Pop Family Podcast

Bonnie's journey through Trimester Four is the focus of today's episode and it is a true testament to her unending strength and resilience! During her pregnancy, Bonnie experienced complications in the form of severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and hip pain that prevented her from walking more than a few metres. But it was after her son Patrick was born (at 37 weeks and 2.5 kilograms) that the real challenge began. Jaundice, a tongue-tie, and power vomiting characterised the first 6 weeks of Bonnie's fourth trimester. Listen to the episode to hear Bonnie candidly share stories from what she describes as the most difficult period of her life, as well as some of the highlights and what kept her going! Her limitless capacity for perseverance is truly inspirational.   Key Points From This Episode: Complications that Bonnie experienced during pregnancy that made her high-risk Latching issues that Pat experienced Managing preeclampsia after giving birth The various factors that made Pat's case a complex one Discoveries that were made at Pat's first IBCLC appointment at two weeks old Challenges that followed Pat's frenectomy Positive changes that began to take place at the 6-week milestone Highlights of Bonnie's antenatal journey Products that Bonnie recommends for new Mums And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Bonnie Hayes Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn Ergobaby Spectra Baby SRC Recovery Leggings Pop Family

Welcome back to the Pop Family Podcast! Today we're covering Heidi's fourth trimester (we'll hear all about Bonnie's fourth trimester in the next episode!). She walks us through her time at the hospital after giving birth and explains how she diagnosed her baby's tongue tie, why the hospital was not helpful with the issue, and the frenectomy she decided on. We also discuss the expectations we have that our bodies will ‘bounce back' after giving birth, the tricky balancing act that is newborn sleep, the highs and lows of breastfeeding, the bonding that contact naps bring, and going back to work after having a baby. Finally, we share some of Heidi's recommendations for Mums in the fourth trimester. Thank you for joining us and don't forget to stay tuned for Part B!   In this episode, we cover: A brief description of what trimester four is Our experiences of how our babies almost synced schedules in the first 12 weeks Heidi walks us through her time in the hospital after giving birth Tongue ties and how hospitals are often not allowed to diagnose them How Heidi handled her baby's tongue tie and decided on a frenectomy Bodywork to release tension in babies The most difficult part of the fourth trimester for Heidi How Heidi figured out that her baby just wanted to be left alone to sleep  Going back to work and hiring a nanny The expectation of bouncing back after giving birth The highlights and challenges of the fourth trimester for Heidi And so much more!   Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn Australian Birth Stories Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn Pop Family

Welcome back to another episode of the Pop Family Podcast! The beautiful Bonnie is back with us again today to share her and Heidi's birth stories from January this year (2022). The accounts of their birthing experiences are quite detailed and may be triggering for some. We begin with Bonnie's journey as she tells us of her pre-labour experience, why she had to be induced, and why her options around her delivery were limited. We learn about her transition into active labour, why she chose to be in her body rather than her head, how she instinctively knew when to start pushing, and what her preferences for delivery were. Heidi shares why she loved having both a private obstetrician and midwife, what ‘stretch and sweeps' means, her dilemma when trying to ascertain whether her contractions were real, and how she entered a fully meditative state. Through Heidi's birthing story we learn how the bath became her happy place, and how she was eventually able to find the resolve to push after an arduous 12-hour labour. This is a truly enlightening episode and, if you'd like to hear the names of the two special bubs, be sure to tune in!    In today's episode, we cover: Back-to-back contractions and being your body rather than your head  How when to start pushing was natural and instinctive for Bonnie    Bonnie's hospital plan and preferences for her delivery Heidi's birth story, starting with her birthing preferences The perks of having a private obstetrician and midwife Heidi's pre- and early labour journey How she got into the zone and found a fully meditative state Finding the resolve to push after 12 hours of active labour The name reveals of Heidi and Bonnie's little bubs And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn Australian Birth Stories Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn Pop Family

