De Facto Leaders

One of the best ways to take care of your kids is to take care of the people taking care of our kids. That includes any professionals working with your child, like teachers, school therapists, administrators, and coaches to name a few. If you know anyone in any of those positions, you know it can be a thankless job. That became even more apparent this year after school staff endured harsh criticism no matter what decisions they made.  Despite this, thousands of educational and medical professionals continued to make sacrifices, often at the expense of their own health and well-being, in the interest of helping our kids. If you're a parent who's about to send your kids off to school, it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget about those people who have, and will continue to develop your kids, day after day. That's why in episode 21, I invite you to pause and think about those people. People who work in the school and medical setting, or any other facility that exists for the purpose of supporting young people.    Specifically, I share: ✅What you can do to make a teacher's day (and why this will mean the world to them). ✅Why a simple "thanks" at the end of an email sign-off  or phone call is not enough (and what to do instead) ✅What most people forget to share with teachers/therapists who work with kids (and why it's so important for them to know). ✅Action steps you can do this year that will help support your school and make it a better place for your child.  Also, remember to check out my free parent guide where I share the set of skills that kids need in order to stay organized, focused, and motivated during their day-to-day tasks like chores and homework. You can sign up for the guide here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/parentguide The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

It can be frustrating when you aren't sure how to best support your child; especially when it comes to schoolwork. If you have a child who gets some type of specialized services and therapies, that makes it even more complicated. The good news is that strong communication with the professionals helping your child can make it much easier.  The problem is that it can be a challenge to figure out HOW to do it seamlessly; so you get the information you need to help your child.That's why in episode 20, I share simple, effective tips for communicating with your child's teachers and other school professionals (e.g., speech pathologists, coaches, social workers, etc.). I share: ✅How to approach school staff in a non-threatening, supportive way so you can get on the same page about what your child needs.✅What information you should share with school staff ASAP so you can have good communication through the year ✅Why school staff sometimes don't respond to communication attempts (plus tips for getting a quicker response).  ✅Why you should approach school staff about concerns relating to your child instead of waiting for them to initiate. Also, remember to check out my free parent guide to learn the set of skills kids need in order to stay organized, focused, and motivated during their day-to-day tasks like chores and homework. You can sign up for the guide here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/parentguide The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with Nicole Holcomb from Dyslexia Mom Life. Nicole is a lawyer, and educator (she's worked as a teacher, school counselor, and school administrator); but most importantly, she's a mom of a dyslexic daughter and the host of the Dyslexia Mom Life podcast where she provides information and support for moms of children with dyslexia. In this conversation, she shares:  ✅Red flags of dyslexia that indicate that you may want to seek out a professional evaluation. ✅Why you shouldn't wait  for your child's school district to tell you your child is struggling. ✅How to determine if you should have your child evaluated for dyslexia. ✅The pros of getting a diagnosis, and why she feels it's helped empower her own child. ✅Common dyslexia myths (and why it's so important for parents to educate themselves). ✅How to be a strong advocate for your child when working with school staff. To connect with Nicole, you can visit her at her Dyslexia Mom Life website, find her on Facebook here, and can also reach out to her at nicole@dyslexiamomlife.com.Nicole hosts the Dyslexia Mom Life podcast, and supports moms of dyslexic children in her online program, the  Dyslexia Parenting Academy.In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on two popular shows: "Love on the Spectrum" and "Atypical". *Please note: This episode is marked "explicit" because I discuss certain topics that may not be suitable for young children. Being someone who's spent a lot of time working with autistic people (as well as someone who doesn't identify as neurotypical), I procrastinated in watching these shows. I think I was afraid I'd hate what I saw, and that I'd be cringing the whole time. I finally sat down to watch them, and I wanted to share my thoughts on both of these shows, including: ✅What both shows got wrong when it comes to raising autism acceptance. ✅Where a lot of social skills interventions for autistic individuals fall short. ✅Why "curing" or "fixing" autism is not the point of intervention. ✅Which of these two shows I'll continue to watch and why. ✅How to help autistic people live functional, healthy lives. In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In the spring, I often get a lot of questions about what parents should be doing with their kids over the summer to keep them from regressing.That’s why in episode 016 of the Are they 18 yet?™ podcast, I shared my tips and recommendations for summer “school” work, so the back-to-school routine doesn’t throw your family in to a complete state of chaos in the fall.I talk through:✅How to start your day off on the right foot, so you can avoid meltdowns and arguments.✅How keeping routines in place can actually allow you and your kids to enjoy more leisure time together.✅How to set expectations for structured vs unstructured time (and why both are important).✅How much time to spend on “school” type tasks over the summer for K-12 kids.✅Some simple academic tasks you should be doing with your K-12 kids over the summer to keep them on track for the school year. In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework), without arguments, or constant hand-holding.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Robbins, a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with young children with autism, apraxia, and other conditions that impact communication.You’ll find this conversation extremely helpful if you’re a parent of a toddler and you want to know how to interact with them in a way that helps them to build the speech and communication skills they need to thrive.During this interview, we talk about:How you can help your child develop essential skills such as “communicative intent”, so they can share their wants and needs.Common signs of nonverbal communication that people often miss, and why noticing these signs is critical for your child’s developmentSigns and symptoms of diagnoses that impact both speech and language development in children, such as autism or apraxia of speech.Tips for playing with your child in a way that facilitates language and cognitive growth.How to push your child out of their comfort zone in a healthy way, so they can expand their skills and become more independent and connected.How to use your child’s interests to make nonpreferred tasks (homework, cleaning, chores) more engaging.How to increase your child’s ability to focus on a task (even if they are extremely active).To connect with Rebecca Robbins, you can visit her website here, follow her on Instagram at @mindshaperslp or visit her Facebook page here.If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then check out the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

