Helping Kids Thrive

Welcome to another episode of Helping Kids Thrive. Today's strategy for ensuring our kids flourish centers around the idea of helping them stay organized. We're joined today by a special guest, Emily Waples who is a pediatric occupational therapist. Join the conversation as we talk about why organization is important for our kids, how we can help our kids build the skills required to be successful in staying organized, the importance of including them in the process of establishing schedules and checklists, and Emily gives insight into ages and their corresponding organizational skills. Tune in to hear more from Emily on helping your kids stay organized. Thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to our topic and special guest.  Why organization is important for our kids. The skills required to be successful at being organized. How we can help our kids build their organizational skills.  Tips and recommendations for getting organized for school. Incentives to adhere to organizational checklists and schedules. Including children in the process of establishing schedules and lits. Emily talks about different ages and corresponding organizational skills. Using technology to help with organization.  Closing tips and tricks for getting your kids organized!  

Not all children learn language in the same way. Neurotypical children usually learn through analytic language processing (also known as bottom-up processing), while children with autism who are verbal, are more likely to use gestalt language processing (often referred to as top-down processing). With gestalt language processing, children learn language in chunks or phrases, with single words only appearing at later stages as they learn to break down and recombine these gestalts (or language chunks) to create new, spontaneous utterances. Joining us today to break down the ins and outs of gestalt language processing and how adults can learn to adapt to a child's unique style of learning, is Jesse Ferrell, a Certified Speech Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) who has worked with all kinds of students, including those with autism. In our conversation Jesse expands on gestalts, where children pick them up, and how you can learn to recognize them. She also unpacks the concept of echolalia and how it relates to gestalt language processing, before examining how our understanding of echolalia has shifted in recent years and how we can better support children when we embrace their language processing style. Communication between children and their parents isn't always easy, but sometimes the most important thing is simply showing your child that you want to connect with them. To hear all of Jesse's knowledgeable insights on communication, language, and connection, be sure to tune in today!   Key Points From This Episode: An overview of gestalt language processing, also known as top-down processing. The prevalence of gestalt language processing in children with autism. Analytic language processing and the development you can expect in neurotypical children. How gestalt language processors differ from typical analytic language processors. An explanation of gestalts, also known as language chunks. Examples of how children use gestalts and learning how to recognize it. How to better understand what your child is trying to communicate when they use gestalts. The concept of echolalia and how it relates to gestalt language processing. An overview of the two main types of echolalia: immediate and delayed echolalia. The shift in how echolalia is being viewed, from non-functional to functional. Recognizing the style that a child is using to learn language. Adapting to a child's style of language learning. Signs that can help a parent recognize whether their child is a gestalt processor. How stress can make your child revert to earlier gestalts. What parents can do to support their child's language development.

Being rejected is never easy, and it can be especially soul-crushing for children. How do you, as a parent, ensure that you are there for kids in their time of need, without adding fuel to the fire? To help us get to the bottom of this question, we are joined by an esteemed school psychologist, Dr. Bianca Vasquez. After sharing her deep love for being involved in the education sphere, our guest explains why being excluded hits kids the hardest, how parents can be more empathetic, how to manage your own feelings and emotions, and why your child's age and temperament are important factors to consider. Then, we get a quick lesson on intelligent failure before exploring other ways that you can constructively help and support your kids. We also closely examine how to build resiliency and foster your child's self-worth, how to avoid common parental mistakes when coaching your child through rejection, and why exclusion and failure can actually be the learning tools that your child needs for their own personal growth, plus so much more! Key Points From This Episode: • What parents can do when their child has been excluded from something • Introducing Philadelphian school psychologist, Dr. Bianca Vasquez. • Why being left out is so difficult for kids, and how parents can be more empathetic. • How our own feelings as parents influence our reactions. • Why your child's temperament matters in how you respond to them (and how age fits in). • The impact that the type of event may have on your child's exclusion. • A quick lesson on “intelligent failure.” • Other ways to support and help our kids when they are feeling down about being left out. • How to build resiliency and foster self-worth in your children. • Common mistakes that parents make in their reactions and how to avoid them. • How failure can help your kids learn new things about themselves.

For many kids, getting home after school can be a stressful period. There is so much to process from the school day and if the after-school transition isn't properly managed, a child may feel too overwhelmed for anything other than a meltdown. So today, we're taking a look at some helpful tips for easing after-school transitions.  We are joined by Occupational Therapist, Evangeline Abraham, who explains how she got involved in this work and why today's topic sits particularly close to her heart. Then, Van goes deeper into why after-school transitions are a prominent problem, the factors that make a child susceptible to after-school burnouts, the undeniable value of setting a routine, and why she is a big advocate of trial and error. We also discuss why age and grade are important details to consider, as well as the role that transportation plays in balancing or unsettling your child after school.  Key Points From This Episode: Today we will be sharing some tips and tricks for a successful transition home after school.  Introducing Occupational Therapist, Van Abraham, and how she got involved in this work.  Why the transition home from school is difficult for many kids.  Factors that may influence a child's susceptibility to be unsettled at home after school.  What parents can do to ease that school-home transition for their kids.  How to approach homework and playtime.   Why Van is a huge supporter of trial and error. What to look out for if your kids are older (in high school). The role that transportation plays in after-school transitions.   DotCom Therapy

