Connected and Capable

What if one food could help your child feel safe enough to start expanding beyond the handful of foods they currently eat?In this final episode of our picky eating series, I'm sharing what I call a gateway food, specifically a recipe that helped my own son move from eating one specific brand of chicken nuggets to eventually eating grilled chicken, different proteins, and a much wider variety of foods.But this episode isn't really about chicken nuggets, although you'll learn exactly how to make them, because they are amazing effective and super tasty. The big takeaway is about understanding why certain foods feel safer to picky eaters, the simple characteristics that make kids more likely to try something new, and how to build bridges from foods your child already eats to foods they've never touched before.I'll also share why progress often looks very different than parents expect and how to spot the small wins that are actually moving your child forward.RESOURCES MENTIONEDGet a seat in the free picky eating workshopPicky Eater Approved Chicken Nugget RecipeKEY TIMESTAMPS2:55 What progress really looks like4:49 The gateway food6:38 Three things picky eaters need9:22 Building a bridge to new foods17:21 Giving kids the right choices24:47 When it doesn't work right awayMORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

If your child avoids swings, hates being tipped back to wash their hair, or panics when their feet leave the ground… there may be more going on than simple fear.In this episode, I’m diving into vestibular sensitivities — one of the most overlooked sensory challenges that can quietly affect everything from balance and coordination to reading, attention, and anxiety.You’ll learn what the vestibular system actually does, the subtle signs of gravitational insecurity, and why some kids feel completely unsafe when their body moves in space.I’ll also share a powerful real-life story of a child who went from avoiding movement completely to sledding down a hill, and what made that change possible.If your child seems fearful of movement or struggles with balance, this episode may connect a lot of dots.Episodes mentioned in the show:2. Retained Primitive Reflexes: What Every Parent of A Uniquely Wired Kid Needs to Know3. If Your Kid Has Sensory "Issues," You Need to Hear This. Get more help in The Connection Hive for ParentsTherapists, learn reflexes + sensory in the Therapist All Access MembershipKey Timestamps:02:57 – What the vestibular sense actually does08:06 – When kids don’t feel safe moving11:09 – Signs parents often miss17:28 – The reflex that may be causing it21:10 – Should we just avoid movement?30:29 – A real-life breakthrough storyGrab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/ MORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

Some say screen time is “regulating”… and honestly, it can look that way. In this episode, we slow the conversation down—no shame, no judgment—and unpack why screens can feel like the only thing that works when your child is overwhelmed. But we also zoom out and ask the bigger question: is that calm actually regulation… or is something else happening? I’ll share a personal story that changed how I see this, plus a research angle every parent of an ADHD (or otherwise neurodivergent) kid should hear. Get our new 1 hour screen time workshop in The Connection Hive here: yourkidstable.com/tch*Are you a therapist, this resource will also be in The Therapist All Access Membership: yourkidstable.com/taamKey Timestamps:01:06 No guilt, no judgment—why this is so confusing04:40 Why screens work in the moment10:21 Calm vs. regulation 13:51 A personal story that shifted my perspective20:40 The research that links screentime to dysregulation22:42 What to do next if screens are becoming a struggle Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/ MORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

What if the most powerful tool for reducing meltdowns isn’t a strategy, a script, or a consequence — but something you already carry with you?In this episode, Alisha breaks down the often-misunderstood role of co-regulation and why it works in every setting, at every age, and at every intensity level. She explains why common “in-the-moment” techniques fail when a child is dysregulated, and what actually has the power to shift the nervous system instead.Through real-life examples, including a powerful story from a parent who put this into action, you’ll hear why regulation is contagious, why your own state matters more than you think, and how these moments quietly shape your child’s brain over time.If you’ve ever wondered why doing “all the right things” still doesn’t work in the heat of the moment, this episode will change how you see regulation—and yourself—entirely.Join the new Therapist All-Access Membership: YourKidsTable.com/TAAM Key Timestamps:0:39 – The “Secret Key” Parents Hold3:38 – Regulation Is Contagious7:07 – Why Logic Fails in Meltdowns9:12 – The One Thing Kids Can Respond To14:25 – A Real-Life Meltdown Turns Around24:27 – The Brain Connection Being Built32:31 – You Are Connected and CapableGrab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/ MORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

