Exceptional Parenting Podcast

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes I have loved talking to other professionals in the field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite the fascinating journey! This week I’m looking back to my chat with Alfie Kohn about parenting myths.  There are likely millions of different parenting practices out there. Different authors, coaches, mentors, and experts all laying out strategies, and tactics for “getting kids to behave” Some of the more popular strategies include “ignoring junk behavior” and “praising positive behavior.” Coaches are calling these positive parenting practices, stating that these two strategies will eliminate 98% of all junk behavior, and teach kids to be more calm. In this episode Alfie Kohn dives into the research and practical long term, damaging effects of these two practices. Here, in this episode you’ll learn; *how to switch from a “doing to” to “working with” approach in parenting *why ignoring behavior, sending kids to timeout, or withdrawing attention is damaging long term *how praising behavior creates less intrinsic rewards for kids *the research behind these practices *how most “behaviorist” parenting practices originated and why they aren’t effective for kids in the long run Alfie is an author of 14 books, the one I personally have read and highly recommend is called Unconditional Parenting. All his books, blog articles, and work can be found on alfiekohn.org

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes I have loved talking to other professionals in the field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite the fascinating journey! This week I’m looking back to my chat with Alisha Grogan about supporting your picky eater.  Our guest today, Alisha Grogan from yourkidstable.com shares with us the best tips to support our kids who tend to be particular about what they eat.  Here you'll learn... *why having a positive relationship with food can help expand what a child eats *how our culture promotes picky eating without knowing it, and how to counteract that *one simple change to make in your home to encourage your kids to eat *why conventional strategies to eating (eat everything on your plate, dessert is a reward for finishing food) can actually make a child more picky *how to create a simple routine to promote healthy eating habits *ways to decrease the resistance around food  *redefine your role with getting kids to eat, to know where you should spend your time and energy, and where to let your child take the reins   Connect with Alisha on Facebook  and on Instagram To find out more about Alisha and her full course about picky eating, Click here   and use the code "wendy" for $50 off the full price.  To find out more about our joint course, Sensory Solutions, head here

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes I have loved talking to other professionals in the field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite the fascinating journey! This week I’m looking back to my chat with Natasha Daniels about how to support your anxious child. 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/

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes I have loved talking to other professionals in the field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite the fascinating journey! This week I’m looking back to my chat with Sarah Boyd about building resilience for kids and moms alike. 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

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far!  In this episode, I talk with Vanessa about bedtime routines and getting kids to sleep through the night.  Visit here for full show notes  

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes, I have loved talking to other professionals in the child behavior field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite a fascinating journey!   This week I’m looking back to my chat with Jennifer Magnano about making lasting changes to exceptional behavior. Jennifer is a mom of two miracle kids, who knows what it is like to live daily with exceptional behaviors. In this very honest episode, Jennifer shares the reality of the struggles and joys in raising children with challenging health/emotional/and behavioral differences.   For full show notes head here  

To celebrate the Exceptional Parenting Podcast reaching over 100 episodes we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews so far! Over the past 100 episodes, I have loved talking to other professionals in the field while educating myself in the process. It’s been quite a fascinating journey! This week I’m looking back to my chat with Heather Greutman about how to help your child who struggles with handwriting. For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode103/

In this episode I want to celebrate 100 episodes of this podcast with you.  Great news! I am giving away my sensory workbook that helps you to understand the sensory preferences in your kids, partner and all your loved ones. As well as that, I am giving away over $50 worth of audio training about how to simplify sensory at home and how to address sensory meltdowns. I am giving it away for FREE in celebration of 100 episodes of this podcast. It’s my thank you to you for showing up and listening.  At the end, I share some emotional yet exciting news about the future of the podcast and my business. 2021 will certainly be different so stick around!  For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode102/ You can connect on Instagram   

Have you ever considered play-based therapy?   My guest for today’s episode is occupational therapist Nick Sidwell who owns ‘Ability Innovations’ based in Utah. The clinic specializes in occupational, physical, and speech therapy using play-based techniques.   Today I talk with him about how to help your child enjoy sensory play in a way that doesn’t feel exhausting and in ways that your child isn’t going to fight against it. It’s a practice that I believe really helps children so please take a listen.    For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode101/

