My guest this week is Sarah Moore, the founder of Dandelion Seeds, Positive Parenting. She is a certified Gentle Parenting Coach and has worked directly with some of the world's most respected psychologists, neuroscientists, researchers and advocates for children. She also graduated from improvisational comedy school — that may be a first for this show, that's awesome! She is an expert on play, a regular contributor to international parenting magazines, she's a frequent guest on podcasts and parenting summits. She's also the editor for Pregnancy Magazine and a master trainer for The Jai Institute for Parenting. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss the important role of Play in a child’s life and in the parent’s life. Play doesn’t take a ton of effort like you might think. All it takes is focus. Play is anything your child delights in doing. You don’t have to spend a ton of energy coming up with scenarios or making crafts you found on pinterest, just stop and do whatever your child is doing as long as they are delighting in it. We’ll also discuss the benefits of play from the perspective of a child’s growth and overall health. And how you can divide and conquer to make sure each of your children is getting a bit of playtime without you burning out. Learn more about Sarah here. Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

This weeks question is from Hazel, “How do I react and respond when my child is biting me and other family members when he gets upset? Sometimes he hits or pinches us really hard. It's typically when he's been told no, or when something doesn't go the way he wants it to go. We're new to all of this, and I feel like we have no idea what to do. Help.”  In this episode, I will address what to do when your child is hitting, biting, or pinching when they’re upset. I will provide you with strategies on how to divert and redirect this negative behavior, how to keep yourself calm, and ways to structure your caregiving methods to build positive self-regulating skills.  Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Dr. Kelly Mahler, has a doctorate in occupational therapy, and has been an occupational therapist for 18 years serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is the winner of multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award, and a Mom's Choice Gold Medal. She's an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Elizabethtown College and is actively involved in several research projects pertaining to topics like interoception, self-regulation, trauma, and autism. Kelly is an international speaker and presents frequently on topics related to a wide variety of resources she has authored. She's got lots of great books and resources, like The Interoception Curriculum, Interoception Activity Cards, Sensory Issues, and High-Functioning Autism. In this episode, Dr. Kelly and I are going to talk about the importance of the 8th sense, also known as the interoception sensory system, which helps you understand and feel your bodily cues.  This critical system is often forgotten about and problematic in sensory processing disorder individuals, where it can be over or under-functioning. We will discuss how this severely impacts the life and development of a child or adult that is struggling to modulate it and share clinical approaches to strengthening this system. Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Follow Dr. Kelly Mahler Free resources kelly-mahler.com Join free Facebook group: for "Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System" Instagram: @kelly_mahler Twitter: @kmahlerkmahler Books

This weeks question is from Andrea “I grew up in a home where we had meals together most nights, and I want to do the same thing for my family, but I'm struggling because my kids who are 3, 7, and 13 don't want to sit at the table and participate in a family meal. They want their devices, they want to eat in the other room, or they just want to grab something and eat whenever they want. My partner doesn't think it's a big deal and tells me to stop trying to make family meals happen, but I don't think the way we're doing things is good for any of us. Do you have ideas for making family meals more manageable?” In this episode, I will address why it is so important to have family mealtime for both children and adults.  I will share how to implement successful, supportive healthy mealtime routines strategies, even for families with resistive behaviors or who need accommodations for children with developmental challenges. You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurkens.com with the subject line "Podcast Question." Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Serena Poon, a nutritional energy practitioner who fuses her expertise as a celebrity chef, holistic nutritionist and Reiki Master to serve her A-list clientele from the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer to Kerry Washington and many more. Serena Loves was launched in 2019, a lifestyle brand blog and TV show that encompasses all the pillars of optimal health and well-being. This is achieved through her method of culinary alchemy, which is a combination of education, integrative and functional nutrition, and healing energy. She is also the founder of Just Add Water, a wellness line of super nutrient foods and supplements. In this episode, Serena and I discuss energy healing, spirituality, and a particular healing modality called Reiki. We're going to delve into what Reiki is, how it can be helpful for children and really everyone in the family, along with how energy healing can combine with nutrition and other approaches to benefit kids and families, both physically and mentally. Learn more about Serena here. Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com  

