In Episode 48 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb talks with Dr. Louise Metcalf, a senior psychologist at the Feel Good Clinic in Sydney and Gheorg.com. In this episode they cover: • Three tips to help children and families cope. • Knowing and managing your own anxiety as a parent • How Gheorg can help your kids to manage anxiety Learn more about Louise: https://www.gheorg.com/ Connect with Louise on Social Media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn - Gheorg LinkedIn - Louise...

In Episode 47 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb chats with Nicole Santamaria founder of Miami Handwriting, where she works with children, families, and schools to help develop handwriting skills and the broader issues those kids are dealing with. In this episode they cover: • Some fundamentals of good handwriting • All the different brain functions that need to coordinate in order to have good handwriting • Sensory systems that you need to tap into in order for the child to be...

In Episode 46 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb talks with Rebecca Spokes about all things related to handwriting! Rebecca is an Occupational Therapist who created The OT Notebook. In this episode they cover: • Why pencil grip is important. • What proper pencil grip looks like and others that are functional. • Troubleshooting tricks for kids who have the wrong grip or hold the pencil tightly. Links: Rebecca's Grip Demonstration Video: Rebecca's Functional Pencil Grips...

It's difficult to help our kids cope with the many transitions and big issues that 2020 has brought so far. In Episode 45 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb answers questions from Liz, a counselor at NSWl. In this episode they cover: • Deb's transition to telehealth for her Occupational Therapy work. • How different kids are coping with distance learning and the transition back to public school. • Deb shares her Four Key Anchors for parents to help children transition. Liz Hurlow...

In Episode 44 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb does a check in to see how everyone is coping post COVID-19. Kids can be so sensitive, it's tough to help them cope with the rapid changes in the world around us. First, online learning. Now they're going back to school in person. And the world around us is struggling to adjust to in-person life again, safely. And she shares the four strong anchors she uses to steady our kids through these uncertain times. In this episode she shares: •...

In Episode 43 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast, Deb chats with April Mundall. April and her husband Marcus are passionate about teaching kids financial management skills and April shares how she has had success changing children's entitled attitudes to gratitude and increasing independence and responsibility. In this episode they discuss: • How April got into doing Money Smart Kids workshops. • Recognizing entitlement in kids and how to combat it. • How to get started in teaching kids...

In Episode 42 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks about staying connected with your teenager. She welcomes Pauline Duncan, a former teacher and homeschooling mum to teenagers, to the show. Pauline has a burning passion for helping families connect and grow. In this episode they discuss: • The importance of validating the transition period between being a child and being an adult. • The role parents play in facilitating growth in that time period. • Several ways to stay connected...

In Episode 41 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks about anxiety in kids with Deb's cousin Lisa Pratt and her son Andrew Pratt. Andrew shares how he dealt with panic attacks and anxiety. In this episode they discuss: • Anxiety in their family and Andrew's panic attacks as a child • Finding the triggers for anxiety in children and addressing them • How Autism affected Andrew's life • What daily routines were affected by Andrew's anxiety • How Lisa dealt with her own realization...

In Episode 40 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb chats with Stacy McBride Wilson. Stacy is a fitness and wellbeing coach for mums. She is passionate about mums being healthy and thriving so they can bring their full selves to their families. In this episode they discuss: • What things drain our energy and attention on a daily basis • The importance of taking time to reflect on what drains or fills us • Stacy's three gems for refilling yourself and loving on your family Links: •...

In Episode 39 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks with Karli Mckeown, a Teen and Parent Empowerment Coach who helps parents and teens connect and create meaningful relationships during the challenging adolescent years. In this episode they discuss: • How children change from childhood to adolescence and some of the frustrations that come with these changes • Communication changes and challenges that come with adolescence • How to pivot our parenting to balance their need for...

Deb Hopper talks to Interventional Specialist and best selling author Beth Ellen Nash from Wisconsin, US about the changes to school delivery and school shutdowns in the US and how she is supporting parents to create structured academic learning that is achievable and easy for parents. Her business "Wings to soar online academy" has been supporting parents across the US and the world for 10 years, so she is used to deliverying a variety of supports for all children including typically...

In Episode 37 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb continues her talk with Rachel Howe. Rachel is an Occupational Therapist who works with children in Queensland. She wants to support children by also incorporating the whole family. In this episode they cover: • Using mindfulness to make the evening routines easier • Rachel shares several techniques to help kids calm down at night • How to arrange some sensory-friendly stuff around at night Links: • Rachel's Mindfulness Download:...

In Episode 36 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb continues her talk with Rachel Howe. Rachel is an Occupational Therapist who works with children and is moving into family-based therapy. She wants to support not only the children but also the whole family. In this episode they cover: • Using mindfulness to make the afternoon routines easier • The busyness that comes with kids and school and how can parents help them to remain mindful when you're not with them • How we can help...

In Episode 35 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks with Rachel Howe. Rachel is an Occupational Therapist who works with children and is moving into family-based therapy, She wants to support not only the children but also the whole family. In this episode they cover: • The definition of mindfulness and how that applies to our internal and external worlds • How busyness affects us • What skills kids need in order to develop mindfulness • Using mindfulness to make the morning...

In Episode 34 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks with Landy Peek from Roswell, New Mexico, in the United States. Landy is an Occupational Therapist who works with kids who need pelvic therapy and today they are discussing potty and toilet training! In this episode they cover: • Potential issues with early potty training • What it takes for kids to be ready for toilet training • What Landy recommends to her clients • Training children on the Autism Spectrum • The difference...

In Episode 33 of the Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast Deb talks with Landy Peek from Roswell, New Mexico, in the United States! Our first international podcast guest! She's an Occupational Therapist who works with kids who need pelvic therapy and they're getting into the down-and-dirty world of poo! In this episode they cover: • Constipation's prevalence in children with disabilities • Signs of constipation in children • Who to see for concerns about constipation • Dietary changes that can...