What if some of the hardest moments with your child aren’t about behavior, motivation, or personality at all?In this episode, I share executive functioning as the next critical piece of the puzzle, and why so many uniquely wired kids struggle in ways that are easy to misinterpret.  You’ll hear why executive functioning is far bigger than attention alone, 4 more EF skills, and they quietly affect daily life in ways most families don’t recognize.If you’ve ever found yourself thinking they should be able to do this by now, or wondering why progress feels inconsistent — this episode will help you see your kid (or yourself) in a whole new light. Key Timestamps:1:45 Why executive functioning gets mislabeled as personality6:05 Attention isn’t the whole ADHD story16:20 Perseverance is a brain skill, not a trait20:00 Working memory & “why won’t they remember?”23:20 Task initiation: frozen before starting26:40 Flexibility & meltdowns when plans changeGet CEU's in our Upcoming Evidence-Based Therapist Mini-Summit: https://yourkidstable.com/therapist-mini-summit/ Get all the tools in our new Therapist All-Access Membership: https://yourkidstable.com/taam/ MORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

If your child can’t sit still at dinner, refuses certain clothes, melts down in busy places, or seems either constantly on the move or totally checked out, you are not alone — and this is not a behavior problem.In this episode I’m breaking down what sensory needs really are, why sensory processing is one of the most powerful systems in the brain, and how it shapes your child’s emotions, attention, movement, and daily life. We’ll talk about the eight senses, what sensory modulation actually means, and the three common patterns we see in kids.I also speak into a really important and sometimes controversial conversation around sensory sensitivities. Supporting a child’s sensory needs always comes first — but over time, the brain can also learn to tolerate more. When we hold both compassion and intention together, real change becomes possible.You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of why your child reacts the way they do, how sensory challenges can snowball over time, and how simple, respectful support can open the door to regulation, participation, and connection.Get our free Sensory Toolkit with 25 sensory activities and a red flags checklist: yourkidstable.com/sensoryessentials/ Therapists- The RISE with Sensory Program, 8 AOTA CEU'S: yourkidstable.com/rise Parents- Get guidance and a vault of easy sensory activities in The Connection Hive: yourkidstable.com/tchKey Time Stamps:01:30 – Why sensory needs show up everywhere in daily life05:05 – The 8 senses that shape your child’s behavior10:05 – The three sensory modulation patterns you need to know15:30 – How sensory needs change day-to-day based on sleep, stress, and emotions17:15 – How sensory sensitivities can snowball over time18:45 – How to support without forcing or avoiding growthMORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.

Your child is running nonstop, melting down during transitions, overwhelmed at birthday parties, struggling with focus, emotions, sleep, or eating—and your told they are bad, too sensitive, or they need discipline. In this first episode of the Connected + Capable podcast, I’m breaking down the four hidden areas that are often pulling the strings beneath the surface for uniquely wired kids—kids with sensory needs, ADHD, big emotions, executive functioning challenges (like focus), or no diagnosis at all. In this episode, we'll talk about: 1. Why these challenges are not phases, personality traits, or parenting failures. 2. The four core areas that cause these challenges and why they matter! 3. The challenges your kid has are connected, and when you know what they are you can build new skills and lessen sensory needs. Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface is game changer for your kid, and you. It opens the doors to deeper connection, compassion, and capability. Thank you for listening! Hit the follow button so you get notified of next weeks new episode. Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/  Key Timestamps04:21 — Retained Primitive Reflexes: The hidden brain wiring quietly shaping behavior.09:33 — Sensory Processing: Why meltdowns, avoidance, and nonstop movement aren’t choices.14:10 — Emotional Regulation: Big emotions are a skill gap, not a personality flaw.16:42 — Executive Functioning: The real reason focus, follow-through, and organization break down.MORE RESOURCES FOR YOUReady for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCHLET'S CONNECT:Instagram: https://Instagram.com/YourkidstableFacebook: https://Facebook.com/YourkidstablePinterest: https://Pinterest.com/YourkidstableIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left us a review! It's a huge help in encouraging us and letting us know what parents with uniquely wired kids need the most.