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This might annoy you—but the way you were taught to teach reading is almost certainly not rooted in science. Gasp. I know right?! This might end up being a part 1 (of 2, 3, or 10) episode because I could talk about this for years. In this episode we’re unpacking the literacy gap in students with autism. What I’m sharing is derived from research I’ve done for my doctoral program but hopefully I’ve done a decent job of making it relatable and easy to digest. You’ll learn about some of the biggest mistakes we’re making as educators, therapists and parents (in reading instruction) and get some of the context around literacy instruction in Ontario (and North America) and what I recommend for moving forward with science (not tradition). Spoiler—science drives friends 🤣 that actually makes this MUCH easier. Love the episode? 💙 Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform.  Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you were definitely NOT taught how to self-regulate. You may even be wondering: "How on Earth do I teach my kid to self-regulate, if I have NO idea how to do it myself?" (Read as: I am regularly flipping my lid, and feeling guilty about it.) I'm bringing you an exclusive opportunity to listen to components of a workshop I hosted for parents learning to find-their-chill when faced with parenting stress, burn-out, and overwhelm. I bring you science-backed strategies for building self-awareness, developing coping strategies and cultivating the self-compassion you need to model healthy self-regulation skills for your kiddos. More of a visual learner? If this episode resonates, and you want to purchase the full workshop with hand-outs and slide deck referenced, you can grab it here. Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

This is the episode you need to track down if you’re a parent in a power struggle, a teacher in a power struggle, or pretty much anyone trying to figuring how to better support a child whose behaviour has become an issue. Heads up though—my advice might not be what you expect. I do have 3 Steps to get you going, but I’m going on record and saying the behaviour change you’re looking for starts with you. Don’t worry, that actually makes this MUCH easier. Love the episode? 💙 Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform.  Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

When this Reel about transitions went viral, I knew we needed to dive into this topic ASAP.  There's a big misunderstanding about the root cause of transitional issues, especially in a neurodivergent population, so that's where I'll start. I'll unpack some of my favourite strategies for supporting transitions, recognizing transitional issues vs. demand avoidance issues, and understanding how to work with your child's brain (rather than against it) when it comes to both teaching new skills and following through on routine expectations. The key to successful transitions is thoroughly understanding just how many cognitive processes work together to make it happen; it won't always be easy, but you'll feel way more empowered in your ability to meet your kids' needs once you've given me just 29 minutes of your time! Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform.  Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

After a short hiatus we're back with more of the goods. Today's episode is all about how we can do better for our ADHD kids. I'm bringing you practical strategies for working with the ADHD brain and not against; strategies to help you unlock potential, and spark motivation at home, or in school. Whether your biggest struggle is impulse control, executive functioning, maximizing engagement or anything in between, there's a hack for that and yes--it's backed by science. So, let's go! Hungry for more? Check this out. Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform.  Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

Imagine if you picked up the phone, and had a very casual riff with me about stress, anxiety and digging deep to figure out what the heck just triggered you; because that's what this episode is all about. It's a super informal, super practical, somewhat personal dialogue about how (and why) our environment can make or break our ability to regulate, stay mindful and support our ability to learn. I'm unpacking a personal example of when I felt super triggered, and with hindsight--am unpacking what I wish I knew at the time and how it can help us plan proactively to support ourselves or our kids.  Educators, parents and therapists will get deeper insight into how to create an environment that promotes self-regulation and emotional safety within the home, classroom or clinic.  Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

In this unscripted episode I'm diving into co-regulation; what is it, and how do we achieve it? I'm talking about connection as the root upon which the tree is planted and how to navigate our own trigger points as parents, educators and therapists.  Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

What are he benefits of mindfulness for our kids and can kids actually be mindful? No really, my kid is "a mile a minute" can they really truly SLOW DOWN? I'm unpacking the similarities and differences between mindfulness, meditation and yoga and discussing the benefits each can have on teaching and practicing self-regulation.  Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

In this episode we're keeping the convo going and talking about autism and self regulation as we tackle: 1. What to do when you can't avoid the big behaviour; how to navigate it like a champ. 2.How to avoid the common pitfalls of navigating a big behaviour or power struggle.  3. How to build a toolbox of coping skills for your kiddo (and yourself). This episode is the exclamation mark at the end of an extremely useful sentence; trust me :P Hungry for more? Check out Parenting & Autism - The Virtual Masterclass  Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