Welcome back to the Pop Family Podcast! Today, CEO Heidi is joined by Bonnie once again, this time to discuss the third trimester of their pregnancies. We dive deep into our struggles such as weight gain, self-confidence, swollen ankles, gestational diabetes, and everything in between! We also take a look at the highlights of the third trimester and the special feeling you get when people are so lovely to you as a pregnant woman. Next, we dive into a few things we did during our third trimesters that we'd do again during our future pregnancy journeys. You'll hear all about antenatal classes, lactation consultants, antenatal pumping, and so much more. You don't want to miss this one!   In today's episode, we cover: The struggles of trimester three The highlights of trimester three Things we did during our third trimesters that we'd recommend Becoming familiar with your breasts in preparation for breastfeeding And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn Australian Birth Stories Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn Pop Family

There is so much information available for mothers about the three trimesters during pregnancy, but almost nothing to prepare them for the fourth trimester! Talking to us today about how to handle the demands of a newborn relating to their sleep is nurse, midwife, and certified baby and child sleep consultant, Jude Capewell. Join us to discover the most common red flags when a child isn't sleeping optimally (reliance on external measures and the blame game) and how external elements such as dummies, feeding cycles, motion, and rocking or patting can lead to bad sleep habits. Jude also describes a poor feed-sleep cycle, as well as why it's so damaging to the baby and parents, and she shares some great advice on how to set a good sleep routine early on. Tune in to learn five top tips on how to survive the fourth trimester and so much more in today's fascinating episode!   In this episode, we cover: How motherhood inspired Jude to become a holistic sleep nurse The training involved in becoming a sleep consultant Common red flags Jude notices when a child isn't sleeping optimally How external elements like dummies, feeding, motion or rocking can become bad habits Why the relationship between feeding and sleeping needs to be monitored Five top tips to survive the fourth trimester How to capitalise on a newborn's awake time and know when it's time to put them to sleep Why it's never too early for a good sleep routine And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: The Holistic Sleep Nurse Judith Capewell Email The Holistic Sleep Nurse: Support From Afar Package Red Nose Guidelines Spot Family

Today's guest, Kate, is a freelance content creator, Mum of a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD, and the co-founder of the Read3 Literacy Program (if you're interested in learning more about Read 3, tune into our previous podcast with Robyn, Kate's co-founder!). In today's episode, we have an open-hearted discussion (interspersed with a few tears!) about Kate's journey of dealing with her son's diagnoses. Kate speaks candidly about the guilt and devastation that she felt when she discovered that Elliot had dyslexia, and how the experiences which followed motivated her to make literacy more accessible than it currently is. Kate shares what she wishes she had known earlier, the interventions that have been incredibly helpful for her and her son, and valuable advice for all parents out there who may be going through something similar with their own children.   In today's episode, we cover: The instrumental role that parents should play in their child's therapy journey once they receive a diagnosis What you should and shouldn't expect from your child's school teachers post-diagnosis Why we don't always recommend getting a formal diagnosis from an educational psychologist One of Kate's worst moments after Elliot received his dyslexia diagnosis and how it inspired the work she does at Read3 Why so many of the children Speechies work with seem to hate school Kate shares some of the interventions that have made a huge difference in Elliot's life How Elliot's school has supported him and Kate with regard to his diagnoses The solution that Read3 provides for children with reading and writing difficulties Challenges that children with a dyslexia diagnosis, and their parents, are likely to face And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Spot Family Robyn Monaghan on LinkedIn Read3 Read3 on Instagram Read3 on Facebook Read3 Early Literacy Screener Speld Queensland Western Australian DSF Speld Code Red Dyslexia Network International Dyslexia Associations

When it comes to literacy difficulties, early intervention is everything. Today on the Spot Family Podcast we're joined by one of the best in the business to discuss early literacy difficulties, how to identify them, and some insightful tips on how to treat them! Robyn Monaghan has been a working speech pathologist for almost 40 years and, for the past 20, has focused her practice on assisting young people with dyslexia and other literacy disorders. In this episode, we learn about Read3, Robyn's tier-three intervention program for kids with severe literacy difficulties; what (or rather who) inspired its methods and development, how it's structured, and the range of children it has expanded to assist. Robyn breaks down the three tiers of intervention and lists the processing skills targeted by the tier three approach. We find out what red flags to look out for in terms of early literacy difficulties in young children and Robyn shares her top tips for parents of struggling readers! Tune in for this thorough and assuring conversation on a topic close to all of our hearts.   In this episode, we cover: The inspiration behind the Read3 methods for children with severe literacy difficulties Why literacy is so crucial and the challenges people with reading difficulties face How children with literacy difficulties are being left behind, and the preventative interventions Heidi and Robyn hope will be incorporated into schools Signs of early literacy difficulties to look out for in young children The three tiers of intervention The processing skills that the tier three intervention approach targets When parents should seek help for their children Robyn's tips for parents of struggling readers Why early intervention is critical! All about the Read3 program: who it's written for, its structure, the resources it consists of, and how to access it And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Spot Family Robyn Monaghan on LinkedIn Read3 Read3 on Instagram Read3 on Facebook Lindamood-Bell Maryanne Wolf RAVE-O

