Complicated Kids

Ron Shuali came on the podcast to not only inform with his knowledge of child development and education but also to entertain and delight with his "neurohacks" for staying calm and his larger-than-life persona. Suffice it to say that we both had a blast recording this episode. We hope you have a blast listening to it: there are so many nuggets!

To find out more about Ron and how you can get him to speak at your organization, visit www.ronspeak.com. You will not be disappointed.

What are Emotional Support Parents? Well, they are NOT Helicopter Parents or pushovers or permissive parents. They ARE parents who are highly attuned to the needs of their highly sensitive (often anxious) children. Being an ESP is often necessary (because the child in question has a lot of emotional needs) but also exhausting for parents. Join us to talk about Emotional Support Parents and how parents can both support their complicated kids while also guarding their own parental mental health.

Claire Lerner is trained as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and child development specialist with over 30 years of experience working with children and families in a range of capacities. She is also the author of "Why Is My Child In Charge?" which can be found on her website www.lernerchilddevelopment.com.

What are Emotional Support Parents? Well, they are NOT Helicopter Parents or pushovers or permissive parents. They ARE parents who are highly attuned to the needs of their highly sensitive (often anxious) children. Being an ESP is often necessary (because the child in question has a lot of emotional needs) but also exhausting for parents. Join us to talk about Emotional Support Parents and how parents can both support their complicated kids while also guarding their own parental mental health.

Claire Lerner is trained as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and child development specialist with over 30 years of experience working with children and families in a range of capacities. She is also the author of "Why Is My Child In Charge?" which can be found on her website www.lernerchilddevelopment.com.

Dr. Taylor Day is a child psychologist in private practice who is thinking about autism a little differently from many others in the field. She and I sat down to discuss how to support all the family members, not just the autistic ones; why early intervention and early diagnosis is so important, and how an autism diagnosis can be made as early as 14 months.

(DON'T WAIT!) We talk about "Mommy Gut" and how that's a real thing, and we also give some tips for managing the mental (and TIME) load of having a child with an autism diagnosis. Don't miss this engaging conversation with a wonderful and experienced professional.

To find out more about Dr. Day, visit her website at www.drtaylorday.com.

Dr. Taylor Day is a child psychologist in private practice who is thinking about autism a little differently from many others in the field. She and I sat down to discuss how to support all the family members, not just the autistic ones; why early intervention and early diagnosis is so important, and how an autism diagnosis can be made as early as 14 months.

(DON'T WAIT!) We talk about "Mommy Gut" and how that's a real thing, and we also give some tips for managing the mental (and TIME) load of having a child with an autism diagnosis. Don't miss this engaging conversation with a wonderful and experienced professional.

To find out more about Dr. Day, visit her website at www.drtaylorday.com.

Kelly Mahler is an occupational therapist who specializes in interoception, and I was so happy to have recorded this interview with her.

Kelly sheds light on how interoception, the awareness of our internal body signals, significantly impacts children's (and adults'!) emotional well-being. Discover how interoception is distinct from other sensory processes and how it influences so many aspects of daily life, including emotional regulation.

We chat about the role of mindfulness practices in enhancing children's self-awareness by making them more attuned to their body's signals. We also explore the use of interoception in toilet training, a crucial skill for kids' independence and development.

This episode offers a profound perspective on emotions as informative rather than "good" or "bad" and provides valuable resources for parents and professionals interested in delving deeper into interoception.

To find out more about Kelly visit her website at www.kelly-mahler.com.

Kelly Mahler is an occupational therapist who specializes in interoception, and I was so happy to have recorded this interview with her. 

Kelly sheds light on how interoception, the awareness of our internal body signals, significantly impacts children's (and adults'!) emotional well-being. Discover how interoception is distinct from other sensory processes and how it influences so many aspects of daily life, including emotional regulation.

We chat about the role of mindfulness practices in enhancing children's self-awareness by making them more attuned to their body's signals. We also explore the use of interoception in toilet training, a crucial skill for kids' independence and development.

This episode offers a profound perspective on emotions as informative rather than "good" or "bad" and provides valuable resources for parents and professionals interested in delving deeper into interoception.

To find out more about Kelly visit her website at www.kelly-mahler.com.

What do we do when articulation therapy isn't working? Join me and Arielle Gates, a speech-language pathologist, to answer that question.

We discuss how articulation disorders, specifically difficulties in pronouncing sounds like the letter "R," can be intertwined with myofunctional issues. We explore the signs and symptoms in older elementary school-aged children and the importance of considering the broader context of airway and muscle function. Arielle also shares a success story of a child who underwent a myofunctional journey, and emphasizes the significance of a multidisciplinary approach involving professionals like dentists, ENTs, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.

To find out more about Arielle and her practice visit her website at www.stellarslp.com.

What do we do when articulation therapy isn't working? Join me and Arielle Gates, a speech-language pathologist, to answer that question.

We discuss how articulation disorders, specifically difficulties in pronouncing sounds like the letter "R," can be intertwined with myofunctional issues. We explore the signs and symptoms in older elementary school-aged children and the importance of considering the broader context of airway and muscle function. Arielle also shares a success story of a child who underwent a myofunctional journey, and emphasizes the significance of a multidisciplinary approach involving professionals like dentists, ENTs, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.

To find out more about Arielle and her practice visit her website at www.stellarslp.com.

Lacie Brueckner and Kat Pendergast joined me to talk about death and dying and how to help kids through this tough subject.

Lacie and Kat are the authors of "Goodbye Bella," a book that helps children cope with the loss of a beloved pet. Our conversation leads into the importance of discussing death with children and provides valuable insights into how to navigate the grieving process, as well as ways to honor and remember those who have passed away.

Kat and Lacie share their personal experiences and the positive impact their book has had on families dealing with pet loss and other forms of grief. This episode highlights the significance of open conversations about death and the healing power of sharing memories and emotions with children.

You can find the book on Kat's website at katssocks.com or on Amazon.