Talking about self-regulation honestly LIGHTS ME UP! :P This episode is JAM PACKED with theory and practical tips for building self-regulation skills in a neurodivergent population. Grab a notebook because I am spilling ALL the tea. Prepare for an epic brain dump of considerations, pit-falls, myths and facts, and strategies I've used over the last decade in supporting autistic children and the parents, teachers, and therapists who support them. At the 55 minute mark I come up for air and realize...K, I've been monologue-ing for almost an hour, so I stop there. Take a beat, let the brain dump sink in and check back soon for part 2 because I have another hour of content coming your way.  And OBVIOUSLY, if you're feeling this episode or have an AHA moment--share it with me! Hungry for more? Check out Parenting & Autism - The Virtual Masterclass Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

How do you measure progress in your kids, in your family, or in yourself? Much of what we do in science (the science of teaching, parenting and even the science of mental health) relies on data to guide decision making. We think about things like, test scores, rating scales, and how skills are developed and ultimately mastered (and hopefully maintained); we think about things like how long it "should" take to learn a new habit, at what point we should change the plan, and how to know if a plan has gone off track at any point. In this episode, I'm getting clinical; but don't worry, if you're parent along for the ride this will still be right up your Alley :P  I'll let you in on some of the clinical conversations I've been having with my team about processes and frameworks for goal setting, goal assessment and big picture planning for both the kids and families I support. This episode will be helpful for understand how we make some of our clinical decisions, and how you can call on a similar framework for guiding your home based goals (for yourself, your partner, or your kiddo). Things like: -What exactly is mastery criteria and how do we decide if we've reached it? I'll also sidebar pretty hard on the topic of: How do we avoid arbitrary benchmarks of mastery in favour of client-centred and meaningful criteria for mastery that is both reliable and fair? -Where do we look to see if a skill (behaviour, math/literacy skills, parenting skill, all of it--) is mastered? Hint: the proof is in the pudding. -How do we assess how long it should usually take for a kiddo (or parent) to master a skill?  -What happens if we have a kiddo (or parent) whose performance is inconsistent? -What to do when skills are missing and curriculums or instruction manuals are written beyond your kiddo's current level? -How to take into account child developmental theory without sacrificing evidence based teaching strategies and guiding principles as a core foundation?

Talking about how we actively pursue mental health in the workplace within our helping profession; unpacking how we support our employees in self-awareness, personal development, and commitment to habits that promote self regulation and mindfulness. I'm diving into some strategies that I've used (successfully and unsuccessfully) in supporting staff in a high stress environment, made exceedingly more difficult by working and running a business in a pandemic. I'm talking about tag-team teaching/crisis support, finding mindful moments each day, investing time into mental wellness, and setting boundaries. I may say some controversial things about the importance of showing up for your team and holding space for "hard shit" (yup, stuff that's emotionally charged, not work related and intrinsically personal--but also directly impacting how your employees show up each day). I'm discussing managing a team in a pandemic, setting boundaries and why it's important to show up with your "human" hat on too.  Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

Getting real with Ahuva Magder Hershkop, RD @AhuvaRD about all things nutrition, kids and the importance of science backed strategies for food education in a neurodivergent (and frankly, neurotypical) population. Ahuva spills the tea on how to talk to our kids about food, how to create routines around food when there are big behaviours involved, and how to navigate picky eating with a "big picture" approach (as in--"you don't learn to read ALL in one day! You learn letter by letter."). Ahuva shares great insight about taking baby steps to the end goal, about reframing your perspective on how we talk about food, and how to avoid "diet culture" imprints from the days of old (read as: 80's/90's parenting at its finest :P). Disclaimer: There was a wild storm getting in the way of connection and sound drops EEK for a few seconds...stay the course, it's worth it :P Ahuva's FB Group- Busy Moms Guide to Feeding your Family https://www.facebook.com/groups/1683736265060869

