I’m so excited to welcome Dr Lynne Kenney on to the Calm & Connected Podcast this week. We chat about all things executive functioning and how sessions differ with children in comparison to teenagers. We kept the conversation on the lighter treatment side rather than all the science-lingo heavy side. I hope you enjoy it!! 

The topics we cover in this episode are;
What actually is executive functioning?
How young you can start teaching children executive function skills
How slowing down for kids can make them achieve and learn more
Different types of mindfulness practices 
How mantras can help
How little questions can have a big impact
How things differ from children to teenagers
Teenagers are human too - they want love, affection and to feel masterful
The importance of thinking about what other people need

And remember, do not forget about yourself, take a few minutes for you and have a little fun!

Dr. Lynne Kenney is the nation’s leading pediatric psychologist in the development of classroom cognitive-physical activity programs for students grades K-8. Dr. Kenney develops curriculum, programming, and activities to improve children’s cognition through coordinative cognitive-motor movement, executive function skill-building strategies, and social-emotional learning. 
 
Dr. Kenney is a pediatric psychologist on the Language & Cognition Team at Wellington-Alexander Center, Scottsdale, Arizona. She has advanced fellowship training in forensic psychology and developmental pediatric psychology from Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and Harbor-UCLA/UCLA Medical School. Dr. Kenney holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Physical Education from the University of Southern California. In 1992, she earned her Doctorate in Psychology at Pepperdine.
 
Dr. Kenney’s books include Brain Primers, 2020 (Kuczala & Kenney); 70 Play Activities for Better Thinking, Self-Regulation, Learning and Behavior (Kenney & Comizio, 2016); the Social-Emotional Literacy program, Bloom Your Room™; Musical Thinking™; and Bloom: 50 things to say, think and do with anxious, angry and over-the-top-kids (Kenney & Young, 2015). 

​​Website - www.lynnekenney.com
Twitter - @drlynnekenney 
Instagram - @drlynnekenney

Executive Function for Kids and Teens - An interview with Dr. Lynne Kenney

Calm and Connected is created by Janine Halloran, an experienced counselor and mom. Janine gives quick tips and helpful information about coping skills and play

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Kids & Family

Building a strong connection with our children is really important and taking the time to invest in our relationships with them at each stage of childhood and into the teenage years. Today Janine considers the opportunities we create for them to share what they like and what you enjoy also in day to day life. How can we connect with our kids well so that when they face challenges or difficulties they feel like they can come speak with you, the parent? 

In this episode we discuss strategies for connecting well including:
Word Games you can play together like ‘Would You Rather?’
Playing board games together 
Playing video games together 
Cooking and baking together
Arts and crafts
An activity jar 
Geocaching 
Connecting through reading the same books your child reads/shows they watch
Asking for youtube creator recommendations 
Sharing music together



And remember, do not forget about yourself, take a few minutes for you and have a little fun!
—
About The Host - Janine Halloran
Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play’ which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play!

If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletter

If you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

If you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkids

Connect with Janine on Social Media
Instagram: @copingskillsforkids
Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay

Ways to Connect with Kids and Teens

Have you noticed social skills missing in your kids? Caroline Maguire, author of Why Will No One Play With Me?, joins me to discuss how to support your child and build them up through play. 

Here’s some of the areas we cover:

The importance of play

How to play with your kids in a role play situation

The power of storytelling to explain social situations 

Debriefing with your kids and working on your bond together

Finding the organic moments to talk to your kids

Supporting them through childhood playdates to teenage hangouts

Figuring out their baseline and strengths 

Using their interests to encourage and build them up

This is a clip from a live webinar. 

If you’d like to hear the whole interview, 

please join the Hub!

About The Guest - Caroline maguire

Caroline Maguire, is the founder of a revolutionary social emotional learning methodology that helps teach social skills to children, teenagers, and young adults. She holds a holds a Masters in Education degree with a concentration in SEL training and is the founder and director of The Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families training curriculum at ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). She is a former coach for the Hallowell Center in Sudbury, Massachusetts. She is the author of Why Will No One Play With Me?, the winner of the Best Parenting and Family Book 2020 as awarded by American Book Fest and co-collaborator on newly released HowToSel.com – a daily social emotional learning platform anyone can incorporate into daily life.

Why Will No One Play With Me? The Play Better Plan To Help Children of All Ages Makes Friends and Thrive by Caroline Maguire, PCC, M.Ed.

www.carolinemaguireauthor.com 

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

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorCarolineM 

Pinterest https://www.instagram.com/authorcarolinecm/ 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorcarolinecm/  

About The Host - Janine Halloran

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play’ which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play! 