This weeks listener question is from Debbie, "My eight-year-old son has ADHD, and I'm constantly frustrated with his lack of listening. I'll tell him something or ask him to do something, and he acts like he doesn't hear me, or says, “Yup", but then doesn't do it. Sometimes I tell him it's time to do something, and he just runs the other way and refuses. I feel like I spend all day trying to get him to listenand do what he's told. I've tried all the reward charts and consequences, but they don't have a consistent impact, and they just create more work for me to manage. How can I get him to understand that he needs to listen and do things the first time he's told?” In this episode, I will address the challenge most parents face; how to get kids to listen better! Whether it's a stubborn kid, one kid who has ADHD, is on the autism spectrum, has anxiety, or has behavior challenges, the principles and effective approaches I share work for all ages and stages of development.  You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurkens.com with the subject line "Podcast Question." Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Sue Simmons. Sue is on a mission to change the way our society views and addresses Autism. For decades, frazzled parents of autistic children have waited anxiously for treatment, feeling helpless and dependent. Sue proposes a new paradigm armed with training and knowledge: Not only are parents able to make dramatic changes in their children's lives, but they are ideally suited to do so. Her refreshing approach puts parents back in the driver's seatwith a focus on building safe emotional relationships rather than only seeking compliance. In this episode, you'll be hearing from the mother of a now-adult son with ASD. Sue and I discuss Autism and related disorders. We learn about their journey (she and her son) and how it changed her perspective on what's really important when it comes to treatment and support for kids and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Learn more about Sue’s complimentary session and training here. Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

This weeks question, “My four-year-old consistently urinates on himself at night and even during the day while he's awake. His response is that he doesn't care about using the bathroom and doesn't want to stop his playtime in order to use it. I've tried everything from rationalizing with him, encouraging and congratulating him when he goes to the bathroom, and admittedly even putting him in timeout or taking away his toys when he urinates on himself. He has not experienced any recent trauma that I'm aware of. There haven't been any major changes in our family that could possibly be connected to this. Nothing seems to be helping, I would appreciate your insight.” In this episode, I will address a very common issue, potty training regression, especially when kids claim they just don’t care or don’t want to stop playing. I will give some background on what is appropriate for different developmental stages, discuss potential underlying issues, and provide strategies to get them to want to keep their pants (and bed) dry. You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurkens.com with the subject line "Podcast Question."

My guest this week is Maria Davis-Pierre, the founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc. This organization aims to bring awareness to autism and reduce the stigma associated with the diagnosis in the Black community. Her unique approach exemplifies her drive and motivation toward greater acceptance and overcoming the barriers and personal struggles associated with raising a Black autistic child. Maria has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, she's collaborated with Microsoft, and personally has a wealth of experience on this topic.  In this episode, Maria and I discuss the unique stigma and struggles in the Black community as it relates to autism and related kinds of disabilities. Maria describes how we can better meet the needs of Black families who have children on the autism spectrum or other neurodiverse challenges. This topic is not talked about enough, I hope practitioners, school professionals, and parents put into practice all of the advice Maria provides in this episode. Learn more about Maria here. Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

This weeks question is from Salome, “My 10-year-old son is academically and socially gifted, but has issues around writing, even though he's an avid reader and speaker. I trace it back to earlier school years where he had mechanical difficulties with fine motor skills, with holding the pencil, forming letters, etc. And my reaction to it was over-practicing and pressuring him to try harder. I've come a long way and see how unhelpful that was. Now, he resists writing and it turns into a major battle. What would you suggest I do to help him get over this?”  In this episode, I will address how to overcome writing resistance and difficulties with children. We will discuss the complexities around why writing is one of the biggest academic challenges, and provide you with lots of simple tips, strategies, and resources to encourage writing skill development. You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurkens.com with the subject line "Podcast Question." Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com