater Geelong area.

They see children in their clinic as well as offering home and community based intervention.

Connect with Rebecca:

Website: https://www.sensorysmartkidsot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensorysmartkidsot/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensorysmartkidsot/

---------------------------

Sensory profiles help you understand your child’s unique likes, dislikes, and triggers.

Children with ADHD often have stronger sensory seeking or avoiding behaviours.

Sensory overload can lead to overwhelm or “meltdowns” for both kids and parents.

Heavy work activities (like pushing or pulling) help kids feel more regulated.

Not every sensory tool works for every child—find what fits your family!

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

Ever feel like you need to clone yourself just to get through the week? Trust me, you’re not alone! If your to-do list is longer than your arm and you’re running on coffee and hope, I’ve got something that will make you feel seen (and maybe even make you laugh).

In this episode, I spill all my best-kept secrets for buying back your time, reducing stress, and creating a home that actually works for your beautiful, busy family. From clever outsourcing hacks (think: veggie-chopping superheroes and laundry angels) to the art of saying “no” without the guilt, this episode is packed with practical, strength-based strategies you can use right now.

What you’ll learn:

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 ADHD Families: Ease and Joy

06:29 Earn Extra Doing What You Love

08:33 "Finding Time-Value Balance"

11:17 Outsourcing Tips and Costs

15:05 Efficient Home Maintenance Strategies

16:52 Efficient Task Management and Meal Planning

21:54 Outsourcing Veggie Prep Benefits

23:26 Budget Shopping and Delivery Choices

28:00 AI Uncovers Hidden Subscriptions

30:44 Sunday Productivity Tips

36:30 Balancing Kids' Schedules & Downtime

37:19 Choose One Activity Per Child

41:05 Personal Styling Service Time Saver

45:55 Outsourcing for Family Well-being

50:04 Outsource and Barter for Efficiency

------------------

Don’t fill your freed-up time with more obligations!

Use Sharon’s go-to script: “Thank you for the offer, I’ll get back to you.” Then set a reminder and check if it actually fits your values and schedule.

Remember: Future you is just as busy as present you. Don’t overcommit on the hope that “it’ll calm down soon.”

Outsourcing is an investment in your family’s wellbeing—not a failure.

Start with your biggest pain point. Just pick one thing to try outsourcing and see how much lighter life feels.

Use tech and community to your advantage—reminders apps, shared notes, and even AI can help you manage admin and subscriptions.

Barter with friends! Swap the jobs you hate for the ones you love.

Time Audit Resource: Click HERE

Meal Planning Mini Course: Coming soon—my ADHD-friendly meal planning system.

Loved this episode?
Share it on your socials, leave a review, and help us start a conversation about ADHD. For more support, strategies, and a sprinkle of humour, check out thefunctionalfamily.com.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for help (or outsource the washing!).

This week’s challenge:
Pick just one task that drains your energy or always gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list—and outsource it.

It could be as simple as hiring someone to fold your laundry, getting your groceries delivered, or asking a friend to swap chores with you.

Don’t overthink it! Choose the task you dread most or the one that would buy you the most breathing room.

Try it once—just as an experiment. Notice how it feels to have that space back in your day.

Bonus points: Share your outsourcing win (or fail!) in the ADHD Families Facebook group to inspire and support other families.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

I help parents of children with ADHD through my:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Jane McFadden, founder of ADHD Mum Podcast, about:

✅ Why so many ADHD mums fall into the “all or nothing” trap, and how perfectionism can turn even simple tasks into overwhelming mountains

✅ The double-edged sword of to-do lists for neurodivergent mums, and how to create systems that work for you (not against you)

✅ The importance of recognising different types of burnout and why neurodivergent people often burn out harder and more often

✅ Energy accounting for families

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:16 The unique challenges of parenting children with ADHD

00:45 Identify and prioritise personal values

01:56 Jane's background

02:27 Perfectionism trap for women with ADHD

02:31 Actionable strategies for managing to-do lists and perfectionism

32:07 The concept of “energy accounting”

33:18 Burn-out wave

36:44 Acknowledging that everyone’s limits are different.

38:37 The value of honest, ongoing conversations about each family member’s needs and challenges

--------------

Jane McFadden is the Autistic and ADHD Aussie mum behind the podcast ADHD Mums. 

She believes motherhood is hard - really hard - especially when you're neurodivergent or raising kids who are. She believes in speaking honestly about the mental load, the guilt, the overwhelm, and the absolute chaos that comes with parenting while trying to function in a world that doesn't make space for us. She believes in sharing the struggles without sugarcoating them - but also finding the humour in it all because sometimes you just have to laugh or you'll cry (again). 