Today in the sensory series I will be discussing the visual and auditory senses. The episode starts with the ‘seeing’ sense which doesn’t necessarily mean how well you can see, but more about how well your brain can process the stimulation that comes in through your eyes. This includes bright or dull lights, color, how many visuals you have around you, people or bright designs.  The second sense, being the ‘hearing’ sense is again NOT about how well you can hear but how well your brain can process and tolerate sounds. I want to make it clear that receiving auditory input and creating auditory input are two separate things. If we are in control, we can tolerate the noise a lot better.  For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode100/

Do you know what your sensory preferences are?   On today’s episode, I have a really good friend of mine; Alisha Grogan who specializes in taste and smell.   These are two senses that I feel we wouldn’t necessarily think would interfere with our kid's daily lives, yet they really do, sometimes sparking temper tantrums.    Alisha Grogan is a pediatric occupational therapist who during grad school was immersed in sensory integration which is a very specific type of therapy that helps children with sensory processing difficulties.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode99/

Are you or your child over-sensitive or under-sensitive to touch?    My guest on this episode; Cameron Kleimo returns to the podcast on this episode to talk about the Tactile or ‘touch’ sense.   The Tactile sense covers our entire bodies, the receptors in our skin sends information to our brain to regulate pain, temperature, and vibrations.   We discuss what it means to be over or under-sensitive, how that can show up in a child’s behavior, and how you can spot it in order to be there for your child's needs.    For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode98/

Do you believe your child or student has problems with their executive function? My guest in this special bonus episode is Seth Perler is an executive function coach. We discuss how executive function takes place in the front part of the brain, it is how we execute complex tasks. If you think about every task you’ve achieved in your life, packing a bag for school, signing up for a driving license, creating a podcast; all of these are complex tasks that your brain has had to juggle in order to complete them.  For full show notes head to https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/bonusepisode/ Sign up for Seth's FREE summit Executive Function Summit  

This is the third episode in my sensory series and this one is all about the vestibular system.   Now for years, I was confused by it, I had heard the name, I knew of it but I didn’t understand how it was different to the proprioceptive system. So we’re going to dive deep into it and clarify any confusion you may have about it but for some background; the vestibular system is all about the position of our head in space and how it is affected by the liquid in our ear which brushes up against tiny little hairs. But why do we have it?   This helps our brains to understand where we are in space, it helps us to balance and to judge speed as well as playing a big part in our muscle tone and even helps with cooking or tying our shoelaces. It is so integral to our everyday life yet most of us have no idea we even have it!      For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode97/

My guest on this episode is Heather Greutman whose returning from episode 19 ‘How to Help A Child Who Struggles With Handwriting’. Heather talks with me about proprioception at its basic level is the information you receive from your muscles and your joints. It helps your body to understand when you are stretching, compressing, or contracting a muscle. Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based Occupational Therapy. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies through hands-on activities and on her blog ‘Growing Hands-on Kids’.    For full show notes visit exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode96/

Does background noise affect you so much that you can’t concentrate? Or can you not handle a certain texture in your mouth? If so, did you know that that’s down to your sensory preferences.  This is the start of my sensory series. I get so many questions from you about what sensory processing is, how it affects behavior and how to address it. In each episode in this series I’m going to go deeper into each sense with a different expert in the field to help you understand and normalize sensory processing.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode95/.

Should we ignore bad behavior from our children, or punish it? There are confusing mixed messages out there. My guest Chazz Lewis A.K.A Mr Chazz, has great ways of looking at behavior in a completely different way to help us understand why bad behavior is happening and how we can address it in a more joyful way, strengthening our relationship with our children.     For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode94/  

This episode is all about Dyslexia, something that I haven't covered yet and I encourage you to listen even if you may not have a Dyslexic child. My guest Laura Axtell teaches us that even if our children are not diagnosed, they can have Dyslexic tendencies and the more we can recongnized these tendencies the more we can support them. Laura is an education specialist with Reading Horizons who started her career working with adolescent offenders.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode93/

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?"   In this episode, I answer all these questions and show you  why strong reactions happen why discipline doesn’t work what you can do to support your child so their reactions aren’t so strong.       For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode92/

Cooperation is a huge skill. It’s one involved in  Sibling rivalry Reactive behaviors Making friends Sharing Functioning well in groups etc Without the skill of cooperation, it doesn’t matter which parenting tool/tip/trick we use, those behaviors will continue to surface.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode91/

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!   Find full show notes https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode90/

