Brain First Parenting with Eileen Devine

SUMMARY - This podcast helps parents think through the personal and sometimes difficult question of when they should share their child's diagnosis with others. TAKEAWAYS: There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to making decisions about when to disclose to others about your child's diagnosis or brain-based difference While it is important to consider what the impact will be if you do decide to...

SUMMARY - This podcast dives into what resilience is and why it's essential for parents of kids with challenging behavioral symptoms to not only understand what it is, but steps they can take to build it each day. TAKEAWAYS: It is imperative as parents of complex kids with intense needs that you understand what it is and how to build it each day. Resilience is what allows us to move through diffic...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen addresses 5 common misconceptions parents and providers have about what it means to parent and support kids from a Brain First lens. TAKEAWAYS: Here are the 5 misconceptions that Eileen addresses in this episode. With each misconception, she breaks down why it is a misconception and helps listeners deepen their understanding even further about what it means to par...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen dives into how to unlock your child's ability to learn and grow. This is a high priority for any parent, and when there is evidence that it's going as expected, there is no stress or concern. But when you have a child or teen who is not learning, growing, and maturing in the ways you expected, it can become a huge area of concern and strain. This episode breaks do...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen explores a very specific defensive behavioral symptom that can be highly triggering for parents and providers alike: inappropriate or excessive laughter and silliness. Listen in as she helps reframe this behavior, moving from a behavioral lens to a Brain First lens. TAKEAWAYS: Excessive laughter or inappropriate laughter is a reflection of a fragile nervous system...

SUMMARY - It is a common frustration among parents of kids with neurobehavioral differences that they feel like they cannot have even simple conversations with their children. Why is this such a common frustration and struggle? You guessed it-- it has to do with the brain, and how that brain works differently for that child or teen. In this episode, Eileen breaks down this common challenge, discus...

SUMMARY - In this episode of the Brain First Parenting podcast, Eileen sits down with a very special guest, her husband of 20+ years, Dave Devine. Eileen & Dave have a conversation about what it's been like for Dave, in his role as a father to his now teenage daughter who lives with FASD, a serious neurobehavioral condition, to shift his lens over the years to a Brain First lens . TAKEAWAYS: T...

SUMMARY - In this newest episode, Eileen highlights a trap that is common for parents, teachers, and providers to fall into when supporting with kids and teens who have brain-based differences and challenging behaviors. This trap is making assumptions, often without even realizing it, about what that child or teen's brain can do and not factoring in their lagging cognitive skills and how this impa...

SUMMARY - When you have a child who often behaves in ways that are not good, right, or appropriate, you want to address the problematic behavior as their parent. This can be challenging to do with a child who lives with a neurobehavioral difference and must be approached in a way that has their brain in mind. In this episode, Eileen talks about why this process can be more challenging for kids wit...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen speaks to the experience of parenting a child who is often times seen as the kid who "ruins everything". She breaks down what is actually happening when a child's behavior appears to be intentional and willful, how to shift to seeing them through a Brain First Parenting lens, and steps parents can take to proactively prevent the same outcome in the future. TAKEAWA...

SUMMARY - When you are the parent of a child or teen with brain-based differences and challenging behavioral symptoms, it is a common experience to not have your experience, as the parent, acknowledged or supported. This is the other side of the "coin" when parenting from a Brain First lens, and deserves (and requires) as much attention and support as the other side of the "coin", which is the chi...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen walks through a common fear that many parents hold, which is that if they fully accommodate their child or teen, that they will prevent their child from growing, developing and maturing. TAKEAWAYS Why, exactly, we provide accommodations to kids, teens, and young adults who have brain-based differences Why accommodations are the path towards less challenging behavi...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen will break down the common and often exhausting behavioral symptom called perseveration . She takes the listeners through what perseveration looks like behaviorally, so parents can identify it in their child or teen; how it is connected to the brain; and how parents can help their child when they get stuck in perseveration loops. TAKEAWAYS The definition of persev...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen takes you, step-by-step, through a universal and highly misunderstood characteristic seen in kids and teens with brain-based differences, which is a maturity gap in comparison to same-aged peers. She explains how this gap is connected to the brain, how to identify it for what it is (as a lagging cognitive skill set), and how to more successfully support a child or...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen explains why kids who live with neurobehavioral conditions and are always seen as "the problem," are actually kids who are doing the best they can; they are highly misunderstood and need more support for their brain-based difference. She explains how the actual problem is society's view of behaviors, and how this behavioral lens is what leads to kids with brain-ba...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen dives into a common characteristic in children and teens with brain-based differences and challenging behavioral symptoms, which is 'on 'and 'off' days. Eileen begins helping parents identify this common lagging skill in their kids, and how they can begin to accommodate their child or teen as it relates to on and off days. TAKEAWAYS The definition of 'on' and 'off...

SUMMARY - In this episode, Eileen explains why so many kids and teens with brain-based differences struggle to make and keep friends, and how parents can support their children by building the cognitive skills required to be in relationship with peers. TAKEAWAYS Why the process of making and keeping friends creates nearly universal challenges for kids and teens with brain-based differences. How to...

SUMMARY In this episode, Eileen explains what it looks like when a child, teen, or young adult lags behind in the skills to be cognitively flexible, and how to then accommodate them in this specific skill set. TAKEAWAYS The definition of cognitive rigidity Common behaviors that reflect this lagging skill in kids and teens How parents can help their children and teens grow in this cognitive skill s...

SUMMARY In this episode, Eileen delves into the first step to understanding a neurodiverse child, teen, or young adult with challenging behaviors. TAKEAWAYS This first, essential step to understanding your child who lives with a brain-based difference and challenging behaviors begins with neuroscience research on the brain/behavior connection. Understanding the foundation behind the Brain First Pa...

SUMMARY In this first episode, Eileen introduces herself and explains how Brain First Parenting came to be. She shares personal stories about her own experience of parenting a teenage daughter who lives with a serious and permanent brain-based disability (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). Eileen also talks about her therapy and coaching practice where, for the last decade, she has supported parent...

Welcome to the Brain First Parenting podcast with Eileen Devine! I'm thrilled you're here, and look forward to diving into the many elements of the Brain First parenting approach in the episodes to come. This trailer -- Episode 0! -- is a brief introduction to my goals and hopes for this podcast, and an invitation to parents and caregivers who will benefit from this transformational parenting mode...