Exceptional Parenting Podcast

When emotions run high, feelings are intense, and anxiousness is present in your child, it's hard to know what to do. 

Natasha Daniels, of Anxious Toddlers is on a mission to change that for parents like you and I who have kids with big emotions. 

If you've ever wondered how to help your child who seems anxious about things, when to intervene, and how to help them work through those strong emotions, this episode is for you!

Natasha is a mom and a licensed therapist with a very practical way of addressing anxious feelings in a way that supports kids' emotional development, but is still realistic. 

In this episode you'll learn;

• how "normal" it is for kids to have anxious feelings
• what NOT to say to our kids when they have anxious feelings
• and three easy steps to support them through those emotions

You can find Natasha at 

her website:

https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/anxioustoddlers/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/anxioustoddlers/

"When my kid acts out, I wonder if I should be more stern, or more patient? Nothing seems to work, what do I do?"

That question was posted on a discussion board and if you've been wondering the same thing, this episode is for you. In this episode you'll learn;

Why it is so hard for us to find the right balance How to set expectations that kids will follow What to do in the moment when they object And how to handle it when things don't work out.

Parenting certainly isn't perfect, but it shouldn't have to be THAT hard. 

When it feels like parenting "shouldn't be this hard" you're probably right...but what should you do about it?

The answers aren't always clear and most of the time there's not a one-size-fits all approach to finding an answer that works for you. And that's ok. 

In this episode I'll take you through a powerful realization I had with "struggle" and show you how to work through it in an intentional and purposeful way. 

After a recent move for our family, I felt like I was so sick of hearing "oh don't worry, kids are resilient"... and yet, my kids weren't resilient. 

They struggled. It was hard. And the change turned their worlds upside down. 

I was left wondering if we have it all wrong with kids, assuming they are more resilient than they really are, OR if my kids were the only non-resilient ones on the face of the earth. 

If you've ever wondered the same thing, this episode will be as helpful for you as it was for me. 

Here, Sarah Boyd, who has a background in psychology and neuroscience (and two kids) shares with us how to help our kids cope with hard or unexpected situations and manage the emotions that come with that. 

In this episode you'll learn 

• why it's best to teach resilience at a young age (rather than in adult years)
• what resilience actually is
• what "normal" looks like when situations are hard
• how to develop a healthy emotional response to hard situations
• how to teach kids to do the same
• how to help kids express emotions in a healthy way

For more information on Sarah and her new book, visit 

Resilientlittlehearts.com

When kids have strong wills and aren't afraid to speak their minds, sometimes that can translate to struggles with helping them eat in a way that is good for them. 

Here Jessica Oar from Be PowerFul helps us see how to raise kids to have a very healthy relationship with food in whatever way works best for you. 

Here you'll learn

• how to show kids to be healthy and not perfect
• how to let go and help kids learn how to understand what their own bodies like and don't like
• how to do what works best for your family without feeling like you're on a diet
• how to avoid the power struggles that come from forcing kids to eat healthy
• how to avoid the shame around food choices
• eating in a way that is sustainable for you and your kids
• the mindset we all need to have to embrace the imperfect moments as part of the journey

You can find Jessica 

on Instagram

On Facebook

For any mom who has a kid whose EVER said "I hate homework!"

or who agonizes over any kind of writing or who has terrible handwriting, this episode is for you!

Heather Greutman of Growing Hands On Kids opens up about how to help our kids have FUN while improving their handwriting skills at the same time. 

No, this isn't about daily handwriting worksheets, drills, or doing homework every day, this episode truly is about how to break away from the writing a bit to help improve a kids ability to write. Seriously genius!

Here you'll learn:

• How to know if your child can benefit from improving fine motor skills
• What "fine motor" skills are and why they are important
• How to build those skills through fun and playful activities so your child doesn't even realize they are learning!

Heather has included a fine motor checklist, and links to her fine motor packets (the ones I bought and LOVED!) all on this page here. 

Growinghandsonkids.com/wendy

You can also find Heather on

Facebook 

Don't forget to snag her free checklist 

As a mom of younger kids I always wondered which educational toys were the best, which ones would REALLY help them learn through play, and if too many toys were overwhelming. 

In this episode Meagan of ILS Learning Corner outlines the answers to all those questions in detail so we can skip all the marketing tricks and know exactly what's best for our kids. 

Here you'll learn:

What kinds of educational toys are the best for learning development

How to encourage learning through play

How to create your own toys without spending any money

Do you ever feel like any little transition can send your kid into a tailspin? You spend your days wondering which transition will set them off or how epic the meltdown with be?

If so this episode is for you!

Here you'll learn;

*3 simple ways to help them THROUGH transitions (so instead of feeling like you have to avoid them like the plague, you can help your child work through it and transition easier)

*Why it happens

*(and of course) Why "waiting for the phase to pass" or "typical parenting strategies just won't make things better in the long run.

Have you ever wondered..

• Why is it that only one of my kids reacts so strongly no matter what I do to discipline him. Did I do something wrong?
• My child gets angry and of recent started using his hands / has temper tantrums and becomes a little violent when he does not get his way. My husband feels he is just being a spoiled brat - I think it is more. Do not know how to deal with it. What can I do?
• I panic when someone tells her no because she will instantly throw a very scary fit, what can I do?
• My kid has age and anger when angry, it's like he flips a switch, why?
• How do you know if it's a typical stage or something that needs therapy?

In this episode I answer all these questions and show you 

1. why strong reactions happen

2. why discipline doesn't work

3. what you can do to support your child so their reactions aren't so strong. 

Other episodes mentioned in the podcast:

Episode 8 How to support your sensitive kid

https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode8

Episode 14 What to do when too much noise causes strong reactions

https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode14

In my home, growing up we knew we could NOT be loud. No screaming, no yelling, and NO talking at ALL when dad had the TV on. If we talked, he would turn the TV up so loud to drown us out so he could hear what he was listening to.

For so long I wondered if all dads had such sensitive ears, why dad got so mad if we were loud, and if that would ever change. Little did I know that it was very normal, and now as a mom I get it, because I have a child who has the same sensory sensitivity. 

So many of you parents are wondering the same thing, either about yourself or your child.

• Why can't I hear people when I'm in a restaurant?
• Why is my kid so loud, but freaks out when people around her are loud?
• Why does my son have such a strong reaction when his siblings are loud?
• Is it normal?
• Should I punish it?
• What should I do?

We're going to cover all of that in this episode.