Everyone's pregnancy journey is different, with its own unique challenges and highlights. In this episode of the Spot Family Podcast, resident speechies Bonnie and Heidi recap their respective experiences of trimester two! We hear about Bonnie's struggle with chronic pelvic pain and Heidi's seemingly everlasting food aversion, and how they managed these challenges. Our hosts fill us in on the immense value they found in attending alternative birthing courses with their partners and why they walked out feeling calmer and more empowered. We learn the importance of maintaining your strength through exercise, however gentle, and how SRC recovery shorts may prove to be an absolute game-changer both during pregnancy and post-partum! Join us for this hyper-real conversation which is jam-packed with pregnancy and parenting resource recommendations and experience-based advice on what to do to ease yourself into your second trimester. You're not alone on this journey and we're here to help you feel just a little bit more prepared for the miracle coming your way!   In this episode, we cover:  The struggles and highlights of trimester two How Bonnie managed her chronic pelvic pain Heidi's food aversion and her recommendations for those struggling The value that Bonnie and Heidi found in attending alternative birthing courses with their partners What worked for Bonnie and Heidi in trimester two How the ladies are respectively maintaining their strength through various forms of exercise Why it's important to establish healthy habits and limits in the second trimester Resources Bonnie and Heidi recommend for parents-to-be And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Spot Family Spot Family on Instagram Australian Birth Stories Podcast Kick Pregnancy Podcast Hello, Bump Podcast Steph Claire Smith on Instagram Kic Pod Holistic Lactation on Instagram The Holistic Sleep Nurse on Instagram The Holistic Psychologist on Instagram Midwife Lauretta on Instagram

Hyperactivity, endless energy, incessant speaking, and impulsivity... These are some common signs of classic ADHD in little ones that many of us may recognise. Today on the Spot Family Podcast we're speaking to Olwen Forker from Backchat Speech Pathology in Brisbane, who's bringing her extensive ADHD expertise to the conversation with a particular focus on awareness around inattentive ADHD markers. Olwen's three children each have ADHD as part of their neurodevelopmental profile and today she shares her journey as a mother and Speech Pathologist who not only specialises but lives her work with neurodiverse little ones. Hear all the ways that classic versus inattentive ADHD presents, the various challenges experienced in executive functioning, and how the Backchat clinic works as an invaluable resource for parents, paediatricians, OTs, and GPs. This episode covers everything you need to know about ADHD, so if you're a parent whose gut instinct is telling you something's up, a therapist or teacher who wants to expand your knowledge, or you are just interested in this increasingly prevalent diagnosis, tune in now!   In this episode, we cover: Hear how early diagnosis changes lives Olwen shares the ways that inattentive type ADHD presents in kids About play-led education and how neurodivergent children have specific educational needs The difference between ADHD and the old term ADD The need for teachers to be educated about ADHD Some examples of exercise-driven routines at schools, for teens and littlies How schooling without sensory breaks is contributing to the mental health crisis What red flags therapists should look for; behavioral observations outweigh the CELF score Why paediatricians, OTs, psychiatrists, and even speechies bring their kids to the clinic! Who to go to first if you recognize the signs, and some great questions to ask a therapist And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Olwen Forker on LinkedIn BackChat Speech Pathology BackChat Speech Pathology on Facebook BackChat Speech Pathology on Instagram Maggie Dent Martha Burns Little Birdie Books Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing Program Pearson Assessments: CELF-5 SFP Episode 14: Talk, Read, Play, Succeed with Little Birdie Books SFP Episode 2: What is Working Memory? With Dr Tracy Packiam Alloway Spot Family

