Exceptional Parenting Podcast

In the wake of school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, parents everywhere are left wondering how to help their children navigate the new reality of distance learning. The good news? It’s the 21st century, and technology can help! The bad news? Remote K-12 learning is entirely new for most families, and trying new things can feel daunting even in the best of times (let alone during a crisis). You may be wondering, for example: Is the school doing enough? Should I be doing more to ensure that my child continues learning? Will using technology and/or electronic devices to learn and work help my child or create more distractions? And how do I manage this while I’m working?

Join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Boucher for a lively discussion with digital parenting expert Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov about how to use technology to enhance your child’s distance learning experience. In this episode, you’ll find out:

- How to find “good fit” online learning resources and apps for your child
- How to keep your child from getting distracted by technology during learning hours
- How to manage your child’s screen time when you’re busy working
- How to balance “educational” screen time with “leisure” screen time
- When to be flexible during these highly unusual times

About Our Guest:

Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov is a mom to two tech-savvy little boys, a lawyer, law professor, and eSafety consultant whose core work involves researching solutions for parenting in the digital age. She is a member of the Working Group of Experts on Digital Citizenship Education, an independent expert on Digital Parenting and Children and Internet for the Children’s Rights Division of Council of Europe, and an advisor on European Cooperation and International Projects for e-Enfance, a French online child protection association providing support to parents and children in the digital age.

Dr. Milovidov has authored several guides and workbooks for parents, moderates a Facebook community for parents (called The Digital Parenting Community) and is the founder of DigitalParentingCoach.com, a website and community with resources for parents.

With schools now closed for more than two-thirds of children across the nation because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of American families are facing a brand-new reality: daily life without traditional school, organized sports and activities, and a nearly empty family schedule.

And while these monumental shifts are not without plenty of challenges for families, there is one thing that may improve for children in the coming weeks: they may finally have time to play outside again!

Back by popular demand (and one of our most popular episodes to date), host Stefanie Boucher, speaks with pediatric occupational therapist, international speaker, Timbernook founder, and author Angela Hanscom about how unrestrained physical movement and outdoor play are vital for your child’s cognitive and physical development - and why a lack of it may be (at least partly) to blame for today’s epidemic levels of attention deficits, as well as sensory and emotional disorders. Find out how much outdoor play kids really need, and get helpful tips for ensuring they get enough.

About Our Guest:

Angela Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of TimberNook – an award-winning nature-based program that has gained international popularity. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy, and an undergraduate degree in kinesiology (the study of movement) with a concentration in health fitness. Angela’s book, Balanced & Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children, (New Harbinger Press, 2016) discusses the effects of restricted movement and lack of outdoor playtime on overall sensory and motor development in children. Angela keynotes conferences and conducts workshops for parents, educators, and clinicians all over the world. She and her work have been featured in Glamour magazine, The Washington Post, NPR, and Johnson & Johnson TEDx.

Don't miss these great resources from Angela Hanscom!

Hanscom, Angela. Balanced & Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children, (New Harbinger Press, 2016). 

Hanscom, Angela. "The Real Reason Children Fidget - And What to Do About It." YouTube video, 25 Sep, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXLaoDucF0k.

TimberNook (outdoor/nature experiences for children), https://www.timbernook.com

Do you struggle to get your child to try new foods? Does your child prefer just a few foods, while avoiding most others? Are you frequently worried that s/he isn’t receiving the nourishment needed to grow and thrive?

If family mealtimes have become frustrating or miserable for all involved, join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Boucher for a heartening discussion with Dr. Katja Rowell, M.D. Dubbed “the feeding doctor,” Rowell believes that HOW children are fed is the missing piece in addressing disordered eating and feeding.

In this episode, Dr. Rowell has suggestions for dealing with a range of selective eating behaviors, including more typical “picky” eating, extreme picky eating, and disordered eating related to sensory challenges, disabilities, fear, or health conditions.

About Our Guest:

Katja Rowell, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Michigan medical school and served as a family physician in urban, rural, and university student health settings. During her time in practice, she was struck by the prevalence of disordered eating and feeding, and related health problems.