Connect with Jane:

Website: https://adhdmums.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhd_mums/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ADHD-Mums/100091850469503/

Tiktok: https://www.facebook.com/people/ADHD-Mums/100091850469503/

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/adhdmums

---------------------------

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

Are you constantly walking on eggshells around your child with ADHD? Feeling like you’re failing as a parent or just plain exhausted from the daily battles? You’re not alone—and there’s hope! In this episode, Sharon Collon shares the three simple but powerful skills that can transform your family dynamic and help you move from reactive to responsive parenting.

Sharon, award-winning ADHD coach and founder of The Functional Family, introduces her signature CRC method—Curious, Regulated, and Clear. With over 17 years supporting families and her own lived experience, she knows traditional parenting advice often misses the mark for children with ADHD. Instead, Sharon’s CRC approach is practical, research-backed, and designed to work with your child’s brain, not against it.

Why most parenting strategies fail families with ADHD—and what to do instead

The CRC Method:

Curious: Shift from frustration to curiosity. See your child’s behaviour as communication, not defiance. Ask, “I wonder what’s going on for them in this moment?” to get to the root of tricky behaviours.

Regulated: Manage your own emotional state first. Dysregulation is contagious! Learn simple ways to slow things down, model calm, and help your child regulate by leading by example.

Clear: Give specific, achievable instructions. Ditch the vague “be good” and go for concise, one-step directions your child can actually follow. Less is more—sometimes just two words and a kind face do the trick.

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Transformative ADHD Parenting Skills

03:47 Curiosity Over Judgment

09:23 Concise Instructions Essential

10:42 ADHD Parenting: Key Skills Overview

------------------------------------------------------

Don’t stack instructions—one thing at a time!

Practice saying your instruction in your head before you say it out loud to keep it short and clear.

Remember: Your child’s dysregulation isn’t about you—it’s about their developing brain.

The CRC method isn’t just theory; it’s a game-changer for daily life.

Which CRC skill will you focus on first? Share your choice in our free support group and connect with other parents on the same journey!

Loved this episode?
Share it on your socials and leave a review on iTunes to make this mum do a happy dance! Want more resources, strategies, and support? Visit thefunctionalfamily.com.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Dr Mary Barson, founder of Real Life Medicine, about:

✅ Real-life strategies for ADHD & weight management

✅ The truth about dopamine, eating, and shame

✅ Family-friendly, flexible health solutions

✅ Why traditional diets don’t work for ADHD

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Struggling with Weight and Transformation

05:06 ADHD's Impact on Dieting Struggles

07:08 ADHD, Food Cravings, and Eating Habits

11:48 High-Protein Meal Prep Ideas

17:20 "Shame and People-Pleasing Origins"

20:08 Stress Response and Hyperarousal Explained

23:09 Break the Shame Spiral

25:22 Reconsidering ADHD Perceptions

30:36 High-Protein Diet Benefits

34:14 Emotional Aspect of Weight Loss

36:25 Make Healthy Choices Easier

38:45 "Real Health & Weight Loss Resources"

--------------

Dr Mary Barson is a GP based on the Victorian Surf Coast. She is an absolute genius and has an honours degree in biochemistry, as well as a medical degree. Dr Mary understands all things “sciencey”. She is our go-to person for interpreting scientific research, and can separate out true science from popular “woo”.

Dr Mary marries this with her skills as a counsellor and hypnotherapist, and has a huge interest in lifestyle medicine. She practices compassion-based therapy.

Connect with Mary:

Website: https://www.rlmedicine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real_life_medicine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reallifemedicine

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1XRiZ7sJ-thR6CobrH5Vg

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/real-health-and-weight-loss-podcast/id1539858012

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/real-life-medicine/

---------------------------

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Sam Taylor, founder of Go Beyond Therapy, about:

✅ Why parents are more burnt out than ever (and what to do about it)

✅ The “bucket” analogy that makes sense of your overwhelm

✅ Tiny, doable self-care moments that actually work

✅ How to spot the warning signs before you hit meltdown mode

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Parental Emotional Regulation Challenges

04:49 Practical Self-Care for Parents

07:49 Managing Emotional Overflow in Parents

11:55 Parental Burnout Strains Relationships

15:52 Mindful Parenting for Emotional Regulation

20:07 Balancing Family Sensory Needs

22:22 "Strategies for Reducing Daily Stress"

26:56 Understanding Occupational Therapy's Role

31:23 Progressing Towards Big Goals Incrementally

32:29 Individualised Goal Strategies in OT

--------------

Sam is an occupational therapist with experience supporting children with a wide range of additional needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Intellectual Disabilities, Down Syndrome, and many more. She has been working and volunteering in the pediatric disability space for over 10 years. Her journey in this field is not just professional, but also personal. Having navigated challenges similar to dyslexia and auditory processing difficulties herself, she understands the hurdles that families face within the education system, therapeutic environments, and everyday life.