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Spot Family Podcast!   Today is the next instalment in our series on early child development and pregnancy! We discuss how each pregnancy is different, what we expected versus the reality of what our bodies were asking for, and some ways each of our lives have improved over the last few months.   Bonnie shares a very personal scare that happened in her first few weeks, and Heidi gets honest about how her work life had to change earlier than realized (for the better).   You'll also hear some top tips and tricks for surviving some of the more uncomfortable physical symptoms, as well as some recommendations for some (other) excellent podcasts to support you.   From the 12-week rule of secrecy to big boobs and nausea, this episode touches on all the things that make this time so scary, and wonderful! If you're looking for real and honest reflections on all the highs and lows of trimester one, tune in now to hear all this and more!   In this episode, we cover: Anxiety and mental health struggles in our pregnancies Bonnie shares the stressful story of an early bleed that looked like a miscarriage Dealing with the physical rollercoaster: nausea, fatigue, migraines, and food aversion How Heidi's highly active pre-pregnancy life had to change, for the better How much the preparation in trimester zero helped support their first trimester The importance of having a great support network And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Birth, Baby & Beyond The Kick Pregnancy Podcast Hello Bump Beyond the Bump Spot Family

There are times where traditional sensory feeding therapy is ineffective and it is in these cases where a more holistic, environmental approach might be taken. Here at Spot, we firmly believe that preventative or environmental measures are the most important step in making a difference to your child's oral development journey. We are so grateful to welcome Melanie Potock back onto the show to continue the conversation about how the environment impacts development that we began in Episode 16! In today's conversation, we chat about what to do and what to avoid at certain ages and stages in your child's development, starting right from birth. We get into the subjects of dummies, bottles, teether toys, and utensils, hearing Melanie's recommendations on the right shapes and sizes, appropriate phases for their use, benefits for development, and a whole lot more! Melanie also covers the subject of solid foods, how and when to introduce these to your child, and which foods to avoid. On top of all this, Melanie has also created a ton of resources for parents who would like to learn more about the topics covered today, so be sure to tune in to catch them all!   In this episode, we cover: The best dummy to use for children to develop the correct facial muscles and tongue position When to wean a baby off a dummy from day and nighttime use Benefits of a cylindrical pacifier and how to help a baby get used to sucking one Practicing responsive feeding and which types of solids to introduce into a baby's diet first Different baby-led weaning methods Soft foods that are dangerous to consume and how to chop them to make them safer When to wean a child off a bottle so that they develop a mature swallowing pattern Which kinds of utensils to use and why Melanie recommends a ‘dipper' at first And so much more! Links mentioned in today's episode: Melanie Potock Melanie Potock on Twitter Responsive Feeding ‘Step Away from the Sippy Cup!' Melanie Potock's Free Toolbox ‘The Great Pouch Debate' Spot Family

Thanks for tuning in to the Spot Family Podcast! Today we have the first in a series of special episodes on early, early, early child development. These episodes will focus on two of the Spot team members' unique journeys towards motherhood with over ten years of experience working as child development professionals.    Tune in to our conversation to hear the changes both Bonnie and Heidi implemented during Trimester Zero, leading up to conceiving their babies. We chat about how reading the Dental Diet changed Bonnie and her partner's approach to nutrition, why low toxicity is important and how Bonnie and Heidi implement this in their homes.    You'll also hear five tips for the preconception period for you and your partner, including paying attention to nutrition and stress in the body, the role of oral health, and more. Join us to hear all this and more!    In today's episode, we'll cover:  How Bonnie and Heidi met  The Dental Diet's role in changing Bonnie and her partner's approach to nutrition  What Bonnie does to include natural healthcare and home products in her life  How Bonnie first found out about her pregnancy  Understanding that child development starts before conception  Why you should pay attention to nutrition and stress in the body  The role of oral health and why it must be optimal before conception  And so much more!  Links mentioned in today's episode:  Low Tox Life  The Dental Diet  Spot Family