Guest: Kelly McGuinness, LCSW, CEIS Most of us parent using behavior management techniques that we learned during childhood or have read about in a parenting book (okay, instagram, let's be real ;)) but have you ever stopped to think about if those strategies are actually working or not? Returning to the podcast is licensed clinical social worker, Kelly McGuinness, to challenge our ways of managing childhood behavior.  During this episode, she discusses with Nicole about how "traditional" behavior management might not be the best options and ways that we can look at behavior differently with the children we interact with, wether that's in our homes or in a classroom. Her graceful way of approaching this conversation challenges listeners to challenge their mindsets around behavior and seek out what will really work for their family. Episode Highlights: Behavior defined Behavior as communication Seeking out the root of behaviors Traditional methods and why they might not be working Importance of connection and skill building Considerations when parenting siblings Attention seeking behaviors + solutions Facilitating positive relationships in your family www.dotcomtherapy.com

Guest: Melanie Almada, LMFT

Guest: Dr. Dawn Aerts, AuD Approximately 5% of children struggle with processing auditory input but are never given a formal diagnosis or intervention options that can help. This is because when hearing concerns are expressed, a child is sent to an audiologist for a hearing test. If that test indicates normal hearing, they are sent back to the pediatrician - even though that child still struggles to understand or process auditory input, despite their normal hearing.  In this episode, Nicole is joined by pediatric audiologist, Dr. Dawn Aerts. Dr. Aerts noticed the pattern of children with normal hearing who still struggled with auditory processing and wanted to create a space to help bridge the gap for these families to help them find interventions to help, including her main focus, remote microphone technology. She is a leader in research concerning auditory processing in children with normal hearing and has recently founded her company, Helpful Hearing, to guide families through the process of using remote microphone technology to help with these challenges. Episode Highlights: What is auditory processing? How is auditory processing disorder diagnosed? What are things we can do to help?  

Guest: Stephanie Fisher, MHC, LPC Being in nature has many benefits for our mental health including stress reduction, boosted mood and focus, and connection with community. Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin and Vitamin D, producing positive outcomes for sleep, stress, and mood. In fact, children living in neighborhoods with more green space have a reduced risk of developing several mental health disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.  In this episode, Nicole is joined by licensed professional counselor, Stephanie Fisher, to discuss these benefits and to give practical suggestions for increasing our time in nature.   

Guest: Morgan Johnson, MS, LCSW Ever notice a connection between your physical space and your mood? You're definitely on to something. In fact, research indicates that our physical enviroment can have an impact on our anxiety, stress, mood, and overall mental wellbeing. Even more, this connection affects our kids too!  In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, host, Nicole Pounds, chats with licensed clinical social worker, Morgan Johnson, MS, LCSW about the connection between our mental health and our physical environments.  She shares insight into what the research indicates about the connection between our homes, workplaces, and schools and our mental health and she gives practical suggestions for how we can work to create a space that is healthy, motivating, and life giving. Episode Highlights: How our environment affects our mental health Effects of clutter on our wellbeing The importance of sleep and setting up a sleep friendly environment Applying these principals across environments (home, school, work) The importance of allowing our children to own their own space Want to learn more about how our environment affects our mental health and the importance of stable housing, healthy home enviroments, our communities, and spending time outdoors? Check out our Mental Health Month Resources. Connect with DotCom Therapy.

Guest: Samantha Russell, OTR/L, Pediatric Occupational Therapist Autism affects 1 in 36 children, and about 25-30% of those children are nonspeaking. In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, host and speech language pathologist, Nicole Pounds, M.S. CCC-SLP, is joined by pediatric occupational therapist, Samantha Russell, OTR/L, to discuss ways that parents and schools can support children who have nonverbal autism. Together they share insights from their professional therapy work with children who have nonverbal autism on various considerations with sensory processing, language development, social interaction, stimming, and overall support and inclusion in the classroom and home settings. Episode Highlights: Discussion around the nuance associated with how we talk about Autism Overview of Autism diagnosis as outlined in the DSM-5 Insight into social interactions for a child who is nonverbal Gestalt Language Processing and echolalia Need for holistic care Support for nonverbal autistic children at home Services and therapies available Support for nonverbal autistic children at school Ways parents can advocate for their children in the school setting DotCom Therapy partners with school districts and employers to provide holistic care for children through direct therapy services and asynchronous learning activities accessible via their online learning platform. Click here to learn more about DotCom Therapy.  