Her approach to therapy is holistic and family-centered. She recognises that enhancing a child’s well-being goes beyond traditional milestones like handwriting. She believes in nurturing self-confidence and resilience—qualities that form the cornerstone of building a fulfilling life. She sees each child’s belief in themselves as a crucial building block upon which all progress is built.

Connect with Sam:

Website: https://www.gobeyondtherapy.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go.beyond.therapy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gobeyondtherapy/

 --------------------------- 

Every parent has a “coping bucket” with different capacities.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Natalia Aiza about:

✅ The real differences between OCD and anxiety (and why it matters)

✅ Surprising signs of OCD in kids with ADHD

✅ Common myths that hold families back from getting help

✅ Practical ways to support your child at home and school

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Managing ADHD and OCD Anxieties

05:40 "OCD vs. Anxiety: Key Differences"

09:06 ADHD, OCD, & Time Management

10:20 OCD's Rule of Threes

15:29 Nighttime Routines and Child OCD

18:44 ADHD and OCD Dual Understanding

22:10 OCD Therapy Challenges and Success

25:38 Teaching Children to Handle Distress

27:05 "Do Less Parenting Approach"

31:50 Compassionate Approach to School Refusal

34:59 OCD: Hormonal Influence and Cycles

37:29 Overcoming Attachment to Number Rituals

42:06 Contact for OCD & Parental Coaching

43:37 "Parental Guidance and Insight"

-------------

Natalia Aíza is a multicultural, multilingual counsellor with a modern approach.  Her therapeutic style is warm and welcoming, but also practical.  Natalia believes that therapy should be time-limited and goal-oriented.  She aims to empower her clients and encourages both children and adults to be active participants in their own therapy.  Natalia works alongside her small therapy dog, Miszu.

Natalia is a seasoned therapist, parent trainer, writer, and entrepreneur. Her core missions are to facilitate awareness and healing for those with OCD, and to amplify OCD competency among mental health practitioners. She is the co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective, an innovative therapy center that specializes in OCD and Anxiety Disorders. In the last three years, Kairos has expanded to four locations in Colorado and has served over two thousand families and individual clients.

Connect with Natalia:

Website: https://www.kairoswellnesscollective.com/natalia-aiza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalk.ocd/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/kairos-wellness-collective/

 --------------------------- 

OCD is often misunderstood and goes far beyond just cleaning or counting rituals.

The main difference between OCD and anxiety is that OCD involves repetitive actions to relieve specific fears.

OCD and ADHD frequently overlap, making both conditions harder to recognise and diagnose.

Signs of OCD in kids often include rigid routines, high need for reassurance, and distress if rituals aren’t followed exactly.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Dominique Jones about:
✅ Strategies to help teachers implement accommodations, support, understanding, and connection for students with ADHD.
✅ How parents can advocate for their children.
✅ How teachers can work together and connect with children with ADHD.

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Finding My Path Beyond School

04:48 From Principal to Author Journey

09:28 Addressing Teacher Overwhelm

12:11 Understanding and Supporting Student Behaviour

15:26 Addressing Child Behaviour at Its Roots

20:17 "Children's Compassion Surpasses Adults"

21:58 "Prioritize Student Relationships for Success"

26:04 Supporting ADHD Students' Organisation Skills

28:18 Empowering ADHD Children Through Support

30:50 Shaming and Advocacy for ADHD

36:48 Parents' Educational Priorities Discussion

39:44 Teacher Self-Care and Student Connection

41:54 Upskilling Teachers for Family Support

44:57 Supporting and Calming Student Conflicts

47:54 Self-Published Books & Educational Workshops

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Through the years of experience working as a teacher and becoming a parent to four, Dominique began to see a common thread in children. A common battle between behaviour and emotions. Parents would often ask for advice when trying to understand why their children behaved a certain way in a stressful situation.

When learning to navigate her own parenting style she realised yelling, arguing and demanding children to behave a certain way was toxic for small children in learning to understand how to respond to big emotions. Our job as parents is to teach our children to became adults that are able to recognise and manage these feelings and know it is normal to struggle to regulate our emotions.

Especially with three boys full of testosterone, she began to identify the different personas children use to respond to stressful situations. This was how the concept behind the picture book series was developed. A way to show children, through a story, that these feelings are normal. It is how we learn to deal with them that changes how feel about ourselves and others. 

Connect with Dominique:

Website: https://www.inspiraminds.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiraminds?igshid

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiraminds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-jones-25004a219/

 --------------------------- 

Every child’s behaviour is communication—seek to understand, not just correct.

Teachers and parents both experience overwhelm; compassion and connection are essential.

Simple, in-the-moment strategies can make a profound difference for ADHD kids.

