Shows
De Facto LeadersSelf-care cabaret for teachers, therapists, and school leaders (with Dr. Theresa-Melito Conners)We’ve all sat through some boring professional development before; but there’s nothing boring about the training you’ll get from Dr. MC, the guest on episode 103 of the De Facto Leaders podcast. Many people in “helping professions” like education and healthcare focus more on taking care of others instead of taking care of themselves; which is why I wanted to have Dr. MC on the show to talk about how school leaders can make self-care a part of K-12 culture. But not just for the students; for the staff. Dr. Theresa Melito-Conne...
2023-03-1557 minDe Facto LeadersThe science of reading: A team approach (with Brett Stevens)There are a lot of approaches to teaching kids to read; but not all of them are effective. This is especially important for kids with disabilities who need explicit instruction. That’s why in episode 102, I had special education consultant and host of the Science of Special Education podcast, Brett Stevens, on the show to talk about the Science of Reading. Brett is a special education consultant focused on literacy and legal compliance. She has spent over 20 years within the field of special education serving in a variety of roles including special education teacher, school ad...
2023-03-081h 05De Facto LeadersHow school therapists can lead schools in providing district-wide executive functioning supportsStrong executive functioning skills can help kids to be resilient, adaptable, and independent. These characteristics are going to be essential for supporting mental health and success going forward. EVERYONE who interacts with school-age kids on a daily basis has the chance to support executive functioning, and not addressing this skill is a huge missed opportunity. Many treatment teams do not adequately address executive functioning, which is why so many clinicians notice their clients struggle with social skills, behavior, and academic skills despite getting therapy. This is not the fault of the school staff. Often they simply don't have the support o...
2023-03-0131 minDe Facto LeadersWorking with your building principal to create a win-win-win (with Dr. Gastrid Harrigan)On episode 100 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Gastrid Harrigan has been an educator for over 19 years as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal, and currently as Principal in Broward County, Florida. In addition, Dr. Harrigan is a Professor of Education at Broward College and Colorado State University Global. He’s also the host of The School Leaders Podcast, a show focused on helping current and aspiring principals and school leaders navigate their leadership journey. One of the biggest challenges that school clinicians face is effectively collaborating with members of their IEP teams; including thos...
2023-02-221h 01De Facto LeadersCleft palate, resonance disorders, and market research (with Allison Fors)On episode 99 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview Allison Fors, who is a pediatric SLP-A, mom to a child with a cleft palate, and a Teachers Pay Teachers seller with tons of great resources for early language. Allison is an SLP-A in California. She has primarily worked with diagnoses of autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delays in schools at the K-12 level, as well as private practice. Her interests include early language, as well as understanding and incorporating sensory strategies into sessions. She also has a cleft-affected daughter, which bega...
2023-02-1858 min
De Facto LeadersHow to become a children's book author (with Valerie Doherty)On episode 98 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview children’s book author and veteran SLP, Valerie Doherty. Valerie has over 30 years of experience as an SLP, and in 2011 her passion for language and literacy inspired her to start writing children’s books. Readers need physical books they can actually hold in their hands, which is why many authors want to go back to the basics and give young readers good quality books they can interact with. If you’ve ever aspired to be a part of that process through writing your own books, you may kno...
2023-02-081h 10
De Facto LeadersGetting a “Yes” from your school administrator (with Marva Mount)On episode 97 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview SLP and Related Services Director, Marva Mount. Marva is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding public school speech and language services. She is a published chapter author, and has been awarded the Hall of Fame Award for outstanding contributions to the field of speech pathology by her state organization. In addition, Marva is a distinguished fellow in the National Academies of Practice, and has served school-aged populations from ages 3 to 22 for almost 40 years. She currently works for Imagine Learning. Marva has made a career out...
2023-02-011h 02
De Facto LeadersSupporting bilingualism in K-12 kids (with Briana Wagner)I’m SO excited to share episode 96 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, where I sat down with Bilingual School Psychologist, Briana Wagner. Briana started out as a teacher, but soon made a career transition to school psychologist. She’s also bilingual and knows a ton about how to support culturally and linguistically diverse students. In early 2022, she started the @educationallypsyched Instagram account where she shares information about the school psychologist’s role, as well as a number of topics related to special education eligibility and service delivery. In our conversation, we get in to a number o...
2023-01-251h 11
De Facto LeadersCreating therapy materials to serve your caseload and build a business (with Hallie Sherman)In episode 95 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast I sat down with Hallie Sherman, a school speech-language pathologist, blogger, and business owner from SpeechTimeFun (https://speechtimefun.com/). When Hallie started working as a school SLP, she had a difficult time finding materials for middle school and high school students. After a lot of trial and error, she managed to create her own tools to serve her students. In 2012, she decided to start a blog and start sharing some of these resources with others; thinking that no one would ever read it. Fast forward to the pres...
2023-01-1842 min
De Facto LeadersUsing YouTube to support clients and foster innovation (with Clay Hadden)In episode 94 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast I sat down with Clay Hadden (a.k.a. Mister Clay), a private practice SLP and YouTuber from South Carolina. We had a fantastic conversation about how to come up with creative ways to serve your caseload and play a part in advocacy issues relating to health care and education. At the beginning of the pandemic, Clay found that he wasn’t able to serve a large portion of his caseload due to the lockdown. But on top of that, he found that many of his clients couldn’t get fund...
2023-01-111h 02
De Facto LeadersMistakes I made and points of clarity (working memory, attention, positive reinforcement)I’m continually learning and developing my understanding of language and executive functioning, as well as how to help teams work together to better support these skills. That’s why I recently decided to audit some of the content I have floating around the internet. In truth, I have a lot out there because I like to get content into the hands of clinicians who need it as quickly as possible, which is why I do a lot of impromptu videos and run a lean operation. And since I’m human I had (and likely still...
