Helping Kids Thrive
The podcast where each week we bring you expert insight into mental wellness, child development, behavior, attention, and so much more to help your child grow, develop, and thrive.
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088: Helping Your Child Stay Organized
12/14/2023
088: Helping Your Child Stay Organized
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!
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087: Not All Children Learn Language The Same Way
11/30/2023
087: Not All Children Learn Language The Same Way
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.
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086: How Do I Deal With My Child Being Excluded?
10/26/2023
086: How Do I Deal With My Child Being Excluded?
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.
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085: Easing After School Transitions
09/21/2023
085: Easing After School Transitions
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.
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084: Rethinking Behavior Management
07/06/2023
084: Rethinking Behavior Management
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
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083: Empowering Your Child's Sense of Self
06/22/2023
083: Empowering Your Child's Sense of Self
Guest: Melanie Almada, LMFT In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, Nicole, along with licensed marriage and family therapist Melanie Almada, discusses how parents can support their child's sense of identity and self-discovery. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open communication, modeling positive behavior, and being supportive of a child's interests and choices. They also tackle challenging topics like addressing differing viewpoints on matters such as religion, culture, and gender identity, suggesting family therapy as a constructive approach. The episode is a comprehensive guide for parents striving to foster their child's confidence and mental well-being. 00:00 Introduction to Huddle Up and Podcast Overview 00:36 Meet the Hosts: Nicole and Melanie 00:57 Understanding Identity in Children 04:56 Influences on a Child's Identity 08:26 Supporting Your Child's Interests and Choices 11:17 Navigating Parental Challenges and Fears 22:48 Adapting Support as Children Grow 26:13 Handling Controversial Topics and Seeking Support 30:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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082: Auditory Processing & External Microphone Technology
06/15/2023
082: Auditory Processing & External Microphone Technology
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, , 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?
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081: Benefits of Nature for Mental Health
05/25/2023
081: Benefits of Nature for Mental Health
Guest: Stephanie Fisher, MHC, LPC In this episode of Helping Kids Thrive, presented by Huddle Up (formerly Dot Com Therapy), host Nicole, a speech language pathologist and mother of four, speaks with Stephanie Fisher, a licensed professional counselor, EMT, volunteer firefighter, and therapeutic ranch owner. They dive into the profound mental health benefits of nature and animal-assisted therapy. Stephanie shares insights from her therapeutic ranch experience, emphasizing how spending time outdoors can improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance mood. They discuss practical ways for families and educators to incorporate nature into daily routines, highlighting the importance of vitamin D, serotonin, and melatonin. The episode also explores creative, inclusive methods for experiencing nature, from urban ecotherapy and outdoor exercise to bringing nature indoors with plants and aquariums. 00:00 Introduction to Huddle Up and Podcast Overview 00:47 Meet Stephanie Fisher: Licensed Professional Counselor 01:35 The Therapeutic Ranch: Animal-Assisted Therapy 03:21 Benefits of Nature for Mental Health 05:23 The Role of Vitamin D and Sunlight 10:06 Incorporating Nature into Daily Life 18:03 Practical Tips for Parents and Teachers 21:39 Bringing Nature Indoors 24:36 Conclusion: The Profound Impact of Nature
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080: Setting Up Your Environment for Mental Wellness
05/11/2023
080: Setting Up Your Environment for Mental Wellness
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 Connect with .
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079: Supporting Children with Nonverbal Autism
04/27/2023
079: Supporting Children with Nonverbal Autism
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 .
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078: Supporting Siblings of Children with Special Needs
03/30/2023
078: Supporting Siblings of Children with Special Needs
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:
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077: Speech Delay in Toddlers - When Should I Be Concerned?
03/09/2023
077: Speech Delay in Toddlers - When Should I Be Concerned?
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 077Resources:
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076: How to Support Children Who Stutter
02/23/2023
076: How to Support Children Who Stutter
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? Get in touch with .
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075: Parents as Powerful Advocates for Their Kids
02/09/2023
075: Parents as Powerful Advocates for Their Kids
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
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074: Promoting your Child's Development Through Cooking
12/22/2022
074: Promoting your Child's Development Through Cooking
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: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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073: Toy Recommendations from an SLP + OT
12/08/2022
073: Toy Recommendations from an SLP + OT
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 .
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072: Growing Your Support System
11/23/2022
072: Growing Your Support System
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: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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071: My Friends Wanted Me to Cure My Son's Autism with Bleach
11/10/2022
071: My Friends Wanted Me to Cure My Son's Autism with Bleach
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: Connect with Katie: Facebook: Instagram: Linkt.ree: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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070: How is ADHD Related to Sleep?
10/27/2022
070: How is ADHD Related to Sleep?
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: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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069: How a NICU Stay Affects Development Later in Life
10/13/2022
069: How a NICU Stay Affects Development Later in Life
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: Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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068: Ten Ways to Help Your Child's Speech and Language Skills Right Now
09/29/2022
068: Ten Ways to Help Your Child's Speech and Language Skills Right Now
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: Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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067: Remote Schooling for Children with Disabilities
09/15/2022
067: Remote Schooling for Children with Disabilities
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 | Connect with Stacey: Connect with Wolf+Friends:
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066: Realistic Screen Time Tips
09/01/2022
066: Realistic Screen Time Tips
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: Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Episode 048: Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: | Connect with Wolf+Friends
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065: Cyberbullying + How to Help Your Child
08/18/2022
065: Cyberbullying + How to Help Your Child
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: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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064: One Mom's Story with Out-Of-The Box Advocacy
08/04/2022
064: One Mom's Story with Out-Of-The Box Advocacy
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: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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063: Traveling Tips for Special Needs Families
07/21/2022
063: Traveling Tips for Special Needs Families
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 ! 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: Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Connect with Wolf+Friends
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062: Neurodivergence + Play Therapy
06/23/2022
062: Neurodivergence + Play Therapy
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 Children's Book: By Nelly Thomas Children's Book: By Katie I Bassiri To connect with Dr. Robert Jason Grant: To stay up to date with Wolf+Friends: |
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061: Financial + Independence Planning for Special Needs Families
06/09/2022
061: Financial + Independence Planning for Special Needs Families
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 . 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 . For more information about getting connected with other parents/caregivers + experts through the Wolf+Friends visit .
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060: The Importance of Community ft. Wolf+Friends
05/26/2022
060: The Importance of Community ft. Wolf+Friends
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.
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059: Childhood Anxiety
05/12/2022
059: Childhood Anxiety
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 Connect with .
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