We tend to take speech for granted but some parents become anxious when their infants and toddlers don’t hit certain milestones. Realistically, when are these concerns founded and what can parents do to avoid the misinformation and bad advice from the internet?

In this episode we interview a speech-language pathologist Tala Hershey, M.S. CCC-SLP, TSSLD (https://www.hersheytherapypractice.com/) who gives us practical advice on how to look for and encourage realistic and appropriate speech milestones.

We’ll answer the questions:

Do we need to explicitly teach toddlers to speak? Isn’t it a skill that just develops organically or do parents actually need to focus on building speech and language? What’s the difference between Expressive vs. Receptive Language and Pragmatic skills?

Finally, we’ll address the WORST way to teach our toddlers to talk and whether to “reward” toddlers for saying certain words (and avoiding others.)

When it comes to drug and alcohol use, it’s very tempting as parents to put your head in the sand and say "Not my kid” but that strategy never works, even if your kid isn’t actively experimenting (yet.) Since the most important component of prevention is education, the first step for parents is to get educated and be honest with yourself.

In this episode we’ll talk about what you need to know as a parent to effectively communicate your values and concerns to your kids, without them shutting you down.

When do kids commonly start experimenting with drugs and alcohol? Should you start having conversations with your kids before then? How do you explain the difference between abstaining vs. postponing? We’ll talk about how to navigate denial (both yours and your child’s) and what are the pros and cons of using monitoring and tracking apps like Life360.

And with so much at stake, when is it okay to allow natural consequences and when should you step in?

This episode will give your practical advice on how to navigate this potential minefield, and keep your relationship with your kid intact.

In this episode we talk with author Rebecca Vitsmun about her new book "Eliza Dee’s Universes."

As an autistic mother with neurodivergent children, Vitsmun was inspired by her personal experiences to provide an accessible story that inspires creative imagination in readers of all ages and backgrounds.

You’ll not only learn more about autism but also EDS, hyperphantasia and other “invisible” disabilities and how to spot them in your children. And while you shouldn’t rush in to diagnose or label your child, an accurate and timely diagnosis can be VERY helpful. We’ll also discuss what to do first, before getting your child diagnosed.

Kids do well, if they can. If they aren’t doing well, there is something standing in their way. From a practical standpoint that means:

• Focusing on your child’s strengths, not their weaknesses
• Leaning in with compassionate curiosity instead of pulling back
• What a shame spiral looks like and how to avoid it

Finally, we’ll address how to advocate for your child in a school system that may not provide services for neurodiverse children.