Despite what ads and movies would have us believe, mealtime with a young one can be a source of anxiety for many parents, particularly if that child is a picky eater. Today, we chat to international speaker, author, therapist, and mother Melanie Potock, who brings her blend of vast experience and practical therapy to help us manage this common issue. 'Coach Mel' talks us through everything on this subject - from preventative action to common causes and patterns that might be impacting your little one. She also shares some valuable resources that parents can access right now if you have a fussy eater.   In today's episode, we'll cover: Coach Mel's training in orofacial myology and discussing trans-disciplinary treatment The spectrum of fussy or picky eaters and when it becomes a problem Some preventative strategies, starting when the child is still in the womb Tons of free resources that you can download to start preventing picky eating How a tongue tie can impact your child's eating habits Honing in on anxiety and avoidance patterns and how we might be enabling the problem The relationship between fussy eating and speech development Melanie's top five tips for supporting parents who already have a fussy eater And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Spot Family My Munch Bug Melanie Potock on Twitter Melanie Potock on LinkedIn Melanie Potock on Instagram Melanie Potock on Facebook Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater Responsive Feeding  Adventures in Veggieland  The SOS Approach

This week on the Spot Family podcast, we get together with Danielle Copplin to learn more about educational and developmental psychology. In our conversation with Danielle, we discuss her role in diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders like dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD, to name a few. We delve into how a formal diagnosis can help families seek out and access the support they need and why parents shouldn't be nervous about taking their child to see a developmental or educational psychologist. We also discuss how speech pathologists and developmental and educational psychologists can work in tandem to diagnose and treat children. Join us today for an informative and inspiring conversation on lifelong learning, the joy that comes from helping families and so much more!   In today's episode, we'll cover: Educational psychology and how it differs from traditional psychology Danielle's role in diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders like dyslexia or dysgraphia Some of the tests that Danielle uses to diagnose or treat learning disabilities How speech pathologists and educational and developmental psychologists can work in tandem to treat and diagnose children with learning disabilities Some of the disorders that Danielle can diagnose as an educational and developmental psychologist, like autism spectrum disorder and ADHD Why a formal diagnosis is important for families to seek and access support How a diagnosis can potentially help families with funding and financial support And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Danielle Copplin The Cerebral Palsy League Life Without Barriers NDIS SPELD Scope Psychology Services Australia Scope Psychology Services Australia on Facebook Scope Psychology Services Australia on Instagram Spot

Janice Zee from Little Birdie Books joins us on the Spot Family Podcast today to talk about reading with children, how to deeply engage the important parts of a child's brain, the philosophy at her company, and so much more! We get to hear from Janice about the research that informs and underpins all the work at Little Birdie Books, and she also shares some basic information on how parents can maximize the impact of reading time with their kids.   In today's episode, we'll cover: Myths around how to read to children Intentional targeting of language; avoiding hit and miss strategies  What 'talk, read, play, succeed' really means  Practical applications of Little Birdie Books material Five actionable tips improving language development  Five amazing book recommendations for parents And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Download Janice's top 5 book recommendations here:https://spot.family/podcasts/child-language-development/ Find Janice and Little Birdie Books here:LinkedIn Little Birdie Books website Little Birdie Books on Instagram Little Birdie Books on FacebookAdditional links: Dyslexia Support Australia on Facebook Where Is the Green Sheep? The Hanen Center 2018 National Early Literacy Panel Finding Our Heart NAIDOC Week We Are All People

Fifteen years ago, when Dr David McIntosh was in the process of becoming a paediatric ENT, a study came out that showed how common it is for sleep-disordered breathing pathologies to be misdiagnosed as having ADHD. This is one of the many ways in which children suffer negative impacts of poor quality sleep. Others include detrimental impacts on cognitive function and cardiovascular health. If you suspect that your child, or any children you know, might be suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, David's book, Snored to Death, is an invaluable resource that will equip you with more information than most medical professionals could give you on the subject! Be sure to check it out below.   In today's episode, we'll cover: Why children are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of sleep-disordered breathing What MRI images reveal about the brains of children who have sleep-disordered breathing pathologies Cognitive functions that are impaired in children with sleep-disordered breathing How sleep-disordered breathing impacts the cardiovascular system of children Ways to treat sleep-disordered breathing Why an ENT should be the first point of call for sleep-disordered breathing pathologies And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Download your own ENT Checklist from the Spot Family website here: https://spot.family/podcasts/sleep-disordered-breathing-part-2/ Grab a copy of Dr McIntosh's book Snored to Death here: Amazon link

