End Screen Time Peacefully with Demand Avoiders

Are you raising a “demand avoidant” child who loves their screens? If so, try using declarative language to end screen time peacefully. Here’s a script you can use from the Declarative Language Handbook author Linda Murphy MS, CCC-SLP. Also learn about the “stop spot.” Isn’t that a great phrase (and can we delight in the…

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Tips for Picky Eating & ARFID, with Jenny Thomas

If you’re raising a child with picky eating or ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), chances are you have some questions, like: When you have a picky eater with strong preferences, should you cater to their short list of acceptable foods? Is picky eating just a preference or is it a form of anxiety or…

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How to get a teen off screens, with Ned Johnson

Tell me if this drama plays out at your house. It’s the weekend and there are a number of things that need to get done, but your child is still online, in their pajamas. What’s a parent to do? Listen as Ned Johnson, co-author of The Self Driven Child, shares what he did in a…

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Fake Fun vs True Fun, with Catherine Price

Do you know the difference between fake fun and true fun? I definitely didn’t before interviewing Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again and How to Break Up with Your Phone. When we’re on screens, it might feel like we’re having fun, but compare that to the times when…

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What To Do When Kids Are Shut Down, with Dr. Stephen Porges

Does your child feel disconnected or shut down? Are you wondering what to do and how to connect with them? Listen as Dr. Stephen Porges, originator of the Polyvagal Theory, shares what we can do to connect and re-energize our kids. Sometimes their behavior may trigger us, but we need to be aware of what…

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Empower Kids to Clean Their Room Using Declarative Language

How do you empower your child to clean their room when they’re demand avoidant? Linda Murphy, MS, CCC-SLP, author of Declarative Language Handbook, shares some helpful phrases and ideas to get the job done. Hint: Partnership is key. Take a listen. If you enjoyed this vlog and want to take the learning deeper, check out…

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How to Tell Your Child About Their Diagnosis, with Dan Peters

If you’re raising a uniquely wired child, what is a good age to tell them about their diagnosis and how should you do it? According to Dan Peters, PhD, clinical psychologist and executive director of the Summit Center, it’s important to be very thoughtful in how we talk to our kids about their unique brain…

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3 Key Concepts and 2 Mistakes to Avoid

Executive function and school struggles. Challenging behaviors. Trouble making friends. Internet overuse. Raising a bright and quirky child can feel like you’re swimming alone in a sea of confusion. I know because I’m a mom and family therapist to bright kids with learning, social and/or emotional struggles. Know that there is a clear path to…

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How I Found My People and Passion

When bright and quirky kids have trouble making friends in person, online activities can provide an avenue for socialization. Hear how Chris K, architecture student at Columbia University, jump started his social life and grew a deep passion for building using Minecraft. Take a listen. If you enjoyed this vlog and want to take the…

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Are we undermining our kids’ gifts? with Stuart Shanker

Bright and quirky kids have INCREDIBLE gifts but they can also have quirks like: A different internal clock, experiencing the passage of time differently Sensory sensitivities that can be hugely stressful Both of these differences can create what are perceived as challenging behaviors.  How parents and teachers respond can make all the difference. Learn this…

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