Guest: Gena Mann, special needs parent of 4 During this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole is joined by Gena Mann, one of the original co-founders of Wolf+Friends and special needs parent of 4.  Together they discuss the nuances of parenting multiple children including children with autism or medical and sensory needs. They discuss practical solutions to balancing all of the varying needs in their home and ways that they work intentionally to support the sibling experience of their neurotypical children. Episode Highlights: How being a sibling to a disabled child looks different than a typical sibling experience Tips for helping your child understand the needs of their siblings Ways to support and connect with neurotypical siblings The need for outside support for neurotypical siblingss Resources: DotCom Therapy Wolf+Friends Connect with Gena Connect with Nicole  

Guest: Kristina Parro, M.S. CCC-SLP  During this episode, Nicole chats with Kristina Parro, M.S. CCC-SLP, a mom and pediatric speech language pathologist, about speech delay in young children.  Kristina gives an overview of typical communication development and talks through important milestones parents should watch for in order to make sure that theri child's communication is developing as it should.  As she points out in this episode, 50% of late talkers do not catch up on their own, so just waiting to see if they catch up is not always sufficient. But the good news is that we can help! Kristina talks through ways that parents can help their child develop their speech and language skills and gives recommendations for how to pursue more specialized help if needed. Episode Highlights: Typical communication development milestones When should a parent be concerned and what should they do if they are TIPS for parents to improve speech and language development at home Resources: DotCom Therapy Blog

Guest: Matt Maxion, M.S. CCC-SLP During this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole is joined by speech language pathologist, Matt Maxion, M.S. CCC-SLP to discuss how to support children who stutter. As a person who stutters, Matt offers personal insight into the internal experience of stuttering and gives practical suggestions for the best ways to offer support at home and in the classroom.  Episode Highlights: What is stuttering and what causes it? What does it feel like to stutter? How does stuttering impact a person's life? How can a parent support a child who stutters? How can a teacher or therapist support a child who stutters?

Guest: Nicole Pounds, M.S. CCC-SLP Join Nicole for the very first solo episode of Helping Kids Thrive as she shares her experience advocating for her child to receive a medical procedure that he needed despite the team not initially being on board.  She first learned about the connection between sleep and ADHD as a result of a previous episode of Helping Kids Thrive, which prompted her to do more research and begin to advocate for a sleep study for her child, resulting in a diagnosis of sleep apnea and a need for more follow up evaluations. Episode Highlights: Background into Nicole's family Signs & Symptoms they noticed with their son Helping Kids Thrive episode that prompted this need for advocating Advocating for a sleep study & the results Why Nicole believes parents are the best advocates for their children  

Guest: Amanda Unrau, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist ‘Tis the season to be messy!  With the holiday season right around the corner, the kitchen once again becomes the busiest area of our homes. How about considering training little chefs to help you out with all the food preparations? Although cooking might actually be the messiest way of bonding with the kids, it can also be quite fun. It just requires extra patience on the side of the parents.  In this episode, Nicole is joined by fellow Speech Language Pathologist, Amanda Unrau to talk about how to utilize cooking as a tool for our child's development. Amanda shares the benefits of involving your child in cooking, what parents should keep in mind during the process, and the skills that cooking can help develop such as motor and verbal skills.  Learn how to make cooking Fun and Educational, all at the same time!   Episode Highlights: Benefits of involving your children in Cooking  Techniques on how Parents can make cooking Child Friendly  Skills naturally targeted with cooking: Verbal, Motor, and Social Skills Tips for Parents Connecting with the Family  through Food  Variety of activities related to cooking: grocery shopping, listing ingredients, etc.    Connect with Amanda:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-unrau Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Samantha Russell, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist & Olivia Holubeck, MA CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist Looking for some last minute gifts this holiday season?  This week on the podcast, Nicole is joined by occupational therapist, Samantha Russell, OTR/L, and speech language pathologist, Olivia Holubeck, MA CCC-SLP to talk about some of their favorite toys for promoting your child's development. Samantha and Olivia share their top 3 favorites to use during sessions and give insight into how to best use these toys to promote communication skills, sensory exploration, and fine motor development. Check out the complete Wolf+Friends 2022 Official Holiday Gift Guide.