A lack of sleep impacts our concentration, behaviour, emotions, energy levels and ability to learn, and it appears that children suffer more than adults. However, until quite recently, this vital activity was largely neglected by the medical profession. Our guest today, Dr David McIntosh, is a paediatric ENT who has centred his practice around improving the way children breathe at night in order to alleviate the range of potential adverse outcomes that can arise as a result of sleep-disordered breathing.   In today's episode, we'll cover: What sleep-disordered breathing is What parents should look out for while their children are asleep The three different types of airway obstruction Signs of potential airway obstruction Some of the most common causes of breathing problems in children Correlations between anxiety and sleep-disordered breathing And so much more!   Links mentioned in today's episode: Download your own ENT Checklist from the Spot Family website here: https://spot.family/podcasts/sleep-disordered-breathing-part-1/

Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds. Simple as that. It is the basis for reading and spelling, and unfortunately, not enough children in Australia are getting the correct phonics instruction in their early years, making literacy acquisition difficult. Today we talk about; what phonics are, the role phonics play in learning to read and spell, and in the wider acquisition of “literacy”, Alison gives us some of her favorite phonics activities, we talk about the role that phonics can play in teaching children with dyslexia and literacy difficulties how to read and spell, AND we discuss how Australian schools are using phonics already, and possibly ways for schools wanting to improve their approach to reading, spelling, and overall literacy. Find Alison HERE> https://www.soundality.com.au/

Make sure you listen to Episode 9 BEFORE this episode. Today in episode 10, we are discussing the possible solutions to tongue tie. There is the choice to do nothing, and occasionally when a tongue tie is not having a functional impact on the patient, this is an option. Today we also discuss frenectomy, frenotomy, and the different types of surgical procedures that can be performed on tongue ties, and whether anaesthetic is required. We discuss the impact of surgery, and the pros and cons. We discuss orofacial myology, and the impact of this important therapy to prepare and rehabilitate tongue before and after surgery. We let you know how to find out your own information on tongue tie (even though this is really tricky), and Dr Jones gives her personal advice to those with children who have tongue-tie. Find her website HERE.

Tongue tie is a controversial topic. Many health professionals like to dance around the subject, and some choose to ignore it entirely. For some health professionals, such as our therapists at Spot, looking out for tongue tie and the potential impacts, is part of our daily job. We believe that there is more than enough evidence to at least be sharing all that we can with our clients. It is up to you, the patient, the parent, the client... to decide whether you act on treating a tongue tie or not. As someone who has both personally and professionally seen the impacts of tongue tie on various stages of facial development, speech, swallowing, breathing, eating, and life… I think you all deserve to hear this. Before we go any further, this episode is brought to you by our smarty pants challenge! Head to our website spot.family/podcasts and click on episode 9 to sign up! It's a 6 day challenge for school-aged kids. They'll receive a free speech pathology sessions into their inbox daily, for 6 days! Perfect for homeschooling, school holidays, and extra learning opportunities at home.  

In this episode I chat to Joy McClymont. Joy is a mother of 4 who runs her virtual fitness company from an isolated cattle & sheep station in western Queensland. Joy homeschools her kids, runs a business, keeps fit, helps out on the station and manages to find that “me-time” as often as she can- to lead a balanced life... in isolation! We've all been struggling over the past few weeks with adjusting to isolation, and many of you will be adjusting to schooling at home. Joy has given us tons of advice on ALL of the above- and personally, since recording, I've already implemented some of her advice. Thanks https://offthetracktraining.com.au/ This episode is 100% relevant to family life right now, and is going to be relevant for working mothers and homeschooling families well into the future. Today's episode is brought to you by our SMARTY PANTS CHALLENGE. This is a series of 6 learning challenges, perfect for primary-schoolers, that drop into your inbox every day, for 6 days. Head to our website: https://spot.family/podcasts/ and click on Episode 8 to sign up! Also, PLEASE subscribe to the Spot Family Podcast on whatever app you are listening on, I would really appreciate it!

