Raising Healthy Kid Brains

Aly Young, the owner of The Learning Lab , a specialized tutoring center that focuses on academic remediation for kids with dyslexia and ADHD, is here today to clarify what dyslexia really is and how we, as parents and teachers, can support dyslexic learners.   If you are a parent navigating the world of dyslexia, tune in this week. Aly offers her insights on the early signs of dyslexia, busts the...

I'm rounding out our mini-series on the science of reading this week by introducing you to the basics of language comprehension.   I share one of the models of the science of reading called Scarborough's Rope, and what each strand of language comprehension entails. Hear how each strand plays a role in helping your child master reading, and my favorite strategies for making learning to read a whole...

Discover how the magic of play works so powerfully and beautifully with the science of reading. I'm diving into the three components of developing word recognition and my favorite exercises for building phonemic awareness.   Make sure to come back next week for the third installment of this series where I'll introduce you to the final piece: language comprehension.   Get full show notes and more i...

The latest research in neuroscience around reading shows us that, with the right strategies, 95% of neurotypical students can learn to read by the end of first grade. To support our children, we need to understand the science.   Join me this week for the first in a three-part series on the science of reading. Hear what the science of reading entails, why you should care, what is happening in child...

Dayna Abraham is a national board-certified educator, best-selling author, and parent to three neurodivergent children. She has helped desperate parents around the world find peace and meet their children where they're at when conventional parenting tools have failed them.   Hear Dayna's framework for parents raising kids in the modern world. She's sharing the power of taking imperfect action, how...

Janine Halloran is a licensed mental health counselor who has been working with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. After seeing the value of learning healthy coping skills early in life, she created Coping Skills for Kids: a place where parents can get products and resources to help their kids cope with the daily challenges of life.   Hear how to lead your child in expand...

Have you always wanted to give your kids the gift of learning foreign languages? What's stopping you? For lots of parents, they wonder how it's even possible for them to teach a new language when they aren't experts or fluent enough in it. That's where my guest this week comes in.   Shannon Kelly is an Australian mother of two and the founder of The Cultured Kid where she developed the Fast Track...

Deborah McNelis is an author, speaker, and creator of Neuro-Nurturing: a framework that ensures all children receive the necessary experiences to recognize their worth. She's a brain development specialist and the founder of Brain Insights, where she is dedicated to ensuring all babies are nurtured in ways that science shows are essential for supporting optimal brain development, health, learning,...

My guests this week have developed an amazing system that allows their kids to have ownership within their family unit. Joe and Mell Hashey have been married for 16 years and have three boys. Joe was a teacher and coach turned entrepreneur in the fitness industry, and Mell is a social worker turned stay-at-home mom. They've used their experience to build the Strong Family Co. framework that any fa...

We talk a lot about reading and why it's so important to expose our children to it at an early age. But in a world where screens have become such a huge temptation for kids, how can we make it easier to get them off screens and into books instead?   I share my top tips for making reading fun during the summer break. Hear the science behind reading and why it matters, three simple strategies for ge...

Schools often emphasize teaching our kids hard skills like math and literacy, but how do we make sure our children are also picking up soft skills like character development and social-emotional skills that, according to my guest today, are what really matters at the end of the day?   I'm speaking to Maria Dismondy, a former teacher, children's book author, and founder of the Cardinal Rule Press....

Have you ever considered adding sign language to your repertoire as a parent or teacher?   I'm delighted to share my recent conversation with nationally-certified interpreter and founder of ASL Teaching Resources, Cynthia Long. Cynthia shares the many benefits of using sign language with children, and what happens to a child's brain development as they learn. Discover why sign language is so effec...

This week, you're hearing about a little girl named Luna who did not enjoy learning from workbooks. Luna's mom Rachelle was trying to figure out how to help her get ready for preschool, but she wasn't quite sure what Luna was supposed to be learning. She was also having a hard time keeping Luna engaged and interested.    That's when she found the Mommy & Me Preschool program, which changed everyth...

What are the different phases of your child's brain development, and how does their current age of development relate to our hierarchy of needs as human beings?   To answer these questions, I am speaking with Alta Schwab. Alta is a Neurosomatic Therapist who has been studying childhood brain development extensively since her high school days. Her own personal health journey and love for children l...

Do you feel like you're at your wit's end when it comes to your child's challenging behaviors? Are your toddler or preschooler's tantrums, testing behaviors, and big emotions leaving you aggravated, frustrated and confused?   I'm speaking to Jill Urbane, also known as The Mentor Mom. Jill is a licensed social worker and early childhood expert who has been working with toddler and preschool parents...

How can we use music to teach children the vital skill of emotional regulation? How might music have the ability to facilitate common bonds with other humans and create empathy and connection in our kids?   I'm speaking to Laurie Berkner who is one of the top preschool music artists in the world. She has over one billion streams, over 350 million views on YouTube, and an incredible list of top son...

Negativity is and will always be a part of our lives. We need to experience it, and it's a helpful teacher for what's good and bad. The challenge is not getting stuck in negative patterns and loops with the stories we tell ourselves every single day.   Hear the four different story hooks that get us into negative thought patterns from Susan David's book, Emotional Agility. I show you why it's impo...

How can you tell if your child is a little bit spoiled? This is a question every parent asks themselves and becomes concerned about at some point. The good news is there are signs we can look for, and there are things we can do about it while having a lot of compassion for ourselves.   Discover the five signs your child might be spoiled, and the opportunities available for you to work in the direc...

How does your child's memory work? Since learning is one of our kids' primary jobs, it's important that we actually understand what that process looks like. Fully understanding our child's memory can teach us a lot about how to teach our children and help them remember the things we want them to remember.   In this episode, I share how memory works in your child's brain. I explain the three step p...

What should your child's language development look like at ages two, three, four, or five years old? How many words should a child in this age range be able to communicate? What can you do to help them develop their vocabulary and language in a fun and engaging way?   To answer these questions, I sat down with AHSA board certified speech language pathologist Lenora Edwards. She is the Chief Knowle...

Are you worried about your child's emotional health? Do you wonder how you can help them develop their social and emotional skills? What is the best way to teach our children healthy emotional regulation?   To discuss these questions, I sat down with Dr. Cindy Hovington, Ph. D., a mother of three and the founder and director of Curious Neuron: an online resource to help parents protect their child...

Have you ever wondered if there's a better way to navigate those high-stress points of your day? Whether it's getting ready for school, night-time routines, or leaving playdates, what if we could decrease our verbal commands and use music instead to decrease stress and anxiety?   This week I speak to Stephanie Leavell, a mom, board certified music therapist, and founder of Music for Kiddos: an onl...

Toys have always been a way for children to learn about themselves and the world through play. What we're seeing now is that children have more toys than ever before, making it harder for children to choose ones that are going to stimulate their brains.   If you're thinking about the quantity and types of toys you want to have in your play area that benefit your child the most, listen in. I'm touc...

Have you ever wondered if your child is struggling with anxiety? I'm talking to Jeanette Razo-Gonzales, a registered Play Therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, certified EMDR Therapist, and a Foundational Theraplay Practitioner who has some amazing ideas and tips to share on the subject of anxiety in children.   Jeanette and I are discussing the signs you can look out for that point toward...

What do you do in those instances where your child is having a meltdown? Maybe your go-to strategy is to yell, shut down, or shame yourself into believing you just can't get it right. Do you want to learn how to support your child's emotional regulation, but find yourself at a loss for where to start? Sarah Conway walks us through all things emotional regulation. She's sharing what secure attachme...