Guest: Stephanie Fisher, MHC, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor Raising children with special needs can be overwhelming and isolating. Parents often feel guilty about the extra support that their family requires so sometimes they try to carry the burden all on their own, believing no one will understand them or no one else is capable. When everything comes crumbling down, doesn't everyone deserve a helping hand? Wolf+Friends' mission is to give chances for communities to grow - where parents and their kids feel safe and accepted. We must understand that building support networks doesn't happen overnight. And in today's episode, I am grateful to have Stephanie Fisher walk us through the types of support system we will need, the importance of a support network, and practical tips to help us identify who we can keep in our inner networks.  As we strive to provide support to our children in their growth, may we realize that we ourselves need to be supported. Nobody deserves to feel isolated. Listen with us and together, we will learn to grow our own support networks.  Episode Highlights: Different types of support system that every parent needs Barriers faced by parents in acquiring the support system they need Ways to overcome barriers to growing your support system The importance of having a support system Additional resources to add to your support system in addition to friends and family Stephanie shares her experience in building a support group for her son Resources Mentioned During This Episode: DotCom Therapy Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Katie Emde, Autism Parent + Disability Advocate Entering a new and unfamiliar world can be challenging. When you're just beginning, it can get lonely and confusing. As a parent of a child with special needs, you need to find the right support group and team to navigate through this uncharted waters.  Join me and Autism Parent, Disability Advocate, and IEP Coach, Katie Emde, as she shares her journey of searching and establishing the right community for her children and their needs. Katie narrates her beginnings of finding the right people to connect with as she journeys through the world of Autism with her son Avery.  In this episode, Katie shares her encounter with the “bleach therapy”, the world of autism from a parent's point of view, tips on how to verify information, and building a team of people that has you and your child's best interest at heart.  Helping kids thrive begins with helping parents find the right and credible guides!  Episode Highlights: Searching for a community  Expanding knowledge on autism  Bleach Therapy; a Medical Risk  The Advocacy: how it started and its main goal of helping families with the same situation, to avoid misinformation  Building a right and strong community for you and your children  Resources Mentioned During This Episode: A Journey for Avery Connect with Katie: Facebook: AJourneyForAvery Instagram: @katieemde Linkt.ree: JourneyforAvery  Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Steven Nava, NCSP, Nationally Certified School Psychologist October is ADHD awareness month. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. According to the CDC, in 2016, 6.1 million children in the US had been diagnosed with ADHD which averages out to be about 9.4% and boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.  In this episode, we are joined by Steven Nava, a school psychologist, as we talk about living with ADHD. We will dive deep into what ADHD looks like, how it is diagnosed, some methods of treatment, and some new research that links ADHD to sleep disorders. Take the opportunity to listen to learn more about how you as a parent can support your child with ADHD.  Episode Highlights: What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Signs and Symptoms of ADHD The process of how a child is diagnosed with ADHD Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) Treatments and medications for ADHD Sleep disorders in patients with ADHD Steven's advice for parents of ADHD children Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Journal of Nature and Science of Sleep: Sleep disorders in patients with ADHD, impact and management challenges Episode 16: Setting Up a Sleep Routine for Your Child Episode 58: Orofacial Myology - What is it and how can it help my child? Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Denise Minyard, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist There are approximately 15,000,000 premature births globally every year. With this statistic, an infant's stay at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is not uncommon.  Having experience working in NICUs, Denise Minyard, a speech language pathologist at DotCom Therapy, reveals the unseen world of preemies. From therapies, developmental delays, transitions from hospital to home, and the aftercare support parents must have for themselves and their babies - this conversation is sure to open your eyes on how a NICU stay affects development later in life. So stay tuned, and get ready to walk with us as we take this journey into understanding the struggles and the long term effects of NICU stays on families, and most importantly, how to be their support system. Episode Highlights: Denise shares some experiences working in the NICU How NICU stay affects parents and child Struggles and therapies premature babies face in the NICU Differences between premature and full term births Aftercare precautions after getting out of NICU Importance of a support group and where to find them Connect with Denise: LinkedIn | @ denise-minyard Resources Mentioned During This Episode: DotCom Therapy Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Kristina Fuentes, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist Having a breakdown in communication with your child can certainly get frustrating, for both the parent and the child. Communication should never be underestimated as just an exchange of words, because it is so much more. In today's episode, Kristina reveals ten effective yet engaging ways to influence your child's language development and help give more opportunities to build communication skills. Her tips focus on ways to enhance communication through routines and activities that you are already doing, so that it doesn't feel like another thing to try to get done in your day. To all the parents who have children struggling with speech and language skills, or are frustrated at communicating with their kids, we see you and we hope this episode provides you with tools to use with your children to make gains in this area of development. Episode Highlights: How words help children enhance their speech Some routines you can do at home daily to improve communication How questions immensely improve thinking abilities Modeling as a powerful tool in language acquisition Using non-verbal cues in making meaning How to be an awesome listener to your kids Connect with Kristina: LinkedIn | kristina-fuentes-slp  Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Dotcom Therapy Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Stacey Lotshaw Special Education Teacher at Stride Many parents are unaware of how to access educational services that are appropriate for their disabled children's needs. Even more challenging is to find remote learning options for disabled children. In this episode with Stacey Lotshaw, we are going to discuss exactly just that. As a special education teacher at Stride Inc, formerly known as K12, Inc., Stacey Lotshaw has had years of experience working with children requiring special education services. She shares with us how she ended up at Stride and what the company offers to children with special needs, not just in the school set-up, but at home as well. Make sure to listen and make remote learning an option for your special needs children who require academic support. Be more involved than ever in your kids' education through Stride! Episode Highlights: Stacey's journey to becoming a special education teacher What Stride is and what it offers How remote learning environment work for disabled children Providing modified regular curriculum in special education Online evaluation process for disabled children Online teletherapy services Expectations from remote learning Deciding if remote learning is for you Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Stride Learning Website | www.stridelearning.com  Connect with Stacey: LinkedIn | Stacey Lotshaw Connect with Wolf+Friends: Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Jesse Ferrell, MHS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist It's undeniable in this day and age that gadgets and screen technology have become a staple in many family households, often used by parents to help entertain their kids. But with the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of virtual learning over the past two years, many parents understandably feel anxious about their kid's use of screen time and may struggle with finding that perfect balance. Jesse Ferrell, Speech Language Pathologist at DotCom Therapy and mother, joins Nicoleme for a much-needed conversation about screen time in the household and the impacts of excessive screen time on our kids. Jesse will also shares realistic strategies parents can make use of to set healthy boundaries around screen time while also incorporating other ways to encourage active learning and development with their kids. Everything is best in moderation - including screen time. So tune in as we tackle how families can be more mindful of their screen time while also making the most of it! Episode Highlights: Effects of excessive screen time and its official recommendations How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed screen time Active screen time vs. passive screen time Recommendations to keep screen time in check What parents can do to make the most of screen time  Jesse's advice for parents about their kid's screen time Connect with Jesse: LinkedIn | Jesse Ferrell Instagram | @the_introvert_slp Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Episode 048: Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Kelly McGuinness, LCSW, CEIS, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Bullying is a stressful and traumatic event for our children to go through in places like school. But when you throw in the internet and its anonymity, this turns our children into relentless targets of bullying. No child ever deserves to be bullied, especially in the safety of their own homes, and yet about 40% of children have experienced cyberbullying at some point, with 30% experiencing it on multiple occasions. Kelly McGuinness, a licensed clinical social worker from DotCom Therapy joins Nicoleme as we discuss how parents can combat cyberbullying and intervene supportively and immediately when we suspect our kids to be victims of cyberbullying. Additionally, we discuss what parents can do to empower them to be confident and speak up for themselves and for other kids who have been victimized.  As our kids enter the world of social media and the internet, it is our responsibility to open up honest conversations about cyberbullying with them and the importance of using the power of our words to help and be kind to others. Make sure to listen in on this really important episode! Episode Highlights: An overview of cyberbullying Behavioral signs of cyberbullying Statistics around cyberbullying and its pervasiveness Tips for parents to talk about cyberbullying with their kids  Why it's important for parents to engage with their kids on social media Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Scholastic Anti-Bullying and Harassment Prevention Resources Stopbullying.gov Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Rachel Heinz, Special Needs Parent + Disability Advocate While it can be challenging to navigate parenthood as a special needs parent, it doesn't mean you have to do it alone. When we get involved together as a community and begin to support one another, we can create more opportunities for awareness and inclusion not just in our homes and schools, but in society as a whole.   In this episode, Nicole is joined by Rachel Heinz, a special needs parent and passionate disability advocate. Combined with her professional background in nonprofit fundraising and development, and her love for her son with special needs, Rachel is building advocacies that step outside of the box to provide resources and tools that help our families and communities support people with disabilities in the best way possible. If you want to help foster positive change, join Nicole and Rachel as they discuss how we can get passionate and involved in advocating for children with special needs with creativity and intention. Episode Highlights: Rachel's personal and professional background Rachel's person-centered plan for her son with Down Syndrome The Changing the Face of Beauty nonprofit and MSU's Bear POWER program Advice for special needs parents who want to start advocating in a new way Why community and relationship-building matters Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Changing the Face of Beauty Missouri State Bear POWER Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Lauren Lowery, Special Needs Parent + Life Coach Traveling with the family can be equal parts exciting and stressful thanks to all the planning and preparation involved. But when you add in a child with special needs, it can become all the more challenging.  In this episode, Nicole is joined by returning guest, Lauren Lowery. As a mother with tons of experience traveling with her kids who both have special needs, she shares her insights and practical solutions to help make planning family trips easier for any parent in a similar situation. Make sure to listen in and learn more about how you can ensure your child's needs are met while on the road and have a family vacation that everyone can enjoy to the fullest! If you found this helpful for your journey as a parent, check out our other episodes here! Episode Highlights: Lauren's background in traveling with her son Lauren's prep system for trips and flying How Lauren and her family travel on location What Lauren looks for in terms of accessibility How Lauren handles feeding her son anytime, anywhere Connect with Lauren: Website | lowerylifecoaching.com Instagram | @lauren_nia_lowery Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Travel Bottle Cleaning Kit TSA Cares Flysafe Harness Uber WAV Connect with Wolf+Friends Website | wolfandfriends.com Download the App | Apple Download the App | Google Instagram | @wolfandfriends.community