2023-01-0444 min
De Facto LeadersRecovering from burnout (with Angie Merced)Therapist burnout is prevalent among SLPs, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals supporting K-12 kids. That’s why I was so excited to have special guest Angie Merced on the De Facto Leaders podcast for episode 92. Angie is a Certified Life Coach and School-Based SLP. She lives with her husband and two little girls in the Rochester, NY area. Her passion is to rescue SLPs who are feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and trapped in a career they're "supposed" to love. She shows her clients how to reclaim their energy, create more time an...
2022-12-281h 00
De Facto LeadersHow to help students generalize skills (even if you only see them once a week)Generalization is one of the most common complaints I hear from school therapists, regardless of the discipline. If you’re a clinician, you know how frustrating it is when a student seems to grasp a skill in your sessions, but doesn’t ever apply it outside your room. In episode 91, I wanted to talk about why this happens. Many therapists are very focused on building their clinical skills and planning therapy sessions. This means a lot of focus on how to support students when they’re in a direct therapy session. This is obviously an important part of...
2022-12-2136 min
Ma terre happy | Bien-être & spiritualité12. Faire le choix d’aller voir un thérapeute - Stéphanie MalletFaire le choix d’aller voir un thérapeute n’est pas toujours facile mais vous serez étonné des bienfaits que cela peut avoir dans votre vie.
Stéphanie est Webdesigner, passionnée de la vie et maman d’une petite fille. Dans cet épisode un peu spécial elle nous partage ses expériences auprès de différents thérapeutes et l’impact que cette décision a eu dans sa vie. À quel moment a-t-elle décidé de faire le premier pas? Pourquoi ? Comment a-t-elle choisi ses thérapeutes ? Pourquoi des médecines alternatives plutôt que traditionnelles ?
2022-12-2047 min
De Facto LeadersCreating grassroots movements to support kids in your community (with Merlin Anderson)There’s a lot of talk within the therapy world about effective therapy strategies; but there’s NOT a lot of talk about how to get funding so programs can actually deliver support and resources. That’s why I was so excited to have Merlin Anderson on the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about what’s known as “ABC runs”. The concept of an ABC run started with 5 friends who wanted to help a local outdoor center with children’s programs to build a new facility. They decided to get together to go for a run...
2022-12-1449 min
De Facto LeadersWhat district wide activities are relevant to school therapists?If you’re a school therapist, you’ve likely been asked to do a lot of things within the school system that don’t seem totally relevant to your role as a clinician. Yet at the same time, you may often feel siloed off, like you’re not a part of the school team. That’s why in episode 88 of the De Facto Leaders podcast (formerly “Are they 18 yet?®”), I wanted to talk about what school therapists can do to feel more included, respected, and valued within the school community. Specifically, I talk about: Staff meetings: Should school therapis...
2022-12-0731 min
De Facto LeadersDe Facto Leaders: A New Show Title and DirectionIn this episode, I’m excited to officially announce the new direction for the podcast! The show is now called “De Facto Leaders” (it was formerly “Are they 18 yet?®”) I’ve been hinting at this for a while and have slowly transitioned the types of topics I’ve covered over the last year, but in this episode we’re making the official switch! When I originally launched the podcast, I did so in the parenting category; and aimed to share advice that would be helpful to parents and professionals of K-12 kids. The focus of the show is still focused on helpin...
2022-11-3030 min
De Facto LeadersWhat to do when the IEP team doesn't agreePart of a school therapist’s job is getting buy-in from the entire IEP team, but that can be difficult to do when team members don’t agree on what’s best for a student. That’s why in episode 86 of the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast, I walk through several case studies from my mentoring group to share how to handle it when this happens. As you listen, you're going to find that building relationships is essential to providing effective therapy services, and that with a couple key shifts you'll be able to establish connection and trust with coworkers. These example...
2022-11-2338 min
De Facto LeadersNavigating workplace conflict and getting team buy-inOne of the most powerful ways to provide comprehensive services for K-12 kids is by collaborating with other therapists and teachers… Which is why it’s frustrating when team members can’t come to a consensus about what’s best for kids. When you’re working together as a team, at least some conflict is inevitable. That’s why I wanted to share some case studies and Q & A sessions where members of my mentoring program for clinicians shared some real-life scenarios they were working through. In episode 86, I talk through how to collaborate when there's tension between outside therapists a...
2022-11-1639 min
De Facto LeadersEffective clinical supervision and creating leadership opportunitiesIf you’re a pediatric therapist or service provider, chances are you do some form of “supervising”, whether it’s in your job title or not. Part of being an effective clinical leader comes from working as a team and training others to do what we do, so kids can get support across settings. That’s why it’s important for you to think about how to supervise and mentor others, even if you’re not in an official clinical supervision role. That’s why in episode 85, I talked about how to navigate clinical supervision in pediatric settings. I share...
2022-11-0955 min
De Facto LeadersWhy you should plan for service delivery instead of planning for therapyOne of the biggest challenges for pediatric therapists is making sure their caseload has support across the day and across settings. This becomes incredibly difficult to do with limited direct therapy time and when service providers are working in silos. That’s why one of the most important things you can do to serve your caseload is think about service delivery before you get stuck in the weeds of IEP goals and therapy worksheets. Zooming out and looking at the bird's eye view is the first step in expanding your thinking and finding ways to be resourceful when supporting ki...
2022-11-0235 min
De Facto LeadersHow to provide high-quality support for your caseload with the "asset stack" methodA lot of your clinical training taught you how to be a good clinician.But often it doesn’t teach you how to "work the system" and get your kids what they need. The truth is, you can't make an impact without autonomy over your time, without adequate tools, without the right people, support, and financial resources. In the system you're working in, these things are limited. You may not have enough of these things right NOW to make the impact you want. But you can change that by putting yourself in a more influential position. ...