Ever wonder what a parenting expert does when their own kid says "NO?!" Warning: Big behaviours ahead! I'm walking you through an actual meltdown moment with my 3 year old; what I did, what I didn't do, and how I handled it all. I'm unpacking what worked, what failed miserably and how I checked myself multiple times throughout the escapade. I'll talk about self regulation, holding space for your kids, and balancing gentle, firm and empathetic all while trying to keep your cool as you navigate big big feels and understand the WHY behind behaviour patterns. I love a good metaphor, so I've got one of those for you too--hint: click, click, click.  Toddlers though, am I right? This discussion will be super applicable for toddlers, pre-school aged kiddos, and even lower elementary kiddos. If your kiddo struggles with self-regulation, this is YOUR episode. The bigger the feels, the better this episode will fit. If ya know, ya know :P Deep breath, strong drink (cocktail or coffee) time to press on! Love the episode? Don't forget to connect on social, rate and review on your favourite podcast platform. Your host- Alley @MagMinds Your Fav Podcast- Science Drives @sciencedrives The business behind the podcast - Magnificent Minds Inc.

This is for kids--no intro, no ads, no transitional music. I'm walking your kids through how to use visualization as a tool to self-regulate. Pre-requisite skills to get the most out of this: ability to sit still for 10-15 minutes with coaching, ability to follow receptive instructions (spoken word) with coaching, ability to tolerate headphones, or listening on a tech device.   Hacks: wiggly seats for kids who struggle to be still, handheld fidgets for busy fingers (smooth rocks/crystals, small handheld toys that don't distract, squeeze/stress balls), textured carpet/shag rug tp sot/lay on. A note on volume: I've intentionally kept volume low to ensure no one's ears are overwhelmed. Crank it up if it's too quiet :) In a totally kid-friendly way I'm: 1) Explaining to your kids (and you) what visualization is as a mindfulness tool. 2) Telling your kids (and you) why visualization is a super powerful tool for self-regulation. 3) Leading your kids (and you) through 3 short ways you can practice visualization. 4) Telling your kids how and when they can use these visualization strategies--spoiler: BEDTIME! Questions? Find me on IG @MagMinds

I'm joined by Behaviour Analyst, and Yoga instructor Andrea Stuart (IG-@integrativeabayogi), who discusses mindfulness practices you can adopt without any fancy resources, and without a huge time commitment. We're unpacking what mindfulness is, what it isn't, and how it can improve your parenting by tuning into the present moment. We discuss self-regulation in neurodivergent kids (and their parents) and describe some ways you can use humour, or silliness to diffuse and move through big feelings.  If you're not already, come find me on IG and LMK what resonated! (IG-@MagMinds)

I went viral on Tik Tok (3 times) for videos about sensory defensiveness and parenting. The consensus? “Wait...what?! That’s a thing? You mean—I’m not just jerk with a short temper who is easily irritated by my kids, and ahem—my life?” Nope! Well, I mean—maybe you are? But regardless, sensory sensitivity (being easily overwhelmed by sensory input—the noise, the sights, the smells, the constant touch) is very real and understanding your sensory needs could be a very powerful way to increase your self awareness and set boundaries and that just. make. sense.

Let's start a conversation about autism; what it is, and more importantly--what it isn't. I'm clarifying somethings that were never explicitly taught to me in school (man, I wish); things I've learned by listening to autistic self advocates, working with brilliant minds within the fields, and of course--working directly the population myself for over a decade. If you're new to Autism, this is your crash course. If you're well-versed, I guarantee this will still be food for thought. It's just a quickie but it packs a punch.

Given the disproportionate number of neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD) kids impacted by mental health needs, you'd think there would be less barriers to getting support; lack of specialization, reluctance to collaborate and uncertainty with how to start are among top contributing factors. I'm unpacking some of the primary obstacles I've faced in advocating for the incorporation of mental health supports in behavioural intervention, and possibly making some controversial statements about big problems within the "system" and how they are contributing to accessibility barriers.  Perhaps most importantly, I'm giving concrete strategies for parents and professionals in terms of how to open the dialogue and begin teaching neurodivergent kids about the importance of mental health, emotional awareness, and coping mechanisms. 

A quickie this time--but full of thoughts and considerations for folks with ADHD (especially kiddos). My quick tips for helping your ADHD kiddo overcome struggles like problem solving, self regulation, scheduling and much more. Let's dig in!