Rowell believes in establishing a healthy feeding relationship, and teaches about its importance to health care providers, family therapists and childcare staff, and consults with corporate clients, nutrition education and public health providers. She has appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Betty Crocker Blog, Parents Magazine, Kare 11 TV, Brain Child Magazine, The Utne Reader, Twin Cities Live and Mommy MD Guides, among others. Her writing has appeared in LiveWell Digest, Huffingtonpost Parenting blogs, New Moon Girls Magazine, and Adoptive Families Magazine.

Having worries about your child’s future is a natural part of parenthood. But for parents raising a child with an intellectual or developmental disability, life can present a larger-than-average number of unanswered questions:

Will my child be able to learn the skills needed to live independently?
Will s/he be able to find (and keep) a job?
Will s/ he find enjoyable ways of offering her gifts to the larger community?
Will s/he be okay someday when I’m no longer here?

In this episode of the Exceptional Parenting Podcast, host Stefanie Boucher speaks with Waverly Ann Harris, CEO of Friends Life Community, about the things parents can do at all ages and stages to support their child’s independence and community engagement. You’ll learn:

-Which barriers families commonly face and how to navigate them
-How working with a job coach may be beneficial for your child
-How to resolve conflicts with independence-seeking kids
-How and where to look for support for you and your child

About Our Guest:

Waverly Ann Harris, M.S. Ed. is the CEO at Friends Life Community, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for teenagers and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Nashville, Tennessee, through three main program areas: service learning and employment, life skills, and advocacy through the arts.

Waverly Ann has diverse nonprofit experience, both nationally and internationally, in human services. With a master’s degree from Lipscomb University in Applied Behavior Analysis, Waverly Ann has consulted with families and companies to design systems that promote inclusion, decrease dependency, increase innovation, and change culture around disability services.

Most parents enroll their children in youth sports because they’re widely thought of as fun. But did you know that nearly three-quarters of kids drop out of organized athletics by the age of 13? Or that youth sports participation, as a whole, is at a generational low? In this episode, you'll hear best-selling author, international speaker, long-time coach, and youth sports expert John O’Sullivan explain how and why the “fun” has disappeared from our youth sports culture - and what actionable steps parents can take now to fix it and give sports back to our kids.

Tune in to learn:

- What to say to your child after a game
- Why early specialization or seasons that are too long could do your child more harm than good
- How to work effectively with sports organizations and coaches to foster a positive mindset and promote healthy, whole-child development

About Our Guest:

John O’Sullivan is the founder and CEO of the Changing the Game Project, which he started in 2012 in order to help parents, coaches and youth sports organizations put the “play” back into playing sports. John is a former collegiate and professional soccer player, and coached for 20 years on the youth, high school and college level, most recently as the Central Oregon Training Center Director for the Portland Timbers of MLS. John is the author of two #1 bestselling books, and his blog gets nearly 5 million visits a year. John has been a keynote presenter throughout the US, Canada and Europe, including TEDx, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Hockey Canada, USA Football, IMG Academy, and more, and his goal is to start discussions about changing the environment in youth sports so we can keep more kids active, happy and healthy.

You can learn more about John, his speaking, and the Changing the Game Project at https://changingthegameproject.com.

Challenging behaviors are frequently among the most stressful concerns for parents raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this episode, host Stefanie Boucher speaks with occupational therapist and autism expert, Mary Beth Kadlec, about the underlying causes of behavior challenges and the ways in which parents and caregivers can foster increased emotional regulation.

Tune in to find out why many parents miscalculate their child’s developmental level and how this can impact behavior; how to adjust your communication strategies to better match your child; how to work with your child’s school to improve behavior both at home and within the school environment; and, why adaptive physical education is critical for kids with ASD and how the school can foster more positive gym experiences for all kids.

About Our Guest:

Mary Beth Kadlec is an occupational therapist and the Program Director at the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO) at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, which provides cutting edge services to children with autism and their families. She has 36 years of occupational therapy experience, and she has devoted her career to helping caregivers and providers develop more effective ways to support children at home, in school, and in the community.

