Centering Kids: Advice from the experts at The Florida Center for Early Childhood

In this episode, host Kristen Theisen interviews school-based mental health therapist Margaret Ross. Ross, who is also a children's yoga instructor, describes how teachers and parents can help children regulate their emotions through simple breathing techniques and daily mindfulness practices. The podcast also features Dr. Johnna Brynn, director of The Florida Center Training Institute, who helps practitioners like Ross share their skills with the public through virtual trainings.

Show notes:
Sign up for Ross' training on Wed. August 25 from 5-7 pm - A Wave of Calm in A Sea of Chaos: Helping Children Navigate Life Through Mindfulness

Details for the Inner Explorer program mentioned in the episode are available here.

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As parents, we are sometimes made to feel we are being overprotective or too sensitive when it comes to our concerns for our children. But what happens when our gut instincts are right? In this episode, host Kristen Theisen,  interviews the parent of a child who struggled with speech and language but was hesitant to seek additional services. She realized her concerns were valid when she found The Florida Center for Early Childhood.

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When you think of speech and language therapy,  you might instantly think of a means to correct a lisp or a stutter.  However, the therapy is used in the treatment all types of different delays and disabilities including mutism, apraxia and even autism.  In this week's episode of  Centering Kids, your host Kristen Theisen interviews Speech and Language pathologist Kim Williams and Gigi Gillis, a mom who's son is navigating life on the autism spectrum and utilizing speech therapy as part of his treatment. 

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In this episode of Centering Kids, Mandi Coker, of the Sarasota County School District, and Melissa Bradley, Director of School-Based Mental Health Services at The Florida Center, discuss how the tragic shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Fla., led to a mental health therapy program that placed therapists at every public school in Sarasota County. These therapists serve more than 600 at-risk students and their families every year. 

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In this episode, host Kristen Theisen interviews Dr. Kristie Skoglund, one of the few professionals in Florida designated as an Infant Mental Health Expert, about the impacts of trauma on young children. 

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Every first-time parent can relate to that moment of sheer terror, when you're leaving the hospital with a teeny, tiny newborn and you realize the nurse isn't coming home with you. In this episode, host Kristen Theisen interviews Debbie Keyso and Kelly Curran of Healthy Families, an at-home visiting program designed to help new and expecting parents nurture healthy development in their newborns. The program teaches parents how to become the parents they've always wanted to be and in doing so, helps to prevent child abuse before it begins. The episode kicks off National Child Abuse Prevention Month which occurs annually during the month of April.

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Show Notes:
To report child abuse, call 1-800-96-ABUSE
To purchase a digital version of the book  "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp, visit: https://tinyurl.com/mts2w7dh
To participate in Wear Blue Day on April 1, 2021, upload a photo to social media using the hashtag #GreatChildhoods 

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