Complicated Kids

Sarice Holley stopped by to chat about how to get kids to make healthier food choices. Hint: it involves adults providing fruits and veggies instead of snack bags and treats. And, it also involves allowing children to be the boss of their own meals through simple strategies. To learn more about Sarice, visit her website at www.sariceholley.com.

Are you confused about why your kiddo was doing fine at the beginning of the year, but now seems to be melting down more often? In this solo episode, I'll break down why that might be happening and give you some practical strategies for what to do to help your complicated kid through this challenge.

Breath Taking: a Memoir of Family, Dreams and Broken Genes by Jessica Fein is the moving story about a mother navigating her daughter's rare, life-threatening illness. Jessica came to share perspectives and lessons learned on the Complicated Kids Podcast. Her story highlights the strength required to face adversity as well as how she advocated and navigated all the twists and turns along the way. Join us for his powerful conversation. Find out more about Jessica and her journey by visiting her website, www.jessicafeinstories.com.

This week I am joined by Author, Parent Coach, and mother of an autistic child, Susanna Peace Lovell to talk about her experience raising a child with special needs. Susanna gets vulnerable with us to share some of the lessons she learned through her experiences with her daughter and how she came to learn that she and her daughter were both on their own journeys in life, and that they were both whole and complete individuals who did not need to be "fixed." Her work instead was to advocate for her child to be seen for who she is, in all her glory. To find out more about Susanna, how to work with her and where to find her book, visit www.susannapeacelovell.com.

Although many kids go through a picky eating phase, some kids will experience extremely picky eating. Picky eating is expected; extremely picky eating is not. Jennifer Friedman, RDN helps me unpack the terminology and provides us with strategies for picky eaters that parents can use while they search for the right feeding therapist, dietician, or occupational therapist to diagnose and treat their kiddo. Find out more about Jennifer at www.feedingpickyeaters.com.

Marian Flaxmann, Holistic Health Coach, chef, and Biomedical Science Policy Wonk joined me on the Complicated Kids podcast to talk about food allergies, food as medicine and her journey to health. Fussy, colicky, rash-y, and uncomfortable are the words Marian uses to describe her first child as a newborn. She cried all the time; she needed to be held all the time. The doctors said this was 'fine'; Marian didn't buy it. She googled something like, "Can babies be allergic to breastmilk" and decided to go on a temporary elimination diet. Within 24 hours, her baby's crying, gas, rash, and discomfort went away. And so began Marian's journey to heal her child's gut and microbiome. By adding foods back into her diet slowly, Marian was able to figure out the foods that her daughter was and wasn't allergic to. Marian brought this curiosity and her health knowledge to her other two daughters, who were also complicated kids. You won't want to miss this informative and lively conversation. For healthy recipes, Marian's podcast, and 1:1 health coaching, visit www.marianflaxman.com.

Why would a child want to crash into everything and everybody, but NOT tolerate when someone lightly brushes past them? Because: Sensory Processing. Join me and Occupational Therapist, Pia Seltmann, to unpack all things Sensory and how OT helps with motor, attention and regulation abilities. Find out more about Pia and her practice at https://www.tareducationinmotion.com.

Information Asymmetry abounds in the world of special education. Luckily, Seth Besse is on the scene! At Undivided, he is helping level the playing field for parents of complicated kids in California and (soon) beyond. Navigating Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), waivers and other government programs, as well as the healthcare system can be totally overwhelming, which is why the team at Undivided is there to help parents. Join us to learn how they're doing that. Find out more about Seth and how Undivided is helping families by visiting www.undivided.io.

Emily and I went TO TOWN talking about tech in schools. Have a listen to this spirited conversation about how tech gets used in schools (for good and for ill); the implications on child development of introducing tech into learning so early; as well as some things parents can do to mediate the effects of technology use at school. To find out more about Emily and her work, go to www.thescreentimeconsultant.com.

Founder of the Free Range Kids movement, Lenore Skenazy, joined me on the podcast today to talk about the importance of fostering independence in kids. She doesn't want much: just a social and cultural shift in the way we think about kids' safety (they're safer now than they've been since the 1970's); adult discomfort (anxiety rates are skyrocketing); and supervision more generally. Lenore reminds us that "When parents step back, kids step up". Join us for a conversation about what that means - even for complicated kids. To find out more about Lenore and her work, go to www.LetGrow.org.