Helping Kids Be Kids

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Riley, a Speech-Language Pathologist at Little Light House, to explore communication strategies for kids with an Autism diagnosis with a focus on AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Riley walks parents through early signs of communication need, practical at-home strategies, and how to choose the right speech therapy clinic. She also tackles on...

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Jordan, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore how Autism impacts feeding. Jordan breaks down the difference between typical picky eating, problem feeding, and sensory-based feeding needs, and why the distinction matters. She also covers safe foods, mealtime strategies, and how to create a low-pressure environment around food. If mealtime...

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Brooklyn, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore DIRFloortime, a relationship-based, play-driven approach to supporting Autism. Brooklyn breaks down what DIR stands for, how it differs from behavioral approaches, and what a real DIRFloortime session looks like in practice. She also shares simple strategies parents can try at home with jus...

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Taylor, a Special Education teacher at Little Light House, to explore a foundational approach to supporting Autism. Taylor walks parents through four key needs to check when dysregulation occurs: hydration, a full belly, rest, and health. She also unpacks the concept of sensory rest and why it looks different for neurodivergent children. If your child frequen...

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Jodi, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore what it really means to build a sensory lifestyle for kids with an Autism diagnosis. Jodi breaks down the difference between a sensory diet and a sensory lifestyle, walks through the eight senses and how different sensory thresholds show up in kids, and offers practical, realistic ways to weave...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss the vestibular sense (sense of balance and movement), what it looks like to have a high and a low vestibular threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different vestibular needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen to Venture into Vestibular! Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q-74D2B799M Check out our blog on the vestibu...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss proprioception (sensing one's body position in space), what it looks like to have a high and a low proprioceptive threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different proprioceptive needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen for a discussion on Processing Proprioception! Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mraJzOa0GW8 Check...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss visual processing, what it looks like to have a high and a low visual threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different visual processing needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen to get a Look into Visual Processing! Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/slxhhoz1Hsk Check out our blog on seeing: https://www.littlelightho...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss the tactile sense (touch), what it looks like to have a high and a low tactile threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different tactile processing needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen for a Touch of Tactile! Check out our blog on Touch: https://www.littlelighthouse.org/supporting-sensory-needs-tactile-sensory-needs/ Every...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss interoception (sensing internal signals from one's body), what it looks like to have a high and a low interoceptive threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different interoceptive needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen to take A Look Inside Interoception! Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aoXKMOEGUG4 Every kid dese...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss the gustatory sense (taste), what it looks like to have a high and a low gustatory threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different gustatory processing needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen for a Taste of Gustatory! Watch the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/CExliJqMP9Q Check out our blog on taste: https://www.littl...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss the olfactory sense (smell), what it looks like to have a high and a low olfactory threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different olfactory needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen to learn some Facts About Olfactory! Watch the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/WbI9dD9aPrk Check out our blog on smell: https://www.littl...

In this episode, Hannah and Ann discuss auditory processing, what it looks like to have a high and a low auditory threshold, and what you can do to accommodate for kids with different auditory processing needs to help them feel regulated. Give it a listen to hear All About Auditory! Watch the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/s-xM3espC2g Check out our blog on hearing: https://www.littlelight...

What is sensory processing? What is a sensory threshold, and how does that threshold affect our nervous systems? There are more than five senses?! In this season of the Helping Kids Be Kids podcast, Little Light House Director of Education, Hannah Jimenez, and Outreach Manager, Ann Chinworth, answer all these questions and more. By the end, you'll know all about what sensory processing can look li...

In the podcast episode titled 'From Diagnosis to Resilience: Empowering Parents of Children with Special Needs,' host Mindy Wiggins engages in a heartfelt conversation with Kimberly Fritz, a dedicated mother whose son, Noah, has special needs. Kimberly shares her journey from the initial realization that her son was different to navigating the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis and findin...

Teens share their unique perspectives on the blessings and challenges of being the sibling of someone who has special needs. For more information on the information discussed in this episode, visit https://positivepsychology.com/coping/ https://positivepsychology.com/maladaptive-coping/ https://positivepsychology.com/coping-skills-worksheets/ Little Light House:  ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.littlelighthous...

Betty Esparza is an LLH parent whose daughter Alyssa is part of the 50th graduating class.  Betty chatted with us about her journey with Alyssa and Russell-Silver Syndrome.  For more information on Russell-Silver Syndrome visit https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/4870/russell-silver-syndrome Little Light House:  ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠/link-in-bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join THECREW:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ht...

Join us as we interview Jeremy Warren is the executive director of DOSA (Dads On Special Assignment), a group specifically for fathers of children with special needs.  For more information about DOSA and how you may get involved, Jeremy may be reached at jw@dosausa.org or check out dosausa.org   Little Light House:  ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠/link-in-bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join THECREW:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https...

Insight from parents of children with special needs. Listen in as a group of Little Light House parents talk about the challenges their families have face and give advice on how similar families can get through them stronger than ever. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or where ever you get your podcasts! Little Light House:  ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠/link-in-bio/⁠⁠⁠ HKBK Instagram: ...

Traveling with a child with special needs can present unique challenges, but with careful planning and preparation, it can also be a rewarding and enriching experience. Join our host as she interviews Lorie McNeal, of Dreaming About Vacations and Dreaming About the Mouse, a travel advisor certified to plan for hundreds of destinations.  She can be reached at lorie@dreamingaboutvacations.com or (91...

Kim Kite is the Director of Volunteers at LLH.  Her story of being the sibling of a person with special needs and how she came to work at the Little Light House is so encouraging.  Little Light House:  ⁠ ⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠/link-in-bio/⁠ HKBK Instagram:  ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingkidspodcast⁠⁠   Join THECREW:  ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZQZ65_fqxI

Brittany Chandler is an LLH parent whose daughter Brooklyn is part of the 50th graduating class.  Brooklyn’s unique journey with down syndrome, arthritis, and tuberculosis is inspiring.  The information in the article that Brittany referenced can be found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8932915/ Little Light House:  ⁠ https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠/link-in-bio/ HKBK Instagram: ...

Little Light House: https://www.littlelighthouse.org HKBK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpingkidspodcast HKBK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpingkidspodcast Join THECREW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZQZ65_fqxI

Learn to identify and accommodate your sensory differences as well as your child's. In this episode, Jodi Howe, Occupational Therapist, discusses the senses, including proprioception and vestibular. We talk about sensory processing, thresholds, and Winnie Dunn's Sensory Profile. Sensory seekers benefit from fidget toys, a rubber band, or a piece of Velcro under their desks. Sensory avoiders are he...

This week we bring back our most popular episode.  Little Light House: https://www.littlelighthouse.org HKBK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpingkidspodcast HKBK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpingkidspodcast Join THECREW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZQZ65_fqxI