Guest: Dr. Robert Jason Grant, Ed.D, Creator of AutPlay Therapy You may have heard about play therapy before and all of the ways it can benefit a child's mental health, but is play therapy still a good choice if your child is neurodivergent or disabled?  In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole talks with Dr. Robert Jason Grant, Ed.D, a licensed mental health professional, registered play therapy supervisor, and the creator of AutPlay Therapy, an integrative family play therapy approach. Dr. Grant has worked with neurodivergent children for the majority of his career and is an accomplished author, speaker, and trainer on neurodiversity affirming practices in play therapy. During this episode, they discuss considerations for neurodivergent children participating in play therapy, terminology around neurodivergency, and tips for parents who are navigating a new diagnosis with their child.  Episode Highlights Intro to Dr. Grant and AutPlay Therapy Considerations for neurodivergent children in play therapy Why should a family consider pursuing play therapy for their child? Terminology surrounding the neurodivergence movement Neurodiversity affirming tips for parents (regardless of need/severity of child's disability) Tips for parents navigating a new diagnosis for their child Resources Mentioned During This Episode AutPlay Therapy Autistic Self Advocacy Network Start Here: A Guide for Parents of Autistic Kids Children's Book: Some Brains By Nelly Thomas Children's Book: Congratulations, You're Autistic! By Katie I Bassiri To connect with Dr. Robert Jason Grant: LinkedIn To stay up to date with Wolf+Friends: Instagram | Website