When it comes to kids and electronics there are a lot of opinions and troubles.    How much is too much? How to get them off without causing meltdowns? Should kids even have screen time at all?   In this episode, Lisa Honold, director of the center for online safety helps answer all those questions and avoid the three biggest mistakes parents make when setting screen time rules.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode89/

We’d all love to be able to tackle parenting without yelling at kids, at some point most of us have tried it…likely it’s a daily struggle. After seeing various “stop yelling at kids forever” challenges, I started feeling like every day I was either a “good mom” or a “bad mom,” depending on if I messed up and yelled or not. Living life thinking I’m either good or bad doesn’t work for me, and it doesn’t have to work for you either. While I’ll never promote yelling at kids, when it happens, I found some surprising truths that help me turn the situation into something positive. Rather than spiraling down the shame track after yelling, I now turn to these ideas that I share here in this podcast.   For full Show Notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode88

“My kid doesn’t have sensory processing disorder or autism, but I wonder if some of this sensory stuff could be part of what she’s dealing with…”. A friend said that to me the other day and it sparked so many questions that Cindy Utzinger answers in this podcast episode.      Here Cindy, occupational therapist, answers some of the most common questions I hear about the link between sensory and behavior….not just for kids with a diagnosis, but for ALL kids.      If you’ve ever wondered if sensory affects your kid, this is the episode to listen to.       Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode87/

When little kids have sensitive emotions, we typically see BIG behaviors. It can be tough to navigate all those big explosions and we wonder if we are supposed to be more patient or more stern with them.    Here you’ll learn how to support your child and their big emotions, without compromising your expectations and boundaries as a parent.     For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode86/

So many of us start motherhood thinking we will be the perfect parent. We have an unrealistic view of what motherhood is supposed to be, so when we find ourselves getting angry, yelling, or threatening our kids, it feels horrible. We feel like a failure. We feel alone, and we feel like we are the only ones who struggle with those things.    Desiree Fortin from “the perfect mom” on Instagram found that by opening up about her mom anger, she’s been able to work through it in such powerful and purposeful ways.    In this raw episode, you’ll hear Desiree talk about her journey from wanting kids so badly, to having them and being faced with postpartum depression, and realizing there was an anger inside of her she never realized existed. She shares so openly here how any parent can work through those big emotions and how doing that for ourselves can also set a powerful example for our kids to do the same. For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode85

We talk a lot about our kids’ big emotions, tantrums, and meltdowns, but what about our own? In a Facebook conversation the other day my friend opened up about her parenting frustrations and said: “please don’t tell me to just take a deep breath”.    I didn’t tell her to take a deep breath, and I won’t tell you to take a deep breath either.    In this episode, you’ll learn the four simple things I do every time I notice big emotions in myself. Lately, I’ve had a LOT of big emotions, so I have had plenty of practice honing in on these habits. What I can say, though, is that they work...so much better than taking a deep breath.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode84

“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. For full show notes head to https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode83

We all know that food can be the cause of our kid's behavior. We KNOW what it looks like for our kids to be hangry! But can other food affect our kid’s behavior too? Absolutely! In the podcast today Mya Metzel, a certified health coach talks about how food affects our kids and how to make super small changes towards better food choices. Full show notes at exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode82

We’ve all heard the buzzwords of “growth mindset” and “resilience” but what do those really mean?   In this episode Alexandra Eidens, from Big Life Journal is diving deep into the science behind growth mindset, why it’s important, and how to help our kids develop it in daily situations.    Alexandra and I share about how we can make small changes to support even our most anxious, fearful, perfectionist kids to learn to have a growth mindset in daily situations. Full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode81    

Getting kids to do chores can be SO frustrating. It feels like we have to nag, yell, remind, or bribe them to do anything, and the process is so miserable, it almost doesn’t feel worth it.    That’s how I felt for so long, but this past year I’ve shifted the way we do chores in our home.    Since then I’ve noticed my kids don’t need to be reminded as often, they whine less, and they actually are doing some things on their own.   It all happened by changing five simple things outlined here in the podcast. For full show notes head to https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode80

Is there anything more difficult than having a whiny kid?   The noise can throw me into a tailspin faster than almost any other behavior.    In this episode, I’m diving straight into how to address whining and complaining because in the past few months I’ve seen HUGE improvements in myself when my kids whine.   For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/home/episode79  

