In this episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie tackles the common yet challenging issue of separation anxiety in children, especially during back-to-school transitions. Dr. Katie explains the neurological underpinnings of separation anxiety, focusing on the roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in children's reactions to separation. Various strategies are discussed to help children gradually adjust and build confidence in separating from parents with less stress and more ease.

Resources:

Pocket hugs

Parent/Child bracelets

Parent/Child bracelet variation

Family photo bracelet

Hug Button bracelet

Website: https://mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.alitu.com/

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In the latest episode of the Mindful Motherhood Podcast, Dr. Katie discusses how everyday anxieties impact children and offers practical tools to manage them. Focusing on the importance of understanding the brain's response to routine changes, she shares personal experiences illustrating the effectiveness of strategies like setting verbal expectations, using visual countdowns, and calming physiological responses with different breathing exercises. By using visual reminders, parents can help anchor their child’s thinking and ease the stress of transitions. This episode also emphasizes the need for caregivers to address their own anxieties, promoting a balanced approach to family well-being.

Resources (Books):

Ruby Finds a Worry

The Magical Yet

A Little Spot of Anxiety

A Kids Book About Anxiety

What To Do When You Worry Too Much

Help Your Dragon Deal With Anxiety

Website: https://mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.alitu.com/

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In this episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie offers insights into the nuances of childhood anxieties. Through personal experiences and professional insights, she emphasizes how anxiety can manifest unexpectedly in children. By understanding the physiological and emotional responses in kids, parents can better navigate these challenges. Dr. Katie introduces practical and engaging methods such as creating 'worry monsters' to help children articulate and manage their fears constructively. This approach not only facilitates communication but also empowers kids to understand and cope with their worries, turning anxiety into an opportunity for emotional and cognitive growth.

Resources:

Nurtured First Worry Toolkit

Website: https://mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.alitu.com/

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Season 2 of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, hosted by Dr. Katie Gorham, delves deep into childhood worries and anxieties. This season focuses on a variety of challenges that children and teens may face, from general worries to fear of the dark and social pressures, and how anxiety symptoms often show up through behavior. Dr. Katie combines her wisdom as a psychologist and a mother to offer insights and strategies to handle these situations effectively. She emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and intention in parenting and discusses ways to turn difficult moments into opportunities for deeper connection and growth with our children. Tune in July 2nd wherever you listen to podcasts!

Website: https://mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.alitu.com/

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In this bonus episode of the Mindful Motherhood Podcast, Dr. Katie addresses the emergence of 'bad' words throughout childhood and adolescence and how to turn these awkward moments into teaching opportunities. She explains how children's brains are wired to mimic and explore language, and recommends establishing boundaries around inappropriate language use by establishing specific 'safe zones' at home (e.g., the bathroom), for language exploration without social consequence. This strategy provides children an outlet for their curiosity, emphasizes context in language, and helps develop children's communication and impulse control skills in a constructive and mindful manner. Tune in to learn more!

Website: https://mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.alitu.com/

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The holiday season can be a magical time for families, but it can also be a source of stress for kids. In this special holiday bonus episode, Dr. Katie dives into the reasons why children often feel overwhelmed during the holidays, including increased social interactions, performance pressure, disrupted routines, and sensory overload. She provides practical tips to help parents manage their child's stress and create a more peaceful holiday experience for everyone.

Happy holidays!

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

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In the season 1 finale of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie offers a dive into the essential role of self-care in parenting. She emphasizes understanding child dysregulation and enhancing self-regulatory skills through mindful approaches. Dr. Katie provides practical self-care tips, from morning routines to creating a personalized self-care menu. She also stresses that consistent, small self-care practices can significantly impact emotional well-being, helping parents stay regulated and connected with their children, even amidst daily chaos. This episode is a culmination of season-long strategies to foster better parent-child connections.

Additional Resources:

Meditation Apps: Insight Timer; Headspace

Quick Music-Only Stretches: Mady Morrison

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

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This episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast delves into the challenging world of parenting and emotional regulation. Dr. Katie explores how parents' emotional triggers, often rooted in past experiences, can impact interactions with their children. She emphasizes the significance of recognizing these triggers to maintain composure during tough moments. The episode provides actionable advice, including identifying physical signs of stress, employing relaxation techniques, and talking openly with partners or support systems. By understanding and managing their own triggers, parents can create a more emotionally supportive environment for both themselves and their children. Dr. Katie also discuss what to do when parents inevitably lose their cool with their kids, including how to repair the relationship by modeling a genuine apology.

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

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Timestamps:

In this episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie teaches parents how to distinguish between meltdowns and tantrums and offers practical tips to address each effectively. She emphasizes the importance of approaching children's emotional outbursts with curiosity and empathy, labeling emotions, and validating feelings to foster connection and emotional growth. The episode provides strategies for helping children of all ages to build their emotion regulation toolkit, including how to build their emotional vocabulary, manage their feelings, and develop resilience through everyday interactions, play, and other creative outlets.

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

Connect with us! [email protected]

Resources:

(Books)

First Emotions Series (11 books)

Every Little Thing

Little Monkey Calms Down

My Body Sends a Signal

Listening to My Body

Listening with My Heart

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings (Growing Hearts)

A Kids Book About Coping Skills

Two Big Feelings; Quiet in my Body; Happy Either Way (LOVEVERY)

Everyone Feels Series

Belly Breathe

Breathe, Think, Do with Elmo

(Visuals)

Calm Strips Visuals

Textured Infinity Breathing Strips

5 Deep Breaths Visual

Timestamps:

1:18 - Tantrum vs Meltdown

5:27 - Introduction to coping skills

6:44 - Building an emotional vocabulary 

14:01 - Building coping skills/regulation tools for ages 5-10

18:10 - Building coping skills/regulation tools for ages 11-18

24:11 - Modeling emotional regulation for our kids

28:57 - Challenge of the week!

In this episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie focuses on managing children's meltdowns. She covers how physical presence, language, and environment adjustments can help calm the situation. Understanding the brain's role during these intense emotional periods is key. By being aware of our own reactions and employing calming strategies, parents can better support their children through these challenging moments. This episode emphasizes the importance of co-regulation, suggesting that a calm adult presence can help a child regain control. Tips include adjusting body language and maintaining a safe environment.

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

Connect with us! [email protected]

Resources: First Emotions Series (11 books)

Little Monkey Calms Down

My Body Sends a Signal

Listening to My Body

Listening with My Heart

Timestamps:

4:07 - What does a meltdown look like for your child?

6:16 - Counteracting the emotional flood of a meltdown

7:23 - Assessing the physical environment

9:16 - Altering our physical presence to appear less threatening

12:48 - When physical touch registers as a pain response

14:51- Altering the sensory environment

16:03 - Allowing the emotional release

17:48 - Reintegrating the brain by offering choices and validating feelings

22:29 - Resisting the urge to talk through what happened

26:34 - Avoiding statements that bring attention to our emotions

31:36 - Challenge of the week!