Guest: Liz Yoder, CFP, Director of Financial Planning  As our children with disabilities grow into adulthood, there are a lot of questions that come up about how to help them achieve their highest levels of independence. Considerations such as health insurance, income, employment, social networks, etc. come into families' minds as they think about how to best plan for the future of their child. During this episode, Nicole is joined by Liz Yoder, CFP, a certified financial planner + the Director of Financial Planning at Planning Across the Spectrum. Liz is passionate about helping individuals and families with disabilities plan for the future.  Episode Highlights: Big considerations for families: Healthcare/health insurance, income, employment Planning Across the Spectrum support for families Timeline for financial considerations Common questions from families about their children's transition into adulthood To learn more about Planning Across the Spectrum visit their website. For more information about getting connected with other parents/caregivers + experts through the Wolf+Friends visit www.wolfandfriends.com.

Guests: Gena Mann & Carissa Tozzi, Co-Founders of Wolf+Friends Connecting with a community is important as a parent. Finding a community that gets it as a parent of a child who has a disability or delay can be challenging. During this episode, Nicole chats with Gena Mann & Carissa Tozzi, co-founders of Wolf+Friends, an online community for caregivers of children with special needs designed to connect parents + experts who "get it." They talk all about the importance of connecting with others walking a similar journey to you AND an exciting annoucement concerning Wolf+Friends and DotCom Therapy. You won't want to miss this episode to learn more about how you can get involved and connect with others who get it.

Guest: Morgan Johnson, MS, LCSW  Anxiety is likely something that you can relate to. We all have feelings of stress and anxiety from time to time. But when does anxiety become something that we need to get help for? And how do we identify anxiety in our children who may or may not have the words to let us know that anxiety, stress, or worry is what they're feeling? In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole sits down with Morgan Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker, to discuss all things anxiety including how to help identify anxious behavior in your child and what to do to help. Epsiode Highlights: The difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder Anxiety symptoms in children vs. adults Anxiety in different settings (home vs. school) Overview of different anxiety disorders How to seek help for your child Supporting your anxious child

Guest: Sandy Dorsey, M.S. CCC-SLP, Founder of Smiles for Speech Have you ever wondered what it's like to parent a child with a disability in another part of the world? In this special episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole sits down with Sandy Dorsey, an international speech language pathologist, global advocate, and the founder of Smiles for Speech, a nonprofit organization on a mission to increase access to information and resources for children with disabilities worldwide. Together they talk about their experiences working with organizations and families across the world to discuss similarities and differences of what the parenting experience looks like based on location, culture, and access to resources.  Episode Highlights Overview of Smiles for Speech and their recent work internationally Similarities and differences in parenting children with disabilities across various countries/cultures Sandy's favorite experience from her work: A mother advocating for her son and families in similar situations

Guest: Mikey Carroll, MS, LPC Do you ever find yourself wondering as a parent how to set expecations for your child? How do we help them reach their full potential, even if that looks different from other children around them? Add in disabilties or delays of any type and it can get even more tricky. Here to chat with Nicole today on the podcast is Mikey Carroll, a Licensed Professional Counselor. Together they explore ways to both accept yourself and your child as you both are and set expectations that are realistic and individualized to your child specifically.  Episode Highlights: The principles of DBT and how they relate to today's conversation Tips for accepting your child (and yourself!) where they are Tips for managing expectations

Guest: Samantha Kauffman, MOT, OTR/L Tummy time is an important building block for neurological and physical development. It supports skills such as fine and gross motor, vision, sensory processing, and more. But if your baby hates tummy time or you're parenting an older child with disabilities, it can be challenging to get in activities that support this development.  During this episode, Nicole chats with occupational therapist and DotCom Therapy Clinical Manager, Samantha Kauffman, MOT, OTR/L, about the importance of tummy time and some activities that you can incorportate with your children.  Episode Highlights: Importance of tummy time for development Tummy time with infants: how much should we do? Importance of tummy time for older children Activities to promote tummy time & prone position in older children

