Complicated Kids

Why do some kids (and adults) struggle with planning, staying on task, or managing big emotions—even when they're trying their best? In this episode of The Complicated Kids Podcast, I talk with executive function coach Carrie Bonnett about the brain-based skills that help us get things done. Carrie breaks down how challenges with executive function show up across ages and stages, and why these skills need to be taught explicitly—not just expected. We dive into how parents and educators can shift from frustration to support, the power of practice and repetition, and why even tools like planners only work when we teach how to use them. Learn more about Carrie and her work at www.CarrieBonnett.com. About your host, Gabriele Nicolet Join Gabriele Nicolet, podcast host, parenting life coach and speech therapist, weekly for practical strategies and tips on raising complicated kids. Learn how to go from surviving to thriving and create a family culture in which every family member can feel valued, seen and heard. With a practical, relationship-based, family-friendly approach, Gabriele provides tools and insights parents need to create a more balanced and fun family life.If you've been listening and wondering what next steps to take to help your child, I am here for you. Maybe you're wondering whether your kiddo needs a speech and language evaluation, or occupational therapy, or some behavioral intervention to deal with picky eating, anger, meltdowns, hitting and biting. With over 20 years of experience, my knowledge of child development and the available options goes deep. Maybe you just want some practical tips on how to get through the day and feel like a better parent. We can unpack that too. Sound good? Learn more at www.gabrielenicolet.com. Complicated Kids Resources and Links: 🌎 www.gabrielenicolet.com 📅Schedule a free intro call at https://calendly.com/gabrielenicolet/free-15-minute-1-1-session. 📺Subscribe to Gabriele's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@complicatedkids/featured 👾Grab Tell the Story - my powerful anti-anxiety tool for kids https://www.gabrielenicolet.com/tell-the-story ➡️ http://instagram.com/gabriele_nicolet ➡️ http://facebook.com/gabriele.nicolet ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielenicolet/ 🌺Grab our free checklist to find out if you're raising an Orchid Kid https://www.raisingorchidkids.com/orchid-kid-check-list-sign-up/

In this episode of The Complicated Kids Podcast, I dive into the concept of the neutrality of circumstances with guest Penny Williams. We explore how circumstances themselves—things happening in the world—are neutral and only gain meaning through the thoughts and emotions we assign to them. Drawing on personal experiences and insights, Penny discusses how reframing our perspectives can transform our reactions, especially as parents of neurodivergent kids. She challenges us to examine our beliefs, embrace the full spectrum of human emotions, and cultivate a mindset of agency and joy—without resorting to toxic positivity. To find out more about Penny, purchase the books she has written and get insights on what is coming next for Penny, visit her website at www.parentingadhdandautism.com.

Ever wonder why some kids struggle so deeply with eating—and why it's not just about being picky? In this episode of The Complicated Kids Podcast, I sit down with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters, to unpack the complexities of pediatric feeding disorders (PFD). Jaclyn shares how Feeding Matters supports families and educates professionals on challenges that go far beyond food preferences—touching medical, developmental, and psychosocial layers of feeding difficulties. We explore why recognizing PFD as a formal diagnosis matters, the barriers families face in accessing care, and how understanding feeding holistically can make a world of difference. Learn more about Jaclyn and her work at www.feedingmatters.org. About your host, Gabriele Nicolet Join Gabriele Nicolet, podcast host, parenting life coach and speech therapist, weekly for practical strategies and tips on raising complicated kids. Learn how to go from surviving to thriving and create a family culture in which every family member can feel valued, seen and heard. With a practical, relationship-based, family-friendly approach, Gabriele provides tools and insights parents need to create a more balanced and fun family life.If you've been listening and wondering what next steps to take to help your child, I am here for you. Maybe you're wondering whether your kiddo needs a speech and language evaluation, or occupational therapy, or some behavioral intervention to deal with picky eating, anger, meltdowns, hitting and biting. With over 20 years of experience, my knowledge of child development and the available options goes deep. Maybe you just want some practical tips on how to get through the day and feel like a better parent. We can unpack that too. Sound good? Learn more at www.gabrielenicolet.com. Complicated Kids Resources and Links: 🌎 www.gabrielenicolet.com 📅Schedule a free intro call at https://calendly.com/gabrielenicolet/free-15-minute-1-1-session. 📺Subscribe to Gabriele's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@complicatedkids/featured 👾Grab Tell the Story - my powerful anti-anxiety tool for kids https://www.gabrielenicolet.com/tell-the-story ➡️ http://instagram.com/gabriele_nicolet ➡️ http://facebook.com/gabriele.nicolet ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielenicolet/ 🌺Grab our free checklist to find out if you're raising an Orchid Kid https://www.raisingorchidkids.com/orchid-kid-check-list-sign-up/

I'm here solo today to talk about holiday survival tips. First, start with YOURSELF. Be kind and compassionate with yourself: you're allowed. Prioritize your nervous system so that you can co-regulate with your kiddos. Next, what accommodations might your kids need in order to make it through changes in food, routine and personnel? Can you set those up in advance? Sending you so much love for this holiday season.