To learn more about Mary Beth or CANDO, visit the CANDO website: https://www.umassmed.edu/psychiatry/clinicalservices/child-adolescent-clinical-services/cando

Multigenerational households are making a comeback! According to researchers, 1 in 5 Americans now lives with three or more generations under the same roof - the highest level since 1950. But for all its potential perks - such as cost savings, familial bonding, and built-in child care - if you’re among those individuals “sandwiched” between both your children and parents who need care, you know that managing the responsibilities of mid-adulthood is no easy feat.

In this episode, host Stefanie Boucher speaks with author, disability advocate, and writer Jamie Sumner about her new middle-grade novel Roll with It and the questions that frequently come up for the “Sandwich Generation” and their children. "Should my children be included in the care of their grandparent(s)? How can they help?" "How can I effectively support my child with a disability and my Mom’s or Dad’s growing needs?" And, "How do I manage my stress and live my best life?" Additionally, you’ll hear Jamie’s thoughts on teaching kids resilience and what to say to a child who doesn’t feel like s/he “fits in.”

About Our Guest:

Jamie Sumner is the author of several books, including the recently released middle-grade novel, Roll with It, and the non-fiction book, Unbound: Finding Freedom from Unrealistic Expectations of Motherhood. Her second and third middle-grade novels will be coming out in 2020 and 2021. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, Keep On, Superhero, for parents of children with special needs. She has written for The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she is the reviews editor at Literary Mama.

Jamie is also a mom to a son with cerebral palsy, and she writes and speaks about disability in literature. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. Learn more about Jamie, Roll with It, and her other books at https://jamie-sumner.com.

Is your child begging for his or her first social media account? Has your son or daughter recently signed up for Instagram, SnapChat, TikTok or Facebook? If so, you may have a myriad of questions. What is the “right” age to allow my child to be on social media? How do I know if s/he is ready? Have I fully prepared him to be a good digital citizen? How do I keep her safe? And, of course, what should I do if I regret my decision?

Tune in and listen as Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, discusses how she is addressing these pressing questions within her family. In this episode she’ll discuss the pros and cons of children participating in social media, provide honest questions that parents can ask themselves to help determine readiness, and suggest simple strategies for coaching our children as they step into the world of social media.

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Stefanie Boucher is Torchlight’s Senior Content Developer and host of the Exceptional Parenting Podcast. A writer, editor, and journalist, she has spent nearly two decades producing multi-media content for children, parents, students and teachers while simultaneously raising her own tech-savvy kids in the midst of a changing media landscape. In her current role at Torchlight, she offers families practical strategies for modern parenting, including how to balance health and well-being with the allure and necessity of modern technology and life.

Have you ever “lost it” with your kids? If so, you’re definitely not alone - parenting is stressful! In this episode, Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, speakes with Carla Naumburg, Ph.D., a licenced independent clinical social worker, author, speaker, and mother who began writing her most recent book, How to Stop Losing Your S*** with Your Kids after facing her own share of emotionally grueling parenting moments. Tune in for Carla’s empathetic, practical advice on how to manage your triggers, stop the meltdowns, and become a calmer, happier parent with calmer, happier kids.

About Our Guest:

Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW is a parent coach, writer, and speaker. She is the author of three parenting books, including the recently released title How to Stop Losing Your S*** With Your Kids (Workman, 2019). Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and Mindful Magazine, among other places. Carla is a sought-after public speaker, and she coaches overwhelmed parents on how to make parenting more fun.

Learn more about Carla and her work by visiting her webpage (https://www.carlanaumburg.com).

Your child’s doctor can be an incredible resource when you have questions or concerns about your child’s health. But did you know that a pediatrician can provide care for your child that spans beyond his or her physical well-being? In this episode of Torchlight’s Exceptional Parenting Podcast, host Stefanie Boucher speaks with an experienced pediatrician about the ways in which a strong doctor-patient or doctor-family relationship can improve outcomes for children from birth through age 22. Listen to learn:

- How to choose the right pediatrician for your child or family
- Simple techniques for better doctor-parent communication
- What to do if you disagree with your child’s doctor, and much more

About Our Guest:

A strong believer in the importance of communication, Dr. Diana McManus is an experienced pediatrician who enjoys getting to know her patients and helping them through challenging times. A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, she completed her residency and chief residency at Children’s Hospital of Oakland in Oakland, California. She has currently been in practice for more than 16 years.