We hear it all the time “living their best life” but what does that really mean and how do we really help kids to live their best lives? Laura Earnshaw of MyHappyMind is on the podcast today helping us to not just say the words, but truly help our kids understand and become their best selves. In this episode you’ll learn; ● How as parents we can retrain our own brains to focus on their character rather than their achievements ● How this builds their self-esteem and resilience ● How to help a child develop a new character trait ● How to decrease sibling rivalry by helping kids understand and celebrate the character differences within a family ● How to help our kids not be defined or bothered by society’s measure of “success” For Full show notes https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/home/episode78

I have changed a lot as a person, and as a parent, in the 15 years, I’ve been married. While I’d absolutely say the change has been for the best, it hasn’t always been easy, especially when it came to explaining things to my husband.    Having been raised in an authoritarian household, he had ideas about discipline, obedience, and his role as a dad. In this episode, my husband is joining us to talk about his perspective of that shift, what I did right...and also things I could’ve done better (hint: I learned SO much from hearing him speak honestly about this topic). I hope you get as much, or more, out it than I did. For full show notes visit https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/home/episode77/

As parents, it’s one thing to work to change our parenting style, but what about our parents? How do we get them to understand? Or maybe not even to understand, but not to interject into what we try so hard to do??   For this episode, I brought on someone special to me, my mom!    She opened up about how parenting evolved for her, and how she feels about her role now as the mom to a mom, and how she supports myself and my siblings in all our different parenting styles. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your parents on board, or how to approach a parent whose supercritical, we lay it all out in this episode. https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/home/episode76/

Little kids with big emotions usually just feels like having kids who have MASSIVE tantrums, lots of tears, and probably a lot of resistance too.    In the heat of the moment, it’s hard to remember that their actions are a result of their emotions. And, let’s face it, when the tantrums are lasting longer more often than most, it’s just draining to even think about doing anything other than yell or try to stop it in its tracks.    But that doesn’t help anyone.    In this episode, you’ll learn what big emotions could look like in your child, why most parenting hacks don’t work in the moment, and what will work. Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode75

Want to yell less at kids? Consider these two things first   The other day I pulled up Pinterest to see what would appear when I searched “how to yell less at kids.” I wasn’t surprised that over 1,000 articles came up, all with catchy titles promising to end the yelling spell once and for all. Each article had something different to try. Some were a little far fetched “when you ask your kid to do something, and they ignore you, wait until they ask you to do something and ignore them” Really??   Because this podcast is all about tangible, no fluff parenting solutions, I wanted to share with you why we yell and why NONE of those parenting tips or hacks will work in the long run. Instead, I give you two things to consider when changing any parenting habit.    If you can put these two ideas into place, I promise you’ll find yourself naturally wanting to yell less at kids, have more patience, and enjoying more time with the kids. All without feeling like you’re forcing it or putting on a show. Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode74  

There’s more than enough parenting advice out there for; how to be more patient, yell less at kids, and transform into the mom who actually loves motherhood. While some of those tips might work for a while, most likely, all that parenting advice won’t last long term because it’s missing one important piece.    That piece is exactly what Nancy DeMaria shares in this episode and is what she wrote her book about “Little Secret, Big Change.” While her parenting advice might seem countercultural, the truth is, it works. In fact, before even meeting Nancy, I experimented and found what she teaches to be so true in my home.    Her secret? How we feel about ourselves and the way we approach our own feelings will drive us to respond in a certain way as a parent. In other words, if we feel like a failure, we will act like a failure. If we feel like a great mom, we will act like a great mom.    Find out how to do this and learn why this is the only parenting advice you’ll need in this episode.   You can find the full show notes here https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode73

This episode is close to my heart as I interview a friend and former student Shira Parnes. She isn’t a parenting expert, behavior expert, or anything of the likes. She’s a mom who works a full-time job, has young kids, and just like most of you- at one point felt like she wasn’t cut out to be the mom her kids needed.    In this interview she shares how she felt about parenting, wanting to be a good parent, but feeling like she was falling short, and not loving it for a while. Then as she shifted her thinking and her perspective, her feelings changed too.    She admits she’s not perfect. But she can confidently say today that she loves being a mom and shares how that shift came about for her. Hint: it didn’t come from mom hacks, parenting tips, or following any 5 step plan. What she shares is as real and honest as it gets and I know you’ll relate to her story.    After you listen to this episode, reach out to me on Instagram and let me know how this helped you. I’m @wendybertagnole over there and I can’t wait to hear from you.    Full show notes available at www.exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode72