2022-10-2622 min
De Facto LeadersThe Danger of the Comfort ZoneIn episode 82, I sit down with my friend and mentor Stephanie Hayes and talk about comfort zones. I share my experiences within the context of my personal business, but this applies to therapists as well. Specifically, I share how the pandemic impacted the way I provide services and online education; plus some “convenient” excuses I used for avoiding work that felt scary or uncomfortable. Ultimately, everyone has that “thing” (or things) that causes discomfort. In this episode, I share what mine is, plus some things I’m doing to work through it. In this episode, I mentioned the School of Clinical...
2022-10-1946 min
De Facto LeadersWhose job is it to work on executive functioning?In the School of Clinical Leadership, I’ve devoted an entire suite of programs to educating professionals on executive functioning. Even though the focus of the program is about career development and leadership, I believe that any professional working with K-12 kids needs extensive knowledge of executive functioning in order to lead effectively. I’ve likely given away the “quick and dirty” answer to the title of the episode; because I think supporting executive functioning is everyone’s job. That being said, everyone’s role in the process is different. A teacher may support executive functioning in a different way than a pa...
2022-10-1245 min
De Facto LeadersCareer “test-runs” and calming your inner critic (with Stephanie Hayes)In this episode, I’m sharing a special conversation with my mentor, friend, and business consultant, Stephanie Hayes. Stephanie specializes in building businesses from the ground up by focusing on creating assets that allow small business owners to earn income and serve in a way that feels aligned and fulfilling to them. Even though she is technically like a “business coach/consultant”, many of her clients say that working with her is more like having a business partner. What she’s really amazing at doing is truly seeing the talent and vision in her clients before THEY even see it…and t...
2022-10-051h 02
De Facto LeadersThe low-risk way to explore career pivots (for therapists)There’s often a typical expected career path for pediatric clinicians, regardless of the discipline. It can often feel a bit constraining, especially if it doesn’t fully align with your strengths; or if the system you’re working in limits the way you serve your caseload. But what if you weren’t limited to the typical model, or the traditional job postings? What if you could design a clinical career on your own terms? This idea is exciting…but scary. Especially if you’re in a job that you enjoy and that feels “almost” in line with what you’d want to be...
2022-09-2831 min
De Facto LeadersThe Levels of Clinical LeadershipA lot of the clinicians I work with feel very “boxed in” when it comes to the typical career path for therapists. They’re boxed in by the way they have to provide services within the system, which often dictates how, when, and how often they see students/clients. They may feel boxed in by their schedule, their setting, or even their earning potential. Usually, they enjoy what they do, but have a nagging feeling that they could be doing more for their caseload, their field, and their community. What I’ve observed over the last 5 years of mentoring clinicia...
2022-09-2141 min
De Facto LeadersDon’t avoid problems. Plan for them.There are a lot of challenges that we face as therapists; but not all of them need to prevent us from delivering quality services. By facing our problems head on, often we can mitigate them or eliminate them completely. This doesn’t happen from avoiding or ignoring them. Instead, we need to get them all out on the table to figure out how to minimize them. This is also key in determining if you’re on the right career path, or if it’s time to pivot. I talk about how to think through this risk mitigation process in episod...
2022-09-1435 min
De Facto LeadersCreating assets and leverage to amplify the impact of your servicesWhen people talk about assets, they’re often thinking about personal finance. They’re talking about things like real estate, index funds, crypto and other things aimed at giving you some kind of return on your investment. But I want to talk about how therapists can apply this concept to what they do, because it's the key to making a bigger impact. When we make the “leadership shift” and start thinking about service delivery in the broader sense, we have to start thinking about how to coordinate an entire service plan for a student. This means utilizing other people and thin...
2022-09-0742 min
De Facto LeadersUsing your BS radar to practice EBPPart of our service to our clients comes back to following evidence-based practices. In the era of social media, that also means we need to sift through a massive amount of inaccurate information and help our clients do the same. It’s your job as a leader to sift through all of that, design services that are in-line with best practices, and create a “master plan” that allows you to complete all the steps to make it happen. This means that you need to be continually building your critical thinking skills and honing your “BS radar” so you can identify w...
2022-08-3131 min
De Facto LeadersTherapists are leaders in disguiseOne of the most common questions I get is “What am I supposed to do in therapy with students/clients?” Many of my readers want to know what strategies and techniques they need to do in therapy in order to help move their students forward. They’re very focused on “planning for therapy” or “lesson planning”; especially if they’re in the school systems. I think it makes sense to focus on these things some of the time. The way we’re trained often focuses on that “medical model” of service delivery. A lot can be accomplished with this model, and it’s a part...
2022-08-2437 min
De Facto LeadersWhy "work-life balance" is unattainable (and what to do instead)Therapists and teachers (and anyone else in a “helping people” profession) always have to take care of OTHER people…which is hard to do if you’re burnt out all the time. But most of the advice they’re given about “self-care” and achieving a “work-life” balance is unhelpful. There are a lot of “tips and tools” out there for stress relief and productivity. In the self-care realm, it ranges from reasonable suggestions like gratitude journaling or meditation to more questionable things like “crying in your car” or “hide in the bathtub with a bottle of wine and drown your sorrows”. Perhaps the b...
2022-08-1744 min
De Facto LeadersDLD, CAPD, dyslexia, hyperlexia and supporting literacyTherapists and educators supporting K-12 literacy have a lot of diagnoses and labels to navigate, and some of them are controversial. In some debates, the diagnosis itself is in question; Central Auditory Processing Disorder being one example. With hyperlexia, some people suggest that there is a certain way hyperlexic people need to learn to read; but the verdict is still out as to whether there is one specific method that is more effective for them. Diagnoses and labels can give us a roadmap. But this roadmap is often incomplete, with unclear directions for getting to o...