When I was growing up, the idea of being diagnosed with a mental health condition or a disability had a certain negative stigma associated with it.To be honest, my choice to become a pediatric speech pathologist and eventually get a doctorate in special education didn’t initially have to do with my own personal struggles. I was too deep in to denial to think of that.There were certain sensory needs I had…and when I found ways to meet them through what I now realize was stimming, I’d find myself wondering, “Is this weird???”When I found myself triggered, agitated, or overwhelmed by certain situations…I’d think, “Come on Karen…suck it up. This is what all the normal people are doing.”That’s why in episode 014 of the Are They 18 Yet?™ Podcast, I talk about my own sensory and neurological profile and why I don’t identify as neurotypical.Specifically, I share:How my sensory needs presented when I was a child and how I’ve found ways to meet my sensory needs as an adult with different hobbies.What kind of stimming I still engage in, and how those have behaviors evolved from childhood to the present time.My productive and not-so-productive self-soothing behaviors, including the ones I’m still working through.Sensory triggers I had as a child and how I gradually increased my sensory tolerance (including why I went through a phase where spandex was the only thing I would wear).Triggering situations that made me feel dysregulated and distracted, and how I perceived them as a child.How I internalized my own attending difficulties (and how they impacted my physical health).I could go on with a million bullet points here…but to sum it all up…this is my story. I hope hearing it helps you if you’re working through some of these things yourself or with your child. If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then checkout the Time Tracking Journal.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In episode 013, I sit down with my husband Joe as we share how we handled conversations on some difficult topics when we first got together. Specifically, we talk about how we handled the money conversation early on, in addition to how we continue to manage our finances and talk about money with Olivia. I firmly believe that if you are in a relationship, one of the keys to being a good parent is having a strong relationship with your partner. One of the most common arguments in romantic partnerships has to do with money; so being on the same page can eliminate a ton of drama future down the line. In this conversation, we talk about:What it was like for Joe dating as a single parent, and what he did to gauge whether or not people had what he was looking for in a partner.What it was like for me as a single person thinking about joining an existing family unit (including my cold feet about parenting).How dating was different when a child was involved, and why we both adopted a direct, no-BS policy right away.How having the hard conversations early on helped to ease my anxiety about parenting.Our financial system we use for spending, saving, and investing (and how we use it to eliminate arguments before they start).Our philosophies on “guilt free” spending, and how we allow each other freedom with spending (and still take care of the important stuff).How we talk to Olivia about money; including what we wish we would have learned about money as kids.If you want to build a stronger relationship with your partner AND help your kids grow up with a healthy relationship with money, I know you’ll enjoy this episode.If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then check out the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, I sit down with writer and speaker Dr. Kate Browne to talk about the narratives being told in the media, the impact it has on our beliefs, and the way it’s effecting our kids’ health and well-being.In this interview, Dr. Browne shares both her personal experiences that led to her becoming an activist for body positivity, as well as her research on the story telling that goes on in advertising. Specifically we talk about:✅Why before/after weight loss stories can often do more harm than good when it comes to self-acceptance.✅The “social media contract”: What it is and how to educate our kids to become responsible consumers of information.✅Dr. Browne’s personal experiences in common weight-loss programs as an adolescent, and how it led to the work she currently does now with body positivity and activism.✅Traumatic elementary school gym class experiences (for both of us) that had an impact on self-esteem and body image.✅How to shift the stories we believe about who “belongs” in certain activities (like sports) so we can make the world a more accepting place.✅What youth leaders (teachers, parents, coaches) can do to make activities more inviting to a more diverse range of participants. Dr. Kate Browne is a writer, speaker, and researcher on a mission to rewrite the stories we tell about ourselves. She uses her PhD in Writing Pedagogy for good as a professor and marketing consultant.Kate is also the Learning Experience Designer for HeyKiddo, a social-emotional curriculum for kids and the adults that love them. The proud mother of an 8-year-old, Kate spends her free time learning Parry Gripp songs and pretending to enjoy playing Minecraft.You can connect with Dr. Browne on Twitter and Instagram @drkatebrowne.Also mentioned in this interview: Her book on the Golden Girls and how it portrays a narrative on gender and status for women, her Runner’s World article What ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ Gets Wrong About Running While Fat, and her TEDx Talk, “How I Found Real Fitness Inspiration–Saying ‘No’ to Fitspo”If you want a tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then checkout the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1 The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this special pop-up episode, I take a break from the regular content to talk about burnout and boundaries; and specifically how I use systems to help me set healthy boundaries and reduce burnout. Back when I started working as an SLP in 2004, I found there was one area of my life (work-related) that caused an exponentially larger amount of stress than other things in my life. So much, in fact, that this ONE thing was impacting me in other areas of life outside of work. Like health and relationships. That’s why in this episode, I share: ✅What I didn’t feel prepared to deal with when I first started my career (that I was NOT expecting). ✅How having one super stressful responsibility at work had a snowball effect on other areas of life. ✅Why not having a system for a challenging area at work took a toll on my relationships at home. ✅The questions you can ask yourself to identify the ONE area of your life causing the most stress (that if addressed, could lead to improvements in all other areas). In this episode, I mention the Language Therapy Master Package, a 4-course bundle designed to give SLPs a COMPLETE SYSTEM for language therapy.If you’re a pediatric SLP, the Language Therapy Master Package will show you set of evidence-based strategies designed to build language & vocabulary in a framework designed just for SLPs. Click here to learn how to enroll now: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagemasterpack/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.