If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletter

If you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

If you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkids


Connect with Janine on Social Media 
Instagram: @copingskillsforkids 
Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay

Helping Kids with Social Skills and Friendships: An interview with Caroline Maguire

Has your child hit their teenage years and puberty has started? Have you noticed their emotions are changing? What about their most extreme emotions? Do you find that your teenager can feel really angry at times?

In today’s episode, Janine unpacks some strategies to help you as parents support your teenager and how to develop that connection between yourself as the parent and them. 

Here’s what Janine discusses in today’s episode:
Connection being key and your teen feeling heard 
How to notice emotions in their body
Breathing exercises
Making paper airplanes
Squeezing dough or slime
Cool compress on your neck
Drinking cold water to regulate body temperature
Talking through what you can and can’t control
Channeling energy into positive action
Making a plan for your child


Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Coping Skills Community Hub

https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

And remember, do not forget about yourself, take a few minutes for you and have a little fun!
—
About The Host - Janine Halloran
Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play’ which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play!

If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletter

If you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

If you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkids

Connect with Janine on Social Media
Instagram: @copingskillsforkids
Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay

Coping Skills for Teens Who Are Angry

OCD can manifest itself in different ways with different obsessions and focus that are going on in your life. Children’s author, Marin Canaday describes OCD feeling like a monster devouring your emotions and feelings, where you could get to the point where you feel out of control and you begin to believe the lies the OCD obsessions tell you about yourself. 

Marin joins me today in this episode and we discuss some of the following areas: 

Marin discusses how the idea for her book, My Little Monster came about

Doubting yourself and OCD

Contamination and germs and OCD

Religion and OCD

Harm and OCD 

Hiding symptoms and coping strategies

Getting diagnosed

How Marin likes to rest and relax

About The Guest - Marin Canaday

Marin grew up with OCD from an early age, although she was not sure what it was that she struggled with until her 30's. A lot of her struggle was internal. As a child, she found that studying and sports helped take my mind off of the OCD thought patterns. When she studied or played a sport, she felt like she had a brain break, so she threw herself into both with vigor. Her study habits paid off, and Marin graduated in the top of her classes in both high school and college. She also went on to play collegiate volleyball, earning All American honors in her senior year. 

Her struggle with OCD really became more evident externally when she reached adulthood. Without studying or sports to hide in any longer, she came face to face with her anxiety disorder. She couldn't eat, sleep, or function in day-to-day tasks. Marin’s struggles with her thoughts were all that she could fight all day and night. It was grueling.

Today, with therapy and medication to help, she is much healthier and confident. Marin writes in her free time to inspire others who may be struggling with anxiety as well. She is the the author of two books, My Little Monster and The Very Best Me. Her OCD still whispers to her and at times begins to shout. She finds relief in gardening, crafting, reading, and writing.

Website - www.mylittleocdmonster.com

Facebook - My Little OCD Monster https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090423289366

Resources mentioned: 
Marin has two books, My Little Monster and The Very Best Me.

Dr. Dawn Huebner - https://www.dawnhuebnerphd.com/

Natasha Daniels - https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/

When a Family Member has OCD by John Hershfield, MFT. 

About The Host - Janine Halloran

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play’ which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play! 

If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletter

If you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

If you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkids


Connect with Janine on Social Media 
Instagram: @copingskillsforkids 
Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay

Books to Help Kids with OCD: An Interview with Marin Canaday

A child at Elementary School will be learning and figuring out what emotions are and what’s going on in their bodies when their ‘big feelings’ appear. They’ll be learning to put names to their emotions and trying figuring out why they’re feeling what they are. 

In the moments when they feel upset, overwhelmed and unable to put words to their emotions, there are some straightforward strategies we can have in our toolkit ready to use and support this age group with. 

Here are some some of the strategies discussed in todays episode:

Deep breathing strategies like the ‘Cooling the Cocoa’ strategy
Imagining your favorite place 
Helpful distractions like games like ‘Would you rather?’ 
Go for a walk to a water fountain to hydrate, get the body moving and helping to transition back to the classroom
Calming Jars with glitter and glue 
Feelings Thermometers 
Take 5 to Calm Down 

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Coping Skills Community Hub

https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

And remember, do not forget about yourself, take a few minutes for you and have a little fun!
—
About The Host - Janine Halloran
Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play’ which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play!

If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletter

If you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hub

If you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkids

Connect with Janine on Social Media
Instagram: @copingskillsforkids
Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay

Executive Function for Kids and Teens - An interview with Dr. Lynne Kenney

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