2022-08-0348 min
De Facto LeadersHow to make syntax instruction useful for the real worldSchools often get criticized for not teaching enough “real world” skills to kids, and there’s a lot of truth to that statement. Most of the therapists I work with are worried that what they do in therapy isn’t functional enough to transfer to day-to-day skills; and this is a legitimate concern. A lot of the clinicians I mentor have somewhere between 30-40 minutes with students; which means they have to make every second count. Some of them wonder if the traditional “pull out” therapy model is even useful at all. The truth is that there are certain...
2022-07-2752 min
De Facto LeadersWhat’s really causing “topic maintenance” issues?Topic maintenance is a skill I’ve seen on many language therapy IEPs in the category of “pragmatic language”, but often it’s a surface-level symptom of something else. When we’re talking about “topic maintenance” we’re often referring to someone’s ability to stay on a topic during a conversational exchange. Yet when we focus only on what we’re seeing externally, intervention can end up being unproductive. In some cases, it can even reinforce a negative self-image. That’s why in episode 69, I wanted to talk about the root causes behind topic maintenance issues and how we can support...
2022-07-2032 min
De Facto LeadersWhy I don't use language therapy goal banksI get a lot of questions about how to write language therapy goals… I ALSO get a lot of questions about whether I offer goal banks in any of my courses. I do offer a version of a “goal bank” in Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my course that teaches SLPs a framework for building metalinguistic awareness and independent word learning...but it’s not a goal bank in the traditional sense. In my opinion, goal banks do both students and clinicians a huge disservice. While I understand that clinicians need tools to help them be efficient with their pa...
2022-07-1324 min
De Facto LeadersDefining Vocabulary: It's more complicated than you thinkWhen people ask me where they should start in language therapy, I usually say they should start by building vocabulary. That usually results in a couple raised eyebrows and questions...mostly because they aren’t really sure how I’m defining “vocabulary”. That’s why in episode 67, I wanted to talk about what I actually mean when I say we should “work on vocabulary”, and why it’s so important to giving kids the skills they need to thrive. Specifically, I share: ✅Why vocabulary is much more than naming and identifying words.✅The 5 linguistic skills that impact wor...
2022-07-0631 min
De Facto LeadersLanguage therapy: Managing info overload and misinformationBack when I first started practicing, I found language therapy to be super overwhelming. There were so many peer-reviewed articles, books, and seminars, and it was hard to sift through it all and determine how to apply it to therapy. These days, we not only have to sort through lots of quality information…we have to ALSO sort through lots of inaccurate information. This can make it really hard to make it hard for professionals and parents to figure out how to support kids' language and literacy skills with the little time you have with your students. I do...
2022-06-2936 min
De Facto LeadersRerelease: Burnout, boundaries, and systemsIn episode 65, 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...
2022-06-2227 min
De Facto LeadersAre kids ready to work on complex sentences in early elementary school?In episode 64, I share a Q & A from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations members’ group about working on complex sentences with students in early elementary school. Part of the framework I teach focuses on building skills like morphology (e.g., knowledge of word parts like prefixes & suffixes) as well as syntax (the rules of how sentences are put together). These skills can not only boost a student's ability to decode what they’re reading, they can also have a positive impact on their ability to process the big picture of what they’re reading/and or writing. I get a lot...
2022-06-1527 min
De Facto LeadersNavigating dyslexia and working memory goalsIn episode 63, I share a Q & A from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations members’ group about dyslexia diagnosis and treatment, as well as working memory goals. I get a lot of questions about who is qualified to diagnose and treat dyslexia; especially when it comes to the SLP’s role in the process. Understanding the process of dyslexia diagnosis in the schools vs. medical settings can be especially confusing. That’s why I wanted to share this Q & A session with my LTA members where I talked about the SLP’s role in the process; including...
2022-06-0839 min
De Facto LeadersChildhood anxiety and mental health (with Dr. Ambroes Pass-Turner)There’s been an increase in depression and anxiety in kids in recent years, which is why I wanted to have an expert on the show who’s had years of experience working with childhood trauma and anxiety.In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ambroes Pass-Turner, who has worked in mental health for over 20 years and has experience working with children and adults. Dr. Pass-Turner is an expert in working with behavioral and emotionally disturbed children, adults, families, and offenders within the criminal justice system. She is a Doctor of Counseling Psychology and the owner of APT...
2022-06-0154 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding word-retrieval and independent word learning in K-12 kidsI get a ton of questions about how to support kids who have weak word-retrieval, so I wanted to share a powerful technique you can use to address this. When kids have poor word-finding skills, it’s often because they’re not engaging in the internal dialogue needed to pay attention to important features of words and store that information efficiently. The key to boosting these skills is to help kids develop this internal self-talk needed to learn words independently. As an SLP or other professional supporting kids, you can’t teach kids every word they need to know...
2022-05-2535 min
De Facto LeadersTraveling with autistic kids (with Dawn Barclay)When it comes to supporting autistic kids, I’ve come across a lot of resources that help with the home and school environments. But many families aren’t sure how to navigate unexpected and novel situations with their kids; which means travel is often out of the question. That’s why I wanted to interview special needs travel columnist and author, Dawn Barclay. Dawn’s book on traveling with autistic children will be available August 2022, she interviewed hundreds of families and experts in the process of writing it. In our conversation, we discuss some high...
2022-05-1854 min
De Facto LeadersADHD coaching for young adults (with Lori Melnitsky)When it comes to working on executive functioning and “social skills”, one of the biggest complaints I hear from therapists is that their clients don’t generalize. That’s often because when it comes to working on these types of skills, direct therapy alone isn’t enough to help kids apply skills. I often encourage SLPs to think beyond just direct therapy when it comes to designing services. That’s why I invited Lori Melnitsky to come on for episode 59. Lori is a private practice speech-language pathologist who has been in the field for over 30 years. She specializes in s...