If you are a human, you have language skills, and they could potentially be having a pretty big impact on your life. In episode 7 Speech Pathologist Heidi Begg talks about what language is. Why language skills play such an important role in literacy, learning, behaviour and mental health. Also, it's important to know when listening to this episode that language skills don't just affect kids. You absolutely cannot grow out of having language difficulties. If you know a child with language difficulties, they will become an adult with language difficulties. These difficulties morph and manifest as we get older and learn better coping and compensatory strategies. Whilst these strategies are good, they are not a great long term solution to the problem. I am SO EXCITED that today's episode is brought to you all by our new Smarty Pants Challenge! This is a series of video challenges, created by Spot speech pathologists, for kids. Just go to our website, spot.family/podcasts and click on episode 7 to sign up for the smarty pants challenge!

In Episode 5 Zohara Nguyen and I talked about thumb sucking and oral habits. We learned what oral habits are, how to identify them, and the IMPACT oral habits can have on development and function. In this episode, we chat to Zohara about how to manage and treat oral habits, how to fix them, and how parents can prevent them before they even start happening! We discuss the guilt that parents might feel when their child has an oral habit or suck their thumb, and give advice to parents in this situation. This episode comes with a FREE downloadable PDF all about oral habits and thumb sucking. Go to www.spot.family/podcasts to get your copy! You can find a link to the book Zohara talks about on this episode here.

"Thumb sucking” might have a big name, but the more technical term for sticking your fingers in your mouth? Is “oral habit”. Thumbs aren't the only things that get put into your mouth, or your kids mouth, on a regular basis. At this crucial time that we're developing this podcast, Corona virus is rapidly spreading around the world. It's a really appropriate time to be looking at oral habits, and not only how they can impact on facial growth and development, but basic hygiene as well. Having your fingers in your mouth spreads germs, and we should try to avoid it in ourselves, and in our children, as much as possible. Orofacial Myology is a field of study, or type of research that looks closely at the causes of oral habits, why they occur, and the impact that oral habits can have on the face, the mouth, and function. Orofacial Myology is integral in the diagnosis, and treatment of oral habits, and part one of this series will deep dive into all of these things.  

Quick and fast - this episode is about identifying the red flags of a “late talker”, and what speech and language milestones your child should be hitting before the age of 4. We discuss the impact of being a late talker, as well as when to seek support, and what assessment and therapy looks like for late talkers. Before we get into that, today's episode is brought to you by our amazing and FREE red flags checklist. This is a tick & flick resource that parents, teachers and professionals can use to identify red flags in children from infancy, up to high school! Head to our website: spot.family/podcasts/ to get your hands on this freebie! Also, please hit subscribe on whatever podcast app you are listening on - I would really appreciate it!

The common lisp. We all probably know someone with one. So, is it really a big deal? How do we identify them, and how do we fix them? Before we get into that, today's episode is brought to you by our amazing and FREE red flags checklist. This is a tick & flick resource that parents, teachers and professionals can use to identify red flags in children from infancy, up to high school! Head to our website: spot.family/podcasts/ to get your hands on this freebie! Also, please hit subscribe on whatever podcast app you are listening on - as that means more of the podcast universe will hear this episode!

  As a Speech Pathologist who has been working in the area literacy and learning difficulties for many years, “WORKING MEMORY” is a term that comes up often. Not only does it come up often, but I feel that it has a HUGE impact on not only our ability to learn, but on our entire lives. This stems from my personal experiences with working memory, and the experience of doing long-therapy with children and adults who have working memory difficulties. Working Memory predicts academic success from kindergarten to university and is linked to learning in those with ADHD, dyslexia, and autism.This essentially means, that the smartest person in the classroom, is not always getting the best marks. I don't know about you - but this little nugget of information made me feel pretty good! Before we get into that, today's episode is brought to you by our amazing and FREE red flags checklist. This is a tick & flick resource that parents, teachers and professionals can use to identify red flags in children from infancy, up to high school! We include red flags for working memory in this resource, so head to our website: spot.family/podcasts/ to get your hands on this freebie! Also, please hit subscribe on whatever podcast app you are listening on - as that means more of the podcast universe will hear this episode! Dr Tracy Alloway's information (including books, Ted talks & research!) can be found here: https://tracyalloway.com/

