The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens

My guest this week is Amanda Morgan, who holds a BA in both elementary and early childhood education and an MS in family and human development. Her past experience includes teaching in public, private, and migrant school settings as well as teaching preschoolers, grade-schoolers, college students, teachers, and parents. She writes, speaks, and trains on the topic of intentional, whole child development and is the creator of the blog, Not Just Cute. In her free time, she can usually be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four boys or procuring copious amounts of chocolate. In this episode, Amanda and I discuss what developmentally appropriate practices are and how they are essential for our children's individual learning and development process. Often children are faced with expectations in the classroom that are far from where they stand developmentally resulting in behavioral issues and developmental delays. These issues occur starting in pre-school and often carry into high school levels. Learn more as Amanda helps navigate and explain the why's of our school system expectations and how parents and teachers can advocate for their children and students. To learn more about Amanda click here. Episode Highlights Developmentally Appropriate Practice Taking what we know about how children grow and learn and ensuring those principals and understandings are being applied within the home and school environments Respecting childhood in and of itself and for each individual learner Results of Shift in School Expectations Behavior issues become an immediate problem when school expectations do not "match" where they are developmentally This simply relates to the fact that these children are not the actual age they are expecting to be at Expecting a 3-yr to act like a 6-yr old only ends in frustration for both involved Inappropriate academic expectations usually take the place of play and social skills and interactions Academic struggle results from this as children miss the hands-on play experiences before jumping to performance-based tasks like worksheets etc. How Did We End Up Here? When we start to work from fear, competition, and comparison we realize how we are poorly focused only on performance and testing What Can We Do To Address This? As parents: where can we slow down in our home and offer outlets for more movement or sensory interactions? Looking to address whatever it is they need more or less of Do not understand your voice as a parent for your child and their peers to administration, never stop advocating As teachers: Use your knowledge on developmentally-appropriate practices and get creative with the "homework" that is required instead of the routine textbook worksheets Amanda's example: former 2nd-grade teacher of her son gave assignments on a point system of completion with activities to do while at home such as; help your family make dinner, take care of your animal, play outside, help a neighbor Where to learn more about Amanda Morgan… Not Just Cute Blog Why We Play Twitter Facebook Youtube Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, a world-renowned microbiome researcher who named the mycobiome and founder of the leading antifungal clinical testing company, Next Trillion Sciences. Dr. Ghannoum lectures extensively across the world on the microbiome from the Pasteur Institute in France to the National Institute of Health (NIH). His work has been published in over 450 peer-reviewed papers and cited over 21,000 times. Dr. Ghannoum has been actively funded by the NIH continuously since 1991 for his work studying the fungal and bacterial communities in our body and has been involved in the development of 95% of the antifungals that have come to market since the 1990s. In this episode, Dr. Ghannoum and I discuss the importance of understanding and balancing good bacteria and fungi for your child's gut microbiome. Assessing gut health in children plays an important role in their overall health, especially for children with behavioral disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and autism. Imbalances in the gut like candida overgrowth can surface in a variety of symptoms such as irritability, hyperactivity, stomach aches, diarrhea, pain, and fatigue. To learn more about balancing your family's gut health and Dr. Ghannoum and his latest book, Total Gut Balance, click here. Episode Highlights The Good vs. Bad in the Mycobiome Low levels or abundance of candida can help us break down complex molecules and nutrients that we eat like complex carbohydrates Saccharomyces Boulardii or baker's yeast is good yeast in our body that can keep candida under control The candida levels are high and create an overgrowth Disruptors of Our Fungal Community Over the counter products such as non-steroidal analgesic or painkillers and antacids Excessive stress levels Lack of a balanced diet and exercise Destressors For Kids and Adults Spending time outdoors Playing in the yard and being exposed to dirt helps diversify the microbiome Taking walks or hikes together as a family Engaging in less screen time activity and more physical outdoor activity Signs of an Imbalanced Gut Listen to your body Take note of signs of fatigue, pain, diarrhea, stomach issues, etc. If possible, you can have your stool tested to analyze your gut health See Dr. Ghannoum's guide in his new book, Total Gut Balance Where to learn more about Dr. Ghannoum... Dr. Microbiome Website Dr. Ghannoum's Publications Total Gut Balance Book Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Ari Whitten a best-selling author and the creator of the Energy Blueprint system. He is an energy and fatigue specialist who focuses on taking an evidence-based approach to energy enhancement. He's also the host of the extremely popular Energy Blueprint Podcast, which brings together leading experts on the subject of fatigue and energy enhancement to talk about their approach to health optimization. For the last 5 years, he's been working with the world's top fatigue experts to develop the most comprehensive program in the world on the science of overcoming fatigue and increasing energy -- The Energy Blueprint. To learn more about Ari Whitten click here.

