Unbabbled

Screens are becoming increasingly interwoven into our children’s everyday lives. Unfortunately, a lot of the information around screen usage is either contradictory, vague, or rooted in extremes. This can leave parents confused, frustrated, or feeling guilty as they navigate screen usage for their family. In this episode, educator Ash Brandin (@TheGamerEducator) gives tips and information to help...

In this episode we sit down with Speech-Language Pathologist and executive functioning expert, Sarah Ward to discuss strategies to support the development of executive functions at home and school. Sarah starts off by giving a brief overview of what “executive functioning” means in everyday life then jumps into practical and effective ways parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists can support...

In this episode, we speak with pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist Becky Wilson, about the link between language disorders and academics and how targeting underlying language skills helps support students learning. Throughout the episode Becky discusses ways reading, math, and all areas of school are interwoven with underlying language skills and ways as a speech-pathologist she targets these sk...

In this episode, we sit down with pediatric physical therapist, Melissa Howard, DPT to talk about the basics of pediatric physical therapy. Melissa explains what physical therapy is, signs a child may benefit from physical, how it differs from occupational therapy, and ways she collaborates with other therapists. While many areas physical therapists treat were familiar to us, such as developing an...

Summer is finally here! And while many kids have dreams of days spent at the pool, playing outside or having all day tv marathons, it is also the perfect time to kick back and relax with a good book! In this episode, Anjela Martinez from the Harris County Public Library Outreach Program and special co-host Parish School librarian, Jill Wood, share ways parents can support even their most reluctant...

When a child receives a diagnosis, it can impact the entire family and bring on a variety of emotions and responses from parents. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Beard returns to the podcast to discuss a child receiving a diagnosis from the parent and care giver perspective. She touches on a variety of emotions that parents commonly report, ways parents can work through their emotions, ideas for sel...

In this episode, pediatric Occupational Therapist Rachel Czar answers all our questions about the basics of occupational therapy (OT) including our most commonly asked question- what is OT? Throughout the episode Rachel discusses signs a child might benefit from OT and how to obtain an evaluation. She also discusses ways specific areas of difficulty may impact a child at school and at home, as wel...

In this episode we tackle a frequently asked question: “Should I tell my child about their diagnosis? And if so, how?”. When a child receives a diagnosis such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, or a Language or Learning Disorder it can be difficult for parents to know how to discuss this with their child. According to our guest, Dr. Michelle Beard, there is no “one size fits all” answer. However, there ar...

In this episode we discuss the DIR® Floortime model of therapy with Sharon Duval, CCC-SLP. DIR stands for the Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based model which highlights the power of relationships and emotional connections to fuel development. Throughout the episode Sharon discusses the underlying principles of DIR® Floortime how it may differ from traditional therapy, the...

Finding an activity outside of school that is developmentally appropriate and inclusive of neurodivergent children or children with speech and language difficulties can be a challenge for parents. While many of our kids may excel in physical activities, they may struggle to attend for long periods, follow multiple step instructions, or need repetition. Other children may have fine or gross motor d...

In this episode, Stephanie and Meredith sit down with the Keynote Speaker from The Parish School’s 2022 Giving Voice to Children Luncheon, Greg Santucci. Throughout the episode Greg discusses ways to see beyond a child’s behavior by supporting their underlying sensory and safety needs at home and in the classroom. Greg uses specific examples from his life and clinical experiences to illustrate the...

In this episode, we use questions submitted by Unbabbled listeners in an informal Q&A with pediatric dietician Jennifer Anderson MSPH, RND. Jennifer has firsthand experience not only as a dietician, but as a mother of a picky eater. She uses her expertise and life experience to answer questions ranging from “How do I introduce more protein” and “Help my child needs to gain weight!” to “How do...