Guest: Amy Schnacker, OTR/L If your child has difficulty with feeding, it is likely that you have heard some common parenting advice associated with feeding children - things like “don't let your kids play with their food, that's disrespectful” or “they'll eat when they're hungry.” While many of these things are true for most children, they are not true for all.  During today's episode, Nicole chats with occupational therapist, Amy Schnacker, OTR/L, to discuss 10 common feeding myths. Amy breaks down the truth behind the way that our kids eat and how we as parents can best support them. Episode Highlights: Myth 1: Eating is the body's #1 priority. Myth 2: Eating is instinctive. Myth 3: Eating is easy. Myth 4: Eating is a 2 step process. Myth 5: Children shouldn't play with their food. Myth 6: If a child is hungry, they will eat. Myth 7: Children only need to eat 3 meals a day. Myth 8: If children wont eat, it's because of an organic problem or a behavioral problem. Myth 9: Certain foods should be eaten at certain times of the day. Myth 10: Mealtime should be a quiet occasion. For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Morgan Johnson, MSW, LCSW Practicing gratitude seems like a really simple concept, but for some reason most of us go through life without making it a regular habit during our days. We often choose to focus on what's going wrong - what needs to be fixed or done - instead of what is going right. During this episode, Nicole sits down with Morgan Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker, to discuss the benefits of practicing gratitude and some practical ways that we can begin to incorporate this into our family rhythms and routines.  Episode highlights: Benefits of practicing gratitude Why it can be challenging to practice Practical ways to incorporate gratitude into our routines Resources: The Science of Happiness (Yale), Gratitude Meditations on Youtube, Gratitude Apps For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Melanie Almada, M.S. LMFT Establishing a growth mindset builds resiliency, perseverance, and an intrinsic sense of worth. These are things that every parent desires for their children, but how can we ensure that our child develops a strong growth mindset instead of becoming fixed in an "I can't" mentality? In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Melanie Almada, chats with Nicole about the importance of helping our children develop a growth mindset and some practical ways to encourage this development.  Episode Highlights Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset Benefits of establishing a growth mindset Ways to encourage growth mindset in children Additional Resource Recommendation: Mindset The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dwek, PhD. For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Elizabeth Soriano, M.A. CCC-SLP Have you considered using a visual schedule at home but turned away feeling overwhelmed with how to get started and the amount of options out there? It may seem impossible with the unpredictability of a home schedule, but in this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, speech language pathologist, Elizabeth Soriano, M.A. CCC-SLP gives practical, realistic tips for using a visual schedule with your child at home. Episode Highlights: Why using a visual schedule can be beneficial Examples of different ways to create a visual schedule Routines that might benefit from a visual schedule Realistic tips for implementing a visual schedule in the midst of a busy home environment What to do if things don't go according to schedule To download visual schedule templates from DotCom Therapy visit the Better Together Resource Library at www.dotcomtherapy.com/community-resources.

Guest: Amy Schnacker, OTR/L The holiday season is full of fun and excitement - lots of time with family and friends, cookie decorating, present wrapping, songs, events, the list goes on and on. And while the holidays are a special time of year, they can also be overwhelming.  In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole speaks with pediatric occupational therapist, Amy Schnacker, OTR/L, about holiday stress and sensory overload in order to help parents better understand how their children may be experiencing the sensory input around them and develop practical strategies to help.  Episode highlights: Considerations of sensory input specifically to the holiday season Proactive solutions to helping prevent sensory overwhelm Tips and tricks to help your child process during a busy event Ways for you as a parent to cope with unexpected changes in plans Connect with Amy on LinkedIn! For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Jackie Wight, MA, LPC, Director of Mental Health Services Helping children navigate through social media is definitely uncharted territory for a lot of parents that grew up before the era of smartphones and tablets. With the rise of popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, it comes to no surprise that it has greatly impacted how children grow up, and how they handle their face-to-face social interactions. From increasing rates of depression and anxiety, it's definitely become a growing concern amongst parents of digital natives. While it feels almost daunting and impossible, in this episode Nicole is joined by Jackie Wight, Director of Mental Health Services at DotCom Therapy, who share important insight into just how social media can affect a child's mental wellbeing, and what can be done to protect kids in this new developing digital space. If you found this helpful for your journey as a parent, check out our other episodes here! Episode Highlights: The data behind social media's impact on mental health Why children are at a particularly vulnerable age Your role as a parent in their digital world Concrete strategies we can apply for our children Additional Resources: The Big Disconnect by Catherine Steiner-Adair Child Mind Institute Common Sense Media Mayo Clinic Research Connect with Jackie: Jackie Wight | LinkedIn

Guest: Debbie Anzelone, Special Education Consultant Have you ever wondered what FAPE is? Or LRE? What is the difference between an accommodation and a modification? IEP meetings can be filled with a lot of education heavy language and terminology which can create a barrier to parents being as involved with the IEP process. During this episode, Nicole is joined by Special Education Consultant, Debbie Anzelone, to answer a listener question about special education terminology. Nicole and Debbie give definitions and context around commonly used terms in an IEP meeting, including examples, to help parents feel more confident as they participate on the IEP team.