2022-05-1155 min
De Facto LeadersHow to build social problem-solving skills (without being ableist)How do you know if an intervention is neurodiversity affirming and evidence-based? Are child-led interventions actually in a child’s best interest? What’s the right way to build social skills, “pragmatic language” and social communication skills? I’ve done a lot of soul-searching surrounding this topic. The typical pragmatic language interventions that focused on preaching the “right” way to act in social situations never felt right to me. Yet I didn’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. So in this episode, I wanted to share the framework I currently recommend for teaching social problem-solving. The truth is, th...
2022-05-0440 min
De Facto LeadersDemystifying the “specific learning disability” (with Jil Stauter)Navigating the special education eligibility process is confusing for all parties involved (parents, professionals, etc.). That’s why I wanted to get some insight from someone who understands the process inside and out. In episode 57 of Are they 18 yet?® I interviewed my colleague Jil Stauter, a school psychologist who has worked with students from preschool all the way through high school. I was fortunate enough to work on a team with her for a number of these years. In this in-depth interview, Jil and I deconstruct the process of determining if students are eligible for special education servic...
2022-04-2746 min
De Facto LeadersWhat to do when your child is stuttering (with Lauren Haines)In this episode, I talk with Lauren Haines from Busy Bee Speech about childhood stuttering.Many people don’t realize this, but there are a TON of misconceptions in the general public about stuttering. It’s also a highly specialized area of speech-language pathology, so many clinicians are left feeling unprepared to support stutterers who come to therapy. That’s why I wanted to dispel some myths about stuttering and offer some practical tips for therapists, educators, and parents of school-age kids. In this conversation, we discuss: ✅What are the signs that stuttering will persist...
2022-04-2058 min
De Facto LeadersLife after high school: Are your kids ready? (with Kim Duckworth)In this episode, I sit down with college admissions coach Kim Duckworth from Bridge Education Center to talk about helping kids expand their options after high school. Many of my listeners are parents and professionals of K-12 kids, and many of them often wonder if they're doing the right things to prepare kids for young adulthood. That's why I thought Kim would be the perfect guest to discuss this topic, because she's helped hundreds of kids successfully get in to their "dream schools". In this interview, Kim and I discuss: ✅The importance of having a...
2022-04-131h 08
De Facto LeadersCollaboration, literacy, and surviving due process (with Joann Briggs)In this episode of Are they 18 yet?™, I talk with my friend and former colleague, Joann Briggs.Joann was a special education teacher in the public school systems for over 30 years, and I had the opportunity to work with her for a good portion of my time as a school speech pathologist.While I always harp on the fact that SLPs can make a huge impact on literacy and language, it really is a team effort. That’s why I wanted to sit down with Joann and share how we were able to work together to s...
2022-04-0644 min
De Facto LeadersMaking sense of developmental milestonesRecently, the Center for Disease control updated the early developmental milestones, and there's been a lot of debate about what this means. In a lot of my SLP professional groups, there have been questions about whether this will allow kids to fall through the cracks. I've also heard the concern that developmental milestones in general focus on neurotypical development and don't take neurodivergents in to account. That's why recently, I did a training for the member's of SLP Learning Academy (my mentoring program for SLPs) to help them continue to provide quality services for kids who need them. In t...
2022-03-2336 min
De Facto LeadersScaffolding: What it is and how to use it to help kids be more resilient (with Brittany Bohach)We don’t want to be “helicopter parents” who coddle our kids…but we don’t want to be so militant that we traumatize them either. When it comes getting kids to do essential, but non-preferred tasks that ultimately help them thrive in the long run…the key to finding the right balance is learning how to scaffold. The term “scaffolding” is used to describe the foundation of a building, but it's also used to describe how teachers, therapists, and parents can teach kids challenging skills over time.Ideally, we are providing JUST enough support tha...
2022-03-1645 min
De Facto LeadersInterpreting “challenging behaviors” and meltdowns (with Brittany Bohach)When kids show negative behaviors, it’s often because they’re struggling to do what they’re being asked to do. This unfortunately happens a lot in school settings. You may have heard the saying “Kindergarten is the new 1st grade”. Kindergarten used to be focused on play, and its becoming increasingly more academic. When “behavior problems” come up, we have to consider the demands being placed on kids. Are they truly “behavior issues”, or are we simply asking kids to do too much too soon? In episode 50, I dive into this topic with my friend and colleag...
2022-03-0945 min
De Facto LeadersNatural treatments and ADHD: Spotting the fallacyAre "natural" remedies really better when it comes to ADHD, autism, and related conditions? What does it mean to use a "natural" treatment or intervention? In this episode, I discuss why those questions aren't easy to answer. Specifically, I discuss: ✅The "appeal to nature" fallacy, what it is and why it's potentially harmful. ✅Common "natural" treatments for conditions like ADHD (such as diet, sleep hygiene, supplementation) ✅How to avoid distorted thinking when making decisions about medication and other treatment options. ✅The problem with "child-led" interventions, and how to reframe that term in a way...
2022-03-0241 min
De Facto LeadersThe ins and outs of language screening (for school-age kids)Am I choosing the right language screening tool? How do I know when a child should be screened and evaluated? I get these questions a lot. That's why in this episode, I wanted to bust some common myths about language screenings and evaluations. I'm going to share: ✅The difference between a screening and evaluation (plus common mistakes people make). ✅Why thinking of a screening as a "test" is problematic. ✅When you might not have to use a formal language screener (and what you can do instead). ✅A simple tool I use to simplify the scree...
2022-02-2344 min
De Facto LeadersAre we "following the research" in education?Does class size matter? Is homework effective? What's the best way to help kids learn to read? Why do some teachers (and schools) succeed while others fail? Dr. John Hattie attempted to answer these questions in his meta-analysis, published in his book, Visible Learning. This meta-analysis has been widely cited and used in teacher preparation programs all over the world, and has also been used to make decisions regarding educational policy and funding. But are the conclusions accurate? In this episode I dig in to that question as I share some critical reviews of Dr. Hattie's work. Specifically, I s...