In this episode we sit down with Ali Allawala and Farzeen Ali to discuss their innovative and inspiring work to support families and individuals with Down Syndrome. Ali and Farzeen are Co-founders and current directors of The Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP). KDSP is a non-profit organization in Karachi Pakistan, launched in March 2014 by a group of concerned parents and passionate individuals...

In this episode, we speak with Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist Cari Ebert about the importance of play and relational connections in supporting a child’s language development. Cari shares her own personal experiences that have shaped her perspective and therapeutic style, discusses the science-based importance of play on children’s brain development, and gives specific strategies parents, ed...

In this episode, we chat with Mr. Chazz, a parent and teacher coach, about positive behavior approaches at home and in the classroom. He is an early childhood educator, educational specialist, and parenting coach. In the episode Mr Chazz discusses his three-step approach of see, guide, trust by walking us through each stop. He also touches on the importance of understanding our own parenting self-...

In this episode, we sit down with Mary Mecham, Director of Disability Book Week to learn about this year’s inaugural event. Mary is an avid reader, advocate, and mother of two girls with rare genetic disorders. She has teamed up with Parish School Teacher Caralou Smith to start Disability Book Week as part of their capstone project with Texas Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program...

A substantial part of finding the right school for your child is going through the seemingly daunting admissions process! In this episode we chat with the director of admissions from Gateway Academy, Bonnie Jones, MS, CCC-SLP and The Parish School’s director of admissions and Unbabbled co-cost, Meredith Krimmel, MS, CCC-SLP. Throughout the episode Bonnie and Meredith walk us through what the typic...

Our guests today, Dee Dee Halpin and Julie Blumberg run Houston School Options where they help families find the most effective school program for their children. Over the years, Dee Dee and Julie have helped guide numerous families - both new to the city and Houston natives - through the school choice process. During our conversation they discuss their process to find the right match and give tip...

In this episode we chat with pediatric dentist Dr. Steven Hogan about the unique challenges and treatment for a neurodiverse population, including children with sensory processing difficulties, anxiety, communication difficulties, and a wide range of medical diagnoses. Dr. Hogan discusses things parents can do to prepare children for the dentist, tips for at the dentist, strategies he personally u...

In this episode we speak with registered dietician Kacie Barnes about pediatric nutrition. Kacie is the owner of Mama Knows Nutrition, where she helps parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers find solutions to nourish their families without stress, guilt, or chaos. Throughout the episode, Kacie shares tips for introducing new foods, discusses typical variations in children’s diets and the nut...

The public school system offers a wide range of services for children free of charge! But Navigating through the paperwork, knowing what services are available, understanding the laws and regulations and learning the new lingo can be overwhelming and confusing! In this week’s episode, speech language pathologist, Huyen Cao, MA, CCC-SLP answers our questions to help demystify the public-school spec...

Alyssa Blask Campbell, Med, is an emotional development expert with a master's degree in early childhood education. She is the founder of Seed and Sew, an online modern parenting community, and the co-created the Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method, a how-to guide for responding to tiny humans' big emotions to build emotional intelligence from infancy. Through Seed and Sew, Aly...

This episode continues our discussion on supporting siblings with input from a mental health professional. Our guest, Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, RPT-S, gives advice on how to talk to children about struggles one child may have and gives ideas for supporting families as they navigate family dynamics and emotions. During our conversation Lynn not only gives specific strategies and tips, but also encourage...

You may have heard it said, “Your sibling is your first friend” or “A sibling is a built-in best friend”. And while these common sayings can be true, sibling relationships are often complex and messy - swinging from loving, supportive, cooperative to jealous and fighting, then back again! Add into the mix a child with neurodiversity or complex medical needs and the relationships can get even more...

Do mornings with your young children often feel hectic? Does starting the day with TV or iPad games set the wrong tone for the rest of your day? Beth from the website Days with Grey has a solution: start the day with simple, intentional, play-based learning activities! In this episode of Unbabbled, Beth, a teacher turned stay-at-home mom turned business owner, discusses how starting the day with e...