Building strong parent-teacher partnerships benefits everyone.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Dave Jereb about:
✅ How to shift from managing behavior to fostering development
✅ The three key areas to tweak for impactful change: child, activity, and environment
✅ Why connection is the cornerstone of success in parenting and teaching

⏰ Timestamps ⏰
00:00 OT Support for Kids' Daily Roles
04:45 Enhancing Adaptability and Engagement
06:34 "Stability: The Key to Mobility"
12:27 Visual Aids Benefit ADHD Understanding
15:42 Shower: Wake-Up and Calm-Down Ritual
16:31 Pre-Coffee Brain Fog
21:40 Organized Movement for Focus
24:45 ADHD Stimulants: Why They Work
28:20 Sensory Sensitivity in Children
32:29 Unpacking Child Behavior Causes
34:22 "Connection Facilitates Understanding"
36:50 Future Leaders: Creative Disruptors

 --------------

Dave's journey in working with children began serendipitously over 30 years ago when, at the age of 14, his mother offered him $20 to volunteer for a day at a vacation care program with Bernardo's. While he humorously questions whether it was truly "volunteering," given the modest payment below minimum wage, it marked the beginning of a passionate career. Since that day, Dave has devoted his life to nurturing relationships and forming meaningful connections with both kids and their families, a cornerstone of his philosophy. His work as an occupational therapist allows him to engage with clients on a personal level, focusing on enhancing their daily lives. Driven by the belief that connection is vital in everything we do, Dave continues to leave a lasting impact on those he serves.

Connect with Dave:

Website: https://www.moveabout.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moveabout.ot/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoveAboutTherapy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moveabout-therapy-services

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MoveAboutTherapyServices

---------

Want to stay updated on ADHD family support tips & templates?

📧 Join the The Functional Family newsletter: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

What are common misconceptions parents have about managing behaviour in children?

A common misconception is that managing behaviour requires discipline in the form of compliance. 

The misconception about managing behaviour in children with ADHD

Reality: Flipping the script from compliance-based discipline to fostering behaviour developing an internal compass in children.

Consequence of Misconception: When parents focus solely on compliance and external control, they might achieve short-term goals but at the cost of not equipping children with the skills they need for long-term success.

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/
🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Monique Suidgeest about:
✅ Creating lifelong habits that help ADHD brains thrive
✅ Simple strategies for parents to support their children's executive function
✅ How to implement the habit loop for ADHD success
✅ Practical ways to overcome limiting beliefs about habit formation

⚠️ Special Offer: Get Monique's ADHD Habit Tracker FREE with code "TFF" at ADHDhabits.com - Access Here

⏰ Timestamps ⏰
0:00 Introduction to Monique Suidgeest
0:44 Monique's background as a teacher and mother of four
2:02 The journey to discovering ADHD management through lifestyle
3:15 How masking at school creates the "pressure cooker" effect at home
5:04 Understanding the science behind habits and the habit loop
6:58 Key habits for ADHD management: hydration, nutrition, and exercise
9:01 The four pillars of ADHD management
10:39 Finding balance with food restrictions and social situations
13:57 Real-life example of implementing the habit loop
17:26 Overcoming limiting beliefs about habit formation
21:00 Taking small steps and the importance of tracking
24:16 How to stay consistent when parents get overwhelmed
25:58 Understanding habit stacking vs. habit bundling
29:32 Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation for habit formation
33:54 Conserving energy through automatic habits
36:27 Picking up habits again after dropping them

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Monique’s mission is to empower parents by providing actionable resources and a community of support, all while encouraging children to embrace their neurodivergent brains. She believes that small, consistent shifts in habits can make a world of difference, allowing children to thrive by focusing on their strengths and accepting their challenges. In this episode, we'll dive into her personal journey and explore how we can help neurodivergent children build the confidence and habits they need to shine.

Connect with Monique https://adhdhabits.com/

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What Are Habits?
Habits are behaviours that through repetition become automatic actions we take without thinking. As James Clear explains in "Atomic Habits," habits help us solve life's problems with minimal effort.

The Habit Loop for ADHD

Cue: The prompt that triggers the action

Routine: The actual action or behaviour

Reward: The feeling or benefit received after completing the action

Essential Habits for ADHD Management

Hydration: Place cups on the kitchen bench each morning to make drinking water obvious and easy

Nutrition: Remove artificial colours and additives, increase protein intake

Exercise: Daily movement (like using a mini trampoline) to help brain function

Sleep: Establishing consistent routines for better rest

Making Habits Stick with ADHD

Start with very small steps (30 seconds or less to complete)

Make the habit obvious and easy to perform

Track progress with visual reminders

Include habits they already know how to do to build confidence

Provide immediate rewards (not delayed gratification)

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ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

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