My guest this week is Julie Pate, a Certified Yoga Therapist who has been teaching yoga to children and adults since 1999. As the Event and Sales Manager of YogaKids International, Jule is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling at National Louis University and plans to pursue a career merging traditional counseling with the healing tools of yoga. In this episode, Julie and I discuss the powerful benefits of yoga for children's health and behavior. To learn more about YogaKids click here. Where to learn more about Julie Pate and Yoga Kids... Facebook Twitter

My guest this week is Summer Bock, a trained herbalist certified in integrative nutrition through Columbia University. A raver in her early twenties, devastating allergies emerged that left her exhausted, hive-ridden, and only able to consume 30 foods without a reaction - an outlook that stumped the medical community. Leveraging her background in microbiology and fascination with gut health, Summer healed herself through research and formulation of various digestive bitters, which she now produces for her Guts & Glory Apothecary online. Summer Bock coined the phrase "Gut Rebuilding", which is now cornerstone terminology in the integrative health conversation. She is the founder of the Fermentationist Certification Program. In this episode, Summer and I discuss how parents can incorporate and use fermented foods to support their child's mental, physical and gut health. Where to learn more about Summer Bock... Guts & Glory Instagram Facebook Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Mara Fleishman who turned her passion for healthy and sustainable food into a career by taking a position leading the marketing efforts for Whole Foods Market on the East Coast and in Europe. For nearly six years, she worked to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh, healthy food. After a move to Boulder, Colorado, Fleishman decided to join her kindergartener for lunch at school one day. Shocked by the highly processed, high-sugar lunch that she and her daughter were served, she began her crusade to reform school food. In 2013, Fleishman left her position as Global Director of Partnerships with Whole Foods Market to work on school food reform in a full-time capacity as CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation. With three kids ranging from ages eight to eighteen, Mara brings a parent's awareness to her work and writes about school food through that lens. Her current and archived blog posts are available on The Lunch Line. In this episode, Mara and I discuss the reality of school food programs across the United States and how parents can advocate for healthier options within their children's school district. Where to learn more about Mara Fleishman... Chef Ann Foundation The Lunch Box Program Instagram Facebook Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Kendra Becker, a board-certified integrated physician who specializes in MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), fertility and treatment of "the 4As" (asthma, autism, allergies, atopy/eczema). Dr. Becker is adjunct Faculty at 2 prominent universities, where she teaches to physicians, medical students, precepts students, doctors and nurse practitioners. She lectures nationwide on topics such as autism, the immune system, MTHFR and genetic mutations that have health implications. Dr. Becker is the author of "A Delicious Way to Heal the Gut", "All you CAN Eat" and was chosen as one of Connecticut's "Top Naturopathic Doctors" and 10 Best APRNs. In this episode, Dr. Becker and I discuss how nutrition and diet impact sensory processing issues in children. Dr. Becker shares with the audience the top food and environmental aggressors for sensory processing systems and what actions parents can take to help their children. Children who suffer from sensory integration problems can experience sound, touch and motion sensitivities, as well as, physical symptoms such as poor gait, balance, gut and respiratory issues. Children who suffer from sensory integration issues that experience the above symptoms may greatly benefit from nutritional and environmental interventions. To learn more about Dr. Becker click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Kendra Becker... DrKendraBecker.com Instagram Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Mona Delahooke, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience caring for children and their families. Dr. Delahooke is a senior faculty member of the Profectum Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults. She holds the highest level of endorsement in the field of infant and toddler mental health in California, as a Reflective Practice Mentor (RPM). She is a frequent speaker, trainer, and consultant to parents, organizations, schools, and public agencies. Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental interventions for children with developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning differences. She is the author of Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges. In this episode, Dr. Delahooke and I break down the brain science behind children's mood and behavior. Often we approach our child's actions as intentional or deliberate when they are misbehaving or reacting to a situation when many times there are underlying reasons that explain the action that they are unable to communicate. Dr. Delahooke helps us understand these emotions by explaining the brain science behind children's actions with concepts like 'neuroception' allowing us to better approach and help our children with love and support. Where to learn more about Dr. Mona Delahooke... Monadelahooke.com Dr. Delahooke's Books Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Joe Tatta, a pioneering expert in lifestyle interventions for treating persistent pain. Dr. Tatta has 25 years of experience in physical therapy, integrative models of pain care, leadership and private practice innovation. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and has trained extensively in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Tatta is the Founder of the Integrative Pain Science Institute, a company dedicated to reinventing pain care through education, research, and professional training. Dr. Tatta is the author of the bestselling book, 'Heal Your Pain Now', and host of 'The Healing Pain Podcast' which features interviews and free training from respected pain experts. In this episode, Dr. Tatta and I discuss how parents can understand and properly address chronic pain in their children and family. Dr. Tatta shares common pain symptoms children experience, such as, tension or migraine headaches, gastrointestinal or gut abdominal pain, lower back pain, and chronic regional pain syndrome. He sheds light on surprising research links to increased pain persistency in children and provides parents with resources and tips on how to normalize their child's life again when dealing with chronic pain issues. Where to learn more about Dr. Joe Tatta... Integrative Pain Science Institute drjoetatta.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Brooke Alpert, a certified holistic cannabis practitioner, a nationally recognized nutrition expert, and a best-selling author. She is the founder of B Nutritious, a private nutrition counseling and consulting practice in New York City. Brooke's interest in cannabis, particularly in CBD came from trying to help her husband manage his debilitating autoimmune disease. Seeing what CBD could do for her husband, Brooke brought CBD into her private practice and saw many of her client's overall wellness improve. Having to navigate her husband and her clients through all the options and seeing how so many of the products out there were not adequate, lead Brooke to create her own brand of CBD products, called Daily Habit. In this episode, Brooke and I discuss the importance of quality ingredients, proper usage and benefits of CBD for children and adults. CBD's benefits are unique to each user aiding various issues such as stress, anxiety, sleep, behavioral and mood disorders. To learn more about Brooke Alpert click here. Where to learn more about Brooke Alpert... Daily Habit CBD Instagram Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.