2022-02-1639 min
De Facto LeadersHow to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 2)In this episode, I continue the discussion about language processing and how to support it. I continue the discussion of difficult sentence types, and dive in to one very challenging syntax skill that tends to cause processing problems. Working on this skill can not only improve language comprehension, but it can also help kids more effectively express themselves verbally or in writing. If you're working with kids who have difficulty with reading comprehension, have difficult following directions with multiple steps, or if you have a child who has a hard time keeping up with the pace of daily routines...
2022-02-0935 min
De Facto LeadersHow to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1)Language skills are essential to a child's ability to succeed in school and life. But when processing language is a struggle there can be a global impact across a child's entire day. Language comprehension issues can be such as challenge for therapists, parents and teachers because they're difficult to spot. Often they look like a "behavior problem" when a child doesn't follow instructions, or when they appear to be off-task. On top of that, when kids repeated fail at a certain task and no one can figure out why, it's only natural for them to stop trying or willfully...
2022-02-0237 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding vocabulary skills in Kindergarten through high schoolVocabulary growth is one of the biggest predictors of language growth and academic success. That's why in this episode, I talk about what speech pathologists, parents, and teachers can do to help kids build strong vocabulary skills across elementary school through high school. Specifically, I share: ✅Why it's hard to pinpoint what language and vocabulary skills are "age-appropriate" between Kindergarten and 12th grade. ✅What types of words we should be emphasizing to help kids learn words more efficiently. ✅Some practical ways to improve kids' vocabulary in the home environment. To learn more inform...
2022-01-2644 min
De Facto LeadersSupporting reading comprehension: What parents and professionals need to knowReading comprehension is one of the most important skills for academic success. It's a skill that can help us to continue to learn new information throughout our lives. On the other hand, kids who struggle to understand what they read are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting in school and beyond. When I worked in the school systems as a speech-language pathologist, a large portion of my caseload was referred to me because of language and literacy challenges. Poor reading comprehension was often the red flag that resulted in those referrals. The challenge was knowing...
2022-01-1945 min
De Facto LeadersRe-release: Building discipline and self-management in elementary school through college.When raising kids in elementary school, junior high, and high school, a lot of parents wonder if they're preparing their kids for what lies ahead in college and adulthood. We can't look in to a crystal ball and predict the future, but we can bring insights from our own failures and successes to the way we parent. That's why in this episode, Joe and I continue our conversation about his experience going through school, including: ✅How he initially failed out of college, but then later went back and got a master's degree from the same university. ✅What he wish...
2022-01-1234 min
De Facto LeadersRe-release: The Breaking PointWe all have a point where the demands of life become too overwhelming and we lose our ability to self-manage and stay disciplined. For people who have a diagnosis of ADHD, that point can come sooner rather than later. In this episode, my husband (Joe) shares what happened when he hit his breaking point, including: ✅His experience growing up with an "almost ADHD" diagnosis ✅How he managed to fall through the cracks and squeak by in elementary and secondary school. ✅What happened when he went away to college and didn't have his built-in accountability systems (a.k.a., his...
2022-01-0536 min
De Facto LeadersCognitive distortions and ADHDWhen it comes to supporting kids with ADHD or other conditions that impact executive functioning, it can be challenging to understand some of the behaviors we’re seeing.Sometimes figuring out why they act the way they do can be confusing, especially when it appears that they’re engaging in certain self-sabotaging behaviors.This might include (but not be limited to) avoiding certain, inevitable situations or procrastinating…even if it means more work in the long run.Or even if it means missing out on something that might be important or enjoyable.When...
2021-12-2934 min
De Facto LeadersAbleism: What therapists, teachers, and caregivers need to knowAbleism is the discrimination against disabled people.As we learn more and more about autistic people, those with ADHD, among other populations…this word continues to come up in conversation.Many of the interventions we’ve traditionally done to support children who need different educational and medical interventions are now under scrutiny for having ableist qualities. This has left a lot of clinicians, educators, and caregivers in a tricky situation as they support kids’ social, emotional, and cognitive development. That’s why in this episode, I have a discussion on the top of ableism...
2021-12-2245 min
De Facto LeadersPerson-first vs identity-first language: Which one should I use?When I was going through school back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was taught that “person-first” language was the most respectful way to refer to my clients.For example, they weren’t “disabled people”, they were “people with disabilities”.Fast forward to the 2020s, and now we’re hearing a different story.Now, there are many people who actually prefer “identity first” language.If you’re someone supporting someone who has some particular diagnosis or disability, it’s confusing enough to navigate the system when it comes to educational and medical...
2021-12-1534 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding skills for connection (with Miriam Campbell)How do we hold students accountable for their actions, but acknowledge their unique neurological profiles at the same time? How do we help neurodivergents (e.g., ADHD, Autism) build genuine connections with others and succeed in academic, vocational, and social situations? In this episode, I invited special guest Miriam Campbell, founder of Skills for Connection (https://skillsforconnection.com/), to help answer these questions. Miriam is a speech-language pathologist and a social worker who works with students directly through her private practice. She also provides professional development for therapists and educators who support students with diagnoses that impact...
2021-12-0856 min
De Facto Leaders3 tips for introducing new foods to your kids.In episode 36, I talk about 3 common "problem" food categories when it comes to kids diets; plus tips for making sustainable changes across eat of these areas. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to offer rewards for eating healthy foods. Acquiring a taste for different textures and flavors is a skill that develops over time. That's why it's so important to pay attention to kids' sensory preferences when you're introducing new foods. Sometimes minor differences in flavor or texture may not register to an adult with a broad palate; but they can make a big impact for someone with...