Guest: Kay Simon, M.S. CCC-SLP In the US Public School system, the language of instruction is Mainstream American English (MAE), a specific dialect of English. If a child enters the school system that has not previously had exposure to MAE, this transition can be difficult as they add the need to learn another dialect of English to the list of academic concepts that they are expected to master. As a child works to learn and use this new dialect, if a teacher or school district isn't familiar with the student's native English dialect, they may determine that the student is making language or even cognitive errors and refer for a special education evaluation. In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole sits down with Kay Simon, a bidialectal speech language pathologist from DotCom Therapy with experience working with children from various dialectal backgrounds. They chat about what this transition to school looks like for some students and how parents can come alongside their children and school districts to ensure that the appropriate challenges are addressed as their child grows in their education. This podcast is sponsored by DotCom Therapy. To learn more about DotCom Therapy or working with a pediatric speech therapist, occupational therapist, or mental health professional, please visit  www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Adriana Capuano, M.A. CCC-SLP Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) is a communication system that is helpful for children who do not have functional communication. Often we think of this as being for only nonverbal children, but there are actually many different situations that AAC can be used in order to boost effective communication for children. Listen in on this episode of Helping Kids Thrive as Nicole talks with speech language pathologist, Adriana Capuano, about the basics of AAC - what it is, how a team decides what kind of AAC is needed, and how it is used in a school and home setting. She talks at length about best practices for teaching a child to use an AAC system and how we as parents can encourage our children and advocate for them within school and social settings. To learn more about DotCom Therapy or working with a pediatric speech therapist, occupational therapist, or mental health professional, please visit  www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Brya Hanan, M.A., LMFT Positive affirmations is a little bit of a buzz word topic with people posting images of letter boards on their bathrooom or videos of dads and daughters reciting them back and forth. But are there actually benefits to using positive affirmations with our children and if so, how do we do it realistically?  In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole is joined by Brya Hanan, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified family trauma professional to discuss how our words affect our children (for better or for worse).  You will learn how to use positive affirmations with your children (sneak peek: it's not just a set sentence that you have your child repeat), the benefits of using them regularly, and some "dos and don'ts" of what to say. 

Guest: Aimee Buckley, Founder of Study Help, Inc. Does your child struggle with motivation to complete homework tasks after school? Do you find that every evening is a fight in order to get homework accomplished? During this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole is joined by Aimee Buckley, a high school teacher and the founder of Study Help, Inc., an online tutoring platform that connects top quality teachers with students who are looking for a better understanding and academic skills. She shares tips and tricks that parents can use to motivate their children to complete homework and some examples of how to make this learning fun. To learn more about Study Help and how to get your child set up with an academic tutor visit https://study.help/.  To learn more about DotCom Therapy or working with a pediatric speech therapist, occupational therapist, or mental health professional, please visit  www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Kayla Plutschack, OTD, OTR/L Does your child have trouble remembering directions, staying on task, keeping track of their things, or completing projects/routines independently? It could be a difficulty with executive functioning skills. In this episode, Nicole is joined by Kayla Plutschack, the lead occupational therapist at DotCom Therapy for a discussion around executive functioning skills. They discuss the 7 components of executive functioning and how these skills affect a child not only at school, but in every day life. She gives insight into how to recognize these difficulties in your child and increase their independence. If interested in consulting with an occupational therapist for how to assist with your child's executive functioning specifically, visit our website at www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Rebecca Lofthouse, LCSW According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens and according to the World Health Organization, “half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases are undetected and untreated.” As Rebecca mentions during this episode, treatment for mental health conditions is vitally important so, it really is an incredibly important topic for us to be discussing with our teens. Through this conversation today, you will feel empowered as a parent to not only identify mental health concerns with your teenage child, but also have some strategies in your back pocket for how to talk to them about it and support their overall mental wellness. Prevention is the only course of action against suicide, and if we can step in for our children at the first sign of a mental health concern, it not only could save their life in more extreme cases, but will definitely lead to the development of emotional processing and coping skills that will build resilience in our kids as they transition to adulthood.

Guest: Hannah Scotten, M.S. CCC-SLP If you have a child that produces sounds incorrectly, it can be challenging to understand why this is happening. While, we know that parents are not speech therapists (nor should they feel like they need to be), it can be helpful at times to know more about what could be affecting your child's speech. During this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole chats with Hannah Scotten, a speech language pathologist at DotCom Therapy, to provide information about speech sound errors. They talk through the 3 aspects of speech production: articulation, voice, and fluency, and give insight into how these areas affect the way a child is understood. Hannah breaks down speech sound errors and gives examples that a parent might notice. She also provides suggestions for how to help at home. For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Debbie Anzelone, Special Education Consultant If you're a parent new to the special education scene, IEP meetings can be intimidating and the documents can be overwhelming.  In this episode, special education consultant, Debbie Anzelone, speaks with Nicole to provide a parent's guide to IEPs. They discuss what happens in an IEP meeting, how parents can best prepare for an IEP meeting, and what is included in an IEP document. Debbie is recently retired from the public school system where she served in various roles within special education including 10 years as the Supervisor of Special Education Related Services at Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, USA. For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.

Guest: Kristin Davis, M.S. CCC-SLP Do you struggle to help your child learn to read? Are you confused by rules your child is learning at school and knowing what reading level you should be choosing for your child?  During this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole is joined by speech language pathologist, Kristin Davis, to discuss a parent's role in helping their child learn to read. They discuss fun ways to encourage literacy development at home, how to know if books are too easy or too challenging for your child, and the difference between literacy teaching strategies like whole language and phonics based approaches.  For more information about pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health counseling from DotCom Therapy visit www.dotcomtherapy.com.