Growing up between Bollon & Cunnamulla, there weren't many shops. Forget shops, there wasn't a hospital. We had an amazing bush nurse about 1 hour down the road, and the closest hospital was 2 hours away. In this hospital however, you didn't find any allied health professionals that provide therapy to little kids with disabilities. My mother tells a story of once driving to Toowoomba, over a 12 hour round trip, to visit a Speech Pathologist. This therapist was unable to fathom how “advanced” my brother Jack was. He was a cute little boy with Down Syndrome who had amazing manners and was hitting his speech and language milestones. Shocking. Unfortunately, mum wasn't impressed with the session and decided that the 12 hour trip wasn't going to be worth it in the future. What a shame that this was her only experience, and a 12 hour round-trip was her only choice.   Becoming a Speech Pathologist was certainly a decision that stemmed from growing up with Jack. Starting a telehealth company? Well that was purely a copy of my childhood schooling, via distance education. We used to have classes, recorder lessons and even choir! Over the UHF radio. If we could go to school over the UHF radio, surely you can do speech therapy over skype, right?   When I was a new graduate speech pathologist, home was a property 80 km from Goondiwindi. I was instructing equestrian at my local pony club, when the mums would ask I would move home to be their speech pathologist. I thought… I can do this from anywhere!   My boss at the time was an amazing woman - Kate Broderick from Spot Therapy Hub in Sydney. Kate helped me launch SPOT Rural - our original telehealth company, and my baby. After 2 years of working in Sydney and running SPOT Rural on the side, my sister had a baby and I thought it was time to head back home. So I sadly parted ways with Kate, and took Spot Rural with me back to western Qld. I wasn't sure where we were going (SPOT Rural and I!), but I was glad to be heading back out west.   After working for 9 months at Qld Health Roma as the paediatric speech pathologist and general speechie in Roma and surrounding towns, I decided that I'd seen enough. Enough of the lack of quality services in the bush, enough of the waiting lists, and enough of the sheer battle that families have to go through out there to access A service, let alone a GOOD or GREAT service. After one of many very passionate, teary phone calls to my dad, I decided to quit my well paid, comfortable and challenging government job - and go out on my own… with 8 weekly clients and a breath of fresh air!    Best decision that I ever made. This was April 2018.   The next move was to Brisbane, as the internet was superior and there were Speech Pathologists' a-plenty! I was going to build this online empire and I needed to be well positioned for it. Baby steps though, the first official SPOT Rural graduated from a step-ladder in my sisters spare room, to the spare room of my Brisbane sharehouse. And it was heaven.   By January 2019 we had moved the Head Quarters (HQ) to my new home with now fiance, Michael (thanks Mike!!) and we employed our very first full time Speech Pathologist, Taylor. Throughout last year we continued to employ a full time speechie every 2-3 months, and I'm out of breath just thinking about how much of a whirl-wind that was! By November our little cottage was bursting at the seams, even with most of that staff working 3 days or full time from home. It was time to take the leap into an office, and I only inspected one.   We've been here (in Murarrie, Brisbane) since December 2019 and holy moly what a whirl-wind it has been! We decided to re-brand, launching a new website, a new podcast, changing the technology we use for our service… and pretty much just running around like wild women GETTING.IT.DONE.   The re-brand journey has been a tough one for me (personally). This company was founded to support rural and remote Australian families, and THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. What has changed, however, is that there are other families who need our help too; families who don't live in remote areas. They felt like they couldn't access our service because of our name. It's wild, but it's true… so we decided to simplify, and re- brand, to “Spot”.   www.spot.family is our website and is SOOOOO relevant to what we do. Why? We don't just work with individuals, we work with the ENTIRE FAMILY to improve outcomes and reach their goals. Now, family can be their actual family, or their school family (teachers and TA's) or their hospital family (nurses and AHA's). The messaging is clear - we focus on working with you AND your family to make sure that you reach your goals!   So now that you've heard our story…. I guess you might think, what's next? SAME HERE - I'm always cooking up exciting things for our team to sink our teeth into, and we have some great things planned for the future. It feels like yesterday that I was working from the spare room in my sisters house, from a step-ladder, with my one-year-old nephew breaking down the door at a strong crawl. I am so, so proud of Spot, how far we have come, and where we are going. For a business that I was told “would never work” - it seems to be working, for many Australian's and beyond!