How do you keep your cool—and help your child feel safe—when the world around you feels out of control? Penny Williams joins me to explore how external stressors—like natural disasters—can heighten family tension and impact our kids' behavior. We talk about how staying mindful of our own responses and building emotional resilience can make a big difference, especially when supporting children who need extra patience and understanding. You'll walk away with practical strategies for self-regulation and tools to help your kids feel more secure, even when life gets overwhelming. Learn more about Penny and her work at parentingadhdandautism.com. About your host, Gabriele Nicolet Join Gabriele Nicolet, podcast host, parenting life coach and speech therapist, weekly for practical strategies and tips on raising complicated kids. Learn how to go from surviving to thriving and create a family culture in which every family member can feel valued, seen and heard. With a practical, relationship-based, family-friendly approach, Gabriele provides tools and insights parents need to create a more balanced and fun family life.If you've been listening and wondering what next steps to take to help your child, I am here for you. Maybe you're wondering whether your kiddo needs a speech and language evaluation, or occupational therapy, or some behavioral intervention to deal with picky eating, anger, meltdowns, hitting and biting. With over 20 years of experience, my knowledge of child development and the available options goes deep. Maybe you just want some practical tips on how to get through the day and feel like a better parent. We can unpack that too. Sound good? Learn more at www.gabrielenicolet.com. Complicated Kids Resources and Links: 🌎 www.gabrielenicolet.com 📅Schedule a free intro call at https://calendly.com/gabrielenicolet/free-15-minute-1-1-session. 📺Subscribe to Gabriele's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@complicatedkids/featured 👾Grab Tell the Story - my powerful anti-anxiety tool for kids https://www.gabrielenicolet.com/tell-the-story ➡️ http://instagram.com/gabriele_nicolet ➡️ http://facebook.com/gabriele.nicolet ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielenicolet/ 🌺Grab our free checklist to find out if you're raising an Orchid Kid https://www.raisingorchidkids.com/orchid-kid-check-list-sign-up/

Claire Lerner came back to the Complicated Kids Podcast to talk about inflexibility in kids. We talked about so much more! Parents and educators alike will want to listen for scripts to use when kids are having a hard time and when they're testing limits. Turns out: limits are loving and boundaries are scaffolds for learning resilience and flexibility! Did you know?! Have a listen. To find out more about Claire, visit www.lernerchilddevelopment.com.

In this week's Complicated Kids Podcast I am joined by Dr. Emily King with some deep insights for parents, teachers, and therapists on supporting neurodivergent kids. Dr. King is a child psychologist specializing in neurodivergent kids and teens. We tackle key challenges, like modifying the definition of success, accommodating different learning styles, and supporting asynchronous development. We provide practical strategies for adults to better understand and assist children in thriving on their own terms, breaking away from rigid cultural expectations of success. To find out more about Dr. King, visit her website at www.learnwithdremily.com.

What if the key to helping your child thrive isn't just more therapy—but understanding the nervous system beneath their behavior? In this episode of the Complicated Kids Podcast, I talk with Veronica Alkon, who saw firsthand how early intervention helped her son—but wanted to go deeper. She shares her journey with the Musgatova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration Method (MNRI) and how it transformed not only her son's progress, but her entire perspective on the human nervous system. We had a few connectivity hiccups during recording, so thanks for hanging in there with us—this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Learn more about Veronica and her work at www.treatbodyandmind.com. About your host, Gabriele Nicolet Join Gabriele Nicolet, podcast host, parenting life coach and speech therapist, weekly for practical strategies and tips on raising complicated kids. Learn how to go from surviving to thriving and create a family culture in which every family member can feel valued, seen and heard. With a practical, relationship-based, family-friendly approach, Gabriele provides tools and insights parents need to create a more balanced and fun family life.If you've been listening and wondering what next steps to take to help your child, I am here for you. Maybe you're wondering whether your kiddo needs a speech and language evaluation, or occupational therapy, or some behavioral intervention to deal with picky eating, anger, meltdowns, hitting and biting. With over 20 years of experience, my knowledge of child development and the available options goes deep. Maybe you just want some practical tips on how to get through the day and feel like a better parent. We can unpack that too. Sound good? Learn more at www.gabrielenicolet.com. Complicated Kids Resources and Links: 🌎 www.gabrielenicolet.com 📅Schedule a free intro call at https://calendly.com/gabrielenicolet/free-15-minute-1-1-session. 📺Subscribe to Gabriele's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@complicatedkids/featured 👾Grab Tell the Story - my powerful anti-anxiety tool for kids https://www.gabrielenicolet.com/tell-the-story ➡️ http://instagram.com/gabriele_nicolet ➡️ http://facebook.com/gabriele.nicolet ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielenicolet/ 🌺Grab our free checklist to find out if you're raising an Orchid Kid https://www.raisingorchidkids.com/orchid-kid-check-list-sign-up/

In this episode of The Complicated Kids Podcast, I sit down with Caroline Turner, a social worker passionate about supporting children with autism, to talk about Quirky Buds. Turner's project, Quirky Buds, is a platform that she created to help neurodiverse individuals find friends based on shared interests. Turner explains the inspiration behind Quirky Buds and the need for creating community connections tailored for individuals who often have unique and specific interests (think: elevators or Minecraft). Find out more about Caroline by visiting www.quirkybuds.com.

Christi Hay, a pediatrician in private practice, joins me on the podcast today to share tips for how parents can partner with their pediatrician -- even when they don't have a lot of time. We also talk about brains, talking to kids about their brains, how to celebrate brain-based differences and see the person in front of us. To find out more about Christi, visit her website at www.palisadespeds.com.