We all have an idea of the kind of parent we want to be. Maybe it’s a mom who doesn’t yell or a mom who loves every minute of parenting. In this episode, Alyssa Blask Campbell and I explain why those ideas can be more harmful than good when it comes to helping us be a more positive parent.  Both Alyssa and I have seen things like the “no yell challenge” and all the pressure it puts on parents to essentially “be perfect” even if it is for a short time. Alyssa brings in research and I add personal experiences of why that isn’t a sustainable way to improve our parenting.  What does work? In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of the internal work we do on ourselves as parents, and how that helps us naturally be better parents. You’ll also learn, and hopefully, internalize that we are all human. We all have emotions, and that’s ok! Even as parents it’s ok. All of our emotions are signals for us to dig deeper into why we react, and this episode will help you see how to respond more than react.  How to Create a Successful, No-Stress, Sensory Diet for Kids in 4 Simple Steps Join the FREE online workshop at www.yourkidstable.com/workshop Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode71

What works one day with your kid might not work the next. They tend to do things that seem so unpredictable sometimes. I get it, and it’s very common for sensory kids.    In this episode I help take the “random” out of these reactions by helping you see;   *Why kids might enjoy a sensory activity one day and the next day refuse it. *Why a child might be noisy but yet can’t stand noise. *Why what bothers them one day might not bother them the next day. *How you can support them to work through it.    This episode dives deeper into sensory in a way that most resources don’t, and I hope you love it! Understanding our kids is the key to being able to support them and feel better about how we show up daily with them.    If you want to dive deeper into this process of understanding your sensory kid, go to yourkidstable.com/sensory-solutions to learn more about my full program during the site-wide sale.  Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode70

After watching a Facebook ad claiming there’s “one thing all sensory parents should have.” The ad stated that it could help avoid and minimize meltdowns. I honestly wanted to scream!   While sensory gadgets, tools, toys, and diets have their place and can be so much fun, relying on them to help regulate our kids is a misleading idea for so many reasons.    Here in this episode, you’ll learn; *Three reasons sensory gadgets don’t work. *Why I don’t have any sensory gadgets and don’t feel bad about it. *What I teach my students to use instead, which will work in the long term and is more effective.    If you want to get out of the rut of feeling like your home is a therapy office, or feeling like you’re glued to all the sensory gadgets in your home, this episode is for you and will be a breath of fresh air.   How to Create a Successful, No-Stress, Sensory Diet for Kids in 4 Simple Steps Join the FREE online workshop at www.yourkidstable.com/workshop Full show notes at https://exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode69

"What do I tell my kid about his sensory preferences and why he has to go to therapy?"   This question has come into my DM's in different forms, so many times, so today I wanted to share with you a simple way to explain sensory to the whole family, and help you see why it’s important.    In this episode you'll learn:    How to get others on board with sensory  How to help your child understand sensory Why it's a good thing for everyone to understand sensory And so much more.  Let me know your thoughts as you listen to it. I'd love to hear!   How to Create a Successful, No-Stress, Sensory Diet for Kids in 4 Simple Steps Join the FREE online workshop at www.yourkidstable.com/workshop   Where You Can Find Wendy:    Follow Wendy on Instagram  Follow Wendy on Facebook       Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I would love for you to subscribe so you don’t miss a future episode.  Click here to subscribe on iTunes. If you are enjoying this content, I would be so grateful if you would leave me a review on iTunes as well!  Just head to iTunes and go to “ratings and reviews” and let me know you are enjoying the show!

How do I know if it’s behavior? How do I know if it’s sensory? What do I do when it’s sensory? How can I calm my kid during a meltdown?   Those are some of the most common questions parents ask when they have a sensory kid, because, what works for typical kids will NOT work for our sensory kids. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up.    There are definitely ways we can help our kids to learn how to NOT react to intense, how to express their emotions with words, and how to deal with their big emotions in more productive ways.  That’s what you’ll learn in this episode.   Full show notes available at www.exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode67

Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions in my DM’s about sensory kids. Parents want to know why their kid seems to do things they “know” they shouldn’t do. Why their kid is so intense, and why it feels so much harder to parent them than other kids.    The answers to these questions all make sense when we take a peek through a sensory lens and shine a light on what’s happening in their brains, and get a sense of what it might feel like to be in their shoes.    This episode does all of that and more. So if you’ve ever wondered if your kid will always be that way, and if it’s just a phase, listen in to get a bit more clarity on it.   Full show notes can be found at exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode66