2021-12-0138 min
De Facto LeadersHow to help picky eaters (without bribing them with dessert)Most parents know that eating a balanced diet is important for brain development...but making that happen is easier said than done. Especially when they have "picky eaters" who are unsure about venturing out of their comfort zone. It's tempting to default to the popular method of using dessert as "positive reinforcement" for eating less enticing food...but often this does more harm than good in the long run. That's why in this episode, I share tips for getting kids to eat healthy food...without "rewards" and "punishment". And a quick disclaimer: I will NOT be promising a magical m...
2021-11-2442 min
De Facto LeadersWhy you shouldn't assume "laziness" in neurodivergent kidsThis is part 3 of a 3-part series on the common problems with interventions for ADHD and autism.When you have some type of neurological variation that causes you to experience the world in a different way, you automatically become an easy target for manipulation.Those who are easily overwhelmed, or who aren’t sure how to read social cues and self-regulate have to work really hard to participate in day-to-day situations that feel normal and easy for other people. This could include sitting in a desk in a classroom. It could include having a simple co...
2021-11-1732 min
De Facto LeadersA case against "normal" and "appropriate" behaviorAs kids go through the school systems and grow up in general, they're taught a lot about how to act "appropriately" in different situations. There's a certain set of rules we've deemed to be acceptable, "normal" ways to act. On the contrary, certain behaviors are seen as "inappropriate", "weird", or "undesirable" in some way. But some people are wired differently, making them experience the world differently that "neurotypicals". This may cause them to engage with the world around them in a different way that might not seem "normal" to others. The first instinct a lot of people h...
2021-11-1040 min
De Facto LeadersWhen "compliance" does more harm than good (with ADHD and Autism)"Behavior management" approaches are often used with kids who have diagnoses of ADHD, autism. Usually these approaches focus on giving rewards for good behavior and punishing "bad" behavior. They're prevalent in therapy settings, schools, and home environments across the nation. I've even used some of these approaches in my practice. But in recent years, I've changed my philosophy after reflecting on my own experiences being on the receiving end of such techniques. I've also started to listen more to other neurodivergent voices who are reporting the trauma they've experienced throughout their lifetimes after being repeatedly punished and shamed for...
2021-11-0339 min
De Facto Leaders3 skills kids with ADHD need to overcome procrastinationWhen kids with ADHD avoid difficult work, it's easy to assume they have a "behavior problem", that they don't care, or that they're just lazy. But this couldn't be further from the truth. People with ADHD are wired in a way that makes it hard for them to overcome feelings of overwhelm that lead to avoidance. It's a skill-based issue, NOT a behavior issue! That's why in episode 031, I talk about 3 common skills kids with ADHD need to overcome procrastination. Specifically, I share: ✅Why having a good sense of time is critical to motivation. ✅One of t...
2021-10-2742 min
De Facto LeadersSupporting executive functioning at home and schoolIf you're supporting kids who need help with executive functioning, academic skills, and language, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to intervene. For parents, it can be overwhelming; and for professionals (like SLPs, teachers, and other professionals), it can be a challenge to figure out who is working on what skills. That's why in this episode, I talk about the roles of the teachers, therapists, and parents when it comes to supporting kids with executive dysfunction and language processing issues. Specifically I share: ✅What teachers are already doing to support executive fu...
2021-10-2049 min
De Facto LeadersLiteracy skills and technology: The pros and consIn episode 29 of the Are they 18 yet?™ podcast, I did part 3 of a 3-part series on literacy (you can find parts 1 and 2 in episodes 27 and 28.) Since the influx of technology, a lot of us are left wondering how this will impact our children's learning; especially their reading and writing skills. ✅That's why I discussed the following in this episode: ✅The difference between "explicit learning" and "implicit learning". ✅The kind of opportunities kids need in order to develop solid reading/spelling skills. ✅Why typical reading instruction leaves some kids behind; plu...
2021-10-1337 min
De Facto LeadersHow to help kids become fluent readers and spellersFiguring out how to help kids learn to spell can be confusing. If you've ever helped one of your kids or students spell a word, only to have them forget what you taught them the next day, you know what I mean. The challenge is that if kids don't automatically catch on to reading skills, they get further and further behind as the years go on. That makes it hard for them to keep up in school, and over time they start to dread going. No one wants their child or their students to be in that...
2021-10-0638 min
De Facto LeadersIs texting affecting spelling and reading skills?With all the technology and texting kids are doing these days, I often find myself wondering if kids are getting enough "good" practice with spelling and reading skills. Based on social rules, texts often don't have to be written with "correct" grammar and spelling. Since a lot of the kids I've worked (who have diagnoses like dyslexia or developmental language delays, among others), I know that having opportunities to practice reading and spelling is really important; so I'm always on high-alert when it comes to the impact of technology. But the reality is that texting...
2021-09-2934 min
De Facto LeadersDoes your family need a new operating system? (with Kate Wendell)We're always updating the operating systems on our devices, but do we ever think about updating the "operating system" we use to live our lives? The truth is, a lot of people end up living with their "default" setting; doing things not because it's what they want, but because it's what they think they're "supposed" to be doing based on what they've seen in their past. That's why in episode 26, I sit down with Kate Wendell from FamilyOS. Kate and her husband Tanner Wendell work with couples to help them update their "family operating systems" so they c...
2021-09-2253 min
De Facto LeadersThe problem with positive thinkingIn this episode, I talk about "toxic positivity" in both the parenting and professional communities for therapists and teachers. If you've ever felt dismissed when someone told you to "look on the bright side" or "be grateful for what you have", you'll appreciate this discussion. I share: ✅Why telling someone to "just think positive" can make an overwhelmed person feel worse. ✅Why many depressed people don't WANT to feel happy when they're having an episode (and what they want instead). ✅Why it's so hard to do simple things that you know you...
