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In today's episode, I'm joined by Marnie Love, a seasoned homeschooling mom, certified parenting coach, and advocate for executive functioning skills. Marnie, who has been navigating the homeschool landscape for over two decades, shares her wealth of experience and insights, particularly within the "Connected Families" framework.

Join us as we chat about co-regulation, executive functioning, and explore how these concepts play out in everyday parenting—especially during the bustling holiday season. Learn about practical strategies to prepare children for the excitement and challenges of the holidays, including response inhibition, positive reinforcement, and the "if-then" approach to manage behavior empathetically and effectively.

We also discuss the importance of self-reflection for parents, the benefits of homeschooling, and how to create a balanced holiday schedule that honors your family's unique needs. Don't miss the valuable takeaways for integrating executive functioning skill development into daily life, ensuring both safety and joy amidst the festive chaos.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Co-Regulation and Executive Functioning
• Overview of response inhibition and managing impulsivity.
• Marnie's personal experiences with the Connected Families Framework.
• Use of empathy and the "if-then" approach to behavior correction.
• Positive reinforcement and retrying situations to build skills.
• Managing a child's behavior with understanding and patience during Christmas activities.
• Emphasis on emotional regulation.
• Integrating Executive Functioning in Daily Life
• Importance of developing executive functioning skills beyond seasonal activities.
• Observing if tasks are challenging due to their nature or broader skills.
• Recognizing difficulties and asking for child feedback.
• Avoiding crowded areas and planning early visits.
• Preparation details: cars, snacks, hot chocolate, weather considerations.
• Family Roles and Contributions
• Strategies to simplify routines like traveling in pajamas.
• Setting expectations for behavior, safety, and fun.
• Executive Functioning Skills in Focus
• Metacognition: thinking about thinking.
• Time management: reverse planning and facing challenges with time perception.
• Planning strategies: night-before preparations and checklists.
• Use of Music and Visual Aids for executive function support
• Routine management through music playlists.
• Use of portable whiteboard checklist as a visual reminder.
• Introduction to Connected Families: integration of brain science, trauma-informed parenting, and gospel teachings.
• Importance of parent self-reflection on executive function skills.
• Marnie's Background and Homeschooling Experience
• Benefits of homeschooling for children with unique learning paces and brain breaks.
• Marnie's role as a certified parenting coach.
• Use of real-life activities in education.
• Holiday Planning and Executive Functioning
• Family meetings to prioritize holiday activities.
• Avoiding overloaded holiday schedules.
• Utilization of the "Smart but Scattered" model for planning and organizing skills.

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Reverse Planning Guide from Homeschool OT
• What is Executive Functioning? Course from Homeschool OT
• Executive Functioning Skills in Holiday Activities 
• Episode 29- Parenting with Co-Regulation
• Episode 30- Sensory Processing and Co-Regulation: Insights for Parents
• Episode 31- Cultivating Calm: Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation in Children and Practical Solutions for Parents
• Episode 40- Crafting Holiday Memories while Building Handwriting Skills
• Episode 41- Building Your Support Network as a Homeschooling Parent Especially during the Holiday Season
• Marnie Love’s website
• Connected Families Framework