Author, speaker, and mom, Debbie Reber knows what it’s like to have a kid who has the biggest meltdowns, receive regular calls from the school about her kids “behavior” and all the things most of us know so well, too.    In this episode, Debbie shares the shift she created that started decreasing the frustration, the anxiety, and the tears she and her son both felt with all of those struggles.    Debbie has coined the term “differently wired” to explain that kids with or without a diagnosis, who may be developing atypically, don’t have to be seen as “difficult”. She started seeing this shift in herself when she focused on the gifts her son’s brain is naturally wired for, and how she could help him use those to catapult his learning in other areas. In this episode, she shares all of that with us as well.    In this episode you’ll learn; More about how to implement this powerful mindset shift into your life Why that shift can make a huge (and positive)  impact on your child’s development How current social trends can be triggers for us as adults and how to combat those   Find the full show notes at www.exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode65

If there’s one question I get asked over and over again, it’s this “how do I know if my kid is just being bad or if it’s sensory?” There are hundreds of articles on the internet about the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum, the difference between sensory and behavior, and quite frankly, I think all of those articles miss an important point, which I uncover today. Here I’m going to share that with you and clear up any confusion around behavior by simplifying everything else you've heard and showing you how to deal with any behavior you are seeing in your home.

In this episode today you’ll learn all about executive functioning, which sounds like a fancy term, but it if you have a child who struggles with homework, grades, resistance, overwhelm, motivation, procrastination, underachievement, organization, focus, study skills and time management, executive function could be at the core of what they are missing.    Seth Perler, executive function coach talks about how executive function is the root of so many problems that can look like “laziness, defiance, or disorganization.” As we know, behavior is always a sign to look for the deeper root, so if you have a child who struggles in any of these areas, this episode is definitely for you.    Here you’ll learn; The difference between “can’t” and “won’t” when it comes to following rules or keeping up with tasks How to ask better questions to get to the true root of what is holding our kids back How a parent can tell if executive function is the true root of their child’s behaviors How to help your child start to work on executive function skills in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them (or you)   Where to Find Seth:    https://sethperler.com/ You can pre-register for the FREE parent summit here  https://executivefunctionsummit.com/

Knowing how to handle things when our kids don’t “comply” can be really tough. Dr. Heather Maguire, a behavior analyst, brings in the science and the reality to help us all know how to handle defiance a little better.   To help us all figure out ways to respond without yelling or taking away privileges for a year, Heather shared two super simple ways to address defiance in the moment and 5 ways to prevent it before it even happens.    As parents, when we can be proactive and support ourselves and our kids to be and do our best, great things happen. This episode is full of very specific ways to do that.    Resources Mentioned:    Weighted Blanket mentioned in the episode  Harkla.co Use code: “Wendy” for free shipping and 10% off your purchase   Find the full show notes at www.exceptionalparentingpodcast.com/episode62  

The journey of parenting is not easy and looks different for everyone. Knowing how to find joy and courage in the journey is something that Casey O’Roarty, author and podcaster, talks about openly in the most realistic and relatable way I’ve heard.  In this episode, you’ll learn tools about navigating motherhood with joyful courage, AND it is absolutely not sugar-coated. As we both talk about struggles we are both navigating at the moment, we hope you’ll feel understood and not alone.  Overall, this episode is about growing as a parent, acknowledging that life is here for us to learn, grow, and our kids are not ours to shape, but we are being shaped by them if we allow that.  Instagram Joyful Courage Facebook- Live and Love With Joyful Courage Joyful Courage for Parents of Teens  Book  Joyful Courage Book Website http://www.joyfulcourage.com/

“No” It’s such a short word but when it comes flying out of our kid’s mouth, it can trigger a surge of rage, frustration, and so many other feelings.    Which is why so many moms reach out and ask “what should I do when my kid says no?” How does that coincide with positive parenting? Should I hold my ground and make sure they learn never to tell us no? Am I being too lenient if I don’t?    I answer all those questions and more in this episode of the podcast. It’s my goal to help you feel comfortable and confident in the stance you take, so be prepared to dive deep and challenge traditional parenting norms, dig into your own “why” and figure out what is best for you and your child both.    Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:  Harkla Weighted Blanket Harkla.co Use code: “Wendy” for free shipping and 10% off your purchase