2021-09-1543 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding creativity and independence through play (with Drew Vernon)In this episode, I talk with Drew Vernon about how to help kids develop a natural sense of curiosity and ability to tell stories. Drew currently works for Tonies®, a toy brand that partners with schools to bring screen-free education to your children. He also spend several years working for the LEGO® Group, hosts a podcast with his 5-year old daughter, and has a passion for toys that help kids become creative thinkers. In our conversation, we discuss: ✅Ways to guide your kids through play in a way that builds storytelling skills and language. ✅The benefi...
2021-09-0848 min
De Facto LeadersDe-escalation strategies for home, school, and community (with DJ Stutz)Meltdowns and tantrums are a normal part of parenting, but it's not always easy to get through the day if you aren't sure how to handle them. That's why in episode 023, I share the second half of my conversation with DJ Stutz, where we talk about bad parenting advice, building self-esteem, and how to de-escalate tantrums and melt-downs. She also shares her experience growing up with an undiagnosed hearing impairment until 6th grade, and how this has helped her be a better teacher and parent. DJ has been an early childhood teacher for kids with s...
2021-09-0138 min
De Facto LeadersHow to set boundaries and share positive feedback with your child (with DJ Stutz)Most parents know they should be giving their child praise and encouraging them to explore their interests... But most people don't realize that making small changes to what you say can make a big difference in your day-to-day life and interactions with your family. That's why in episode 022, I sit down with early childhood educator and parenting coach DJ Stutz to talk about the RIGHT (and wrong) ways to communicate expectations with your child. DJ has been an early childhood teacher for kids with special needs for over 20 years, is a mom of 5...
2021-08-2538 min
De Facto Leaders3 ways to show appreciation for your child's schoolOne 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 h...
2021-08-1832 min
De Facto LeadersHow to communicate effectively with your child's teachers and therapistsIt 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 c...
2021-08-1140 min
De Facto LeadersHow to support your dyslexic child (with Nicole Holcomb)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...
2021-08-0454 min
De Facto LeadersWhat popular TV gets wrong about autistic peopleIn 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...
2021-07-2843 min
De Facto LeadersHow much “school” practice do kids need in the summer?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 routin...
2021-07-1438 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding communication skills in nonspeaking children and late talkers (with Rebecca Robbins)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 th...
2021-07-071h 02
De Facto LeadersAm I neurotypical? I'm not sure.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 wei...
2021-06-3051 min
De Facto LeadersTalking to your partner and your kids about moneyIn 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 be...
2021-06-231h 04
De Facto LeadersBody image and media: What stories are we telling our kids? (with Dr. Kate Browne)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...
2021-06-161h 02
De Facto LeadersBurnout, boundaries, and systemsIn 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 epi...
2021-06-0924 min
De Facto LeadersYour mental health: Why it’s impacting your kids (with Katherine Endy)In episode 011, I sit down with Katherine Endy from The Family Life Coach. Katherine is a social worker, mom of 3, and doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland. If you’re a parent, you’ve likely spent a lot of time thinking about your kids’ behavior and mental well-being. But how much time do you spend thinking about your OWN mental health and well-being? In this conversation, Katherine share insights from her clinical work, personal experiences as a mom, and her research, including: ✅The problem with most parenting advice out there, and why it shoul...
2021-06-021h 00
De Facto LeadersSingle parenting and emotional well-being after divorce (with Mary Leonard)If you or someone you know is going through a divorce with kids involved, you’re not going to want to miss this episode of the Are they 18 yet?™ Podcast.In this episode, I sit down with my sister, Mary Leonard, and talk about how to help your kids build resiliency when coping with big life transitions like divorce.She shares her experience single parenting two young children; including how to thrive when getting through the day alive feels like a chore.Specifically, we talk about:✅Her biggest challenges when she had to...
2021-05-2648 min
De Facto LeadersTime Management and Device Use Boundaries for kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod)In this episode, I share the second part of my interview with speech-language pathologist and ADHD specialist Mike McLeod from GrowNow Therapy as we continue our conversation about how to support with kids with ADHD and other conditions that impact executive functioning.If you’re someone who easily estimates how long things will take so you can plan ahead, it’s often frustrating when you see other people dawdling or not using their time wisely.But often there are MULTIPLE things going on in their head that are keeping them stuck, and the key to help...
2021-05-1940 min
De Facto LeadersBuilding accountability and motivation in kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod)When it comes to working with kids who have ADHD, it’s easy to mistake skill-based issues with behavioral issues.That’s why in this interview, I sit down with Mike McLeod, a speech-language pathologist who specializes in ADHD and executive functioning. During this conversation, Mike shares: ✅Red flags of executive dysfunction, how it relates to organization and time management, and why it’s so common in kids with ADHD.✅What the “argument vortex” is, and the reason kids would rather argue with parents than get their work completed (even with simple tasks).
2021-05-1236 min
De Facto LeadersPositive Reinforcement: Does it really help motivate kids?When I worked in the school systems, rewards and behavior charts were a common practice. Even in my training to be a therapist, “positive reinforcement” was often a go-to strategy for managing behaviors and motivating kids to do “non-preferred” tasks.The problem was that for a lot of kids it didn’t work. And what was even worse…sometimes it worked TEMPORARILY, but as soon as the reward went away, so did the motivation to do the task.It left me wondering if relying on external rewards is really helping to build the skills kids need to be i...
2021-05-0536 min
De Facto LeadersImprove attention and focus by building these skillsDo you find that using organizers, minimizing distractions, or using rewards just don't work when it comes to getting your kids to focus? Does getting your kids to follow through with chores, homework, or other daily tasks seem like pulling teeth? If so, you're going to love this episode. When it comes to getting kids to follow through on activities that require sustained focus and effort, most people don't realize that improving attention and alertness is just the first step. There is actually a set of skills kids need to develop true autonomy, ind...
2021-04-1236 min