3 simple strategies for improving listening and diffusing power struggles; unpacking how, when and why these strategies are effective from toddler age through school age kids.

When Kids Get Stuck on “It’s NOT Fair” it can be tough to know how to respond; let’s start there!

In this video we’re discussing how to navigate power struggles without defaulting to punishment without a plan!

Asking for help is an important skill for kids, but sometimes it can be used as a crutch (and become overwhelming for us). As parents, it can be hard to know when to step in and when to encourage independence; with an understanding of the variables that impact how, when and why our kids ask for help we can determine how to best to support their skill building, development of confidence and independence.

Understand the meaning behind your child’s behavior. Look at the kinds of behavior kids engage in and learn how to play detective when it comes to figuring out what they are trying to say, and what that means about how you should respond.

4 practical ways you can pursue mindfulness and teach the importance of proactive management of mental health needs in your kiddos, and family as a whole through activities that are easily adaptable for a variety of ages and stages of development.

Learning how the brain works (when it comes to thinking and feeling) is an important part of learning self-regulation. By understanding how the different parts of our brain work together to help us solve problems and navigate our feelings we become increasingly self-aware. Self-awareness is, an often missed, part of teaching self-regulation; in order to manage feelings and emotions we need to understand them (from the inside-out). Using the “upstairs/downstairs” brain analogy is an incredible way to visually depict the functions of our brain (for kids) and explain how they work together to allow us to problem solve, manage impulse, and regulate.

Parenting isn’t always intuitive and sometimes our instincts lead us astray; as we try to make sense of our kids’ behavior we sometimes fall into thought traps: pathologizing and projecting. Let’s talk about what to do instead, and why you should avoid this tempting tendency.

It’s important for parents to know that feeling grief is okay; in fact, it’s normal. It’s ok to feel mixed emotions (both relief/joy that you have an answer, and extreme uncertainty about what it all means). This lesson discusses some of the common experiences of parents after receiving a new diagnosis pertaining their child’s learning trajectory and/or needs.

Parents are tasked with teaching a ton of skills to their kiddos, from getting dressed, to emotion regulation and everything in between. Sometimes, kids struggle with tasks that require use of executive functioning skills; to us, as parents, this can look like laziness or lack of motivation, which can be frustrating. When we understand how executive functioning impacts how how our kids learn and complete day to day tasks, we’re better positioned to support them in developing systems that meet their needs and set them up for success at home and school (not to mention avoid frustration for us, and them).

After you receive an autism diagnosis you might experience overwhelm; “where do I begin”? I’ve compiled my first 3 steps for working towards empowered parenting after an autism diagnosis, and added a bonus step to ensure you’re taking care of yourself too.

When entering the school system, an identified child (one with a diagnosed need such as ADHD, ASD, Down Syndrome, Communication Disorder, etc.) will be provided with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), usually after grade 1. The IEP is a “roadmap” for how and what the child will be taught that academic year; it outlines goals, and strategies, specifically: modification and accommodations for learning.