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If you've been following my three part series on Executive Function, part three will be published later this week. If you haven't followed but now are curious about it, you can find the posts here and here.
While there is still time before the first holiday in our upcoming holiday season, I wanted to share a few quick and easy tips with you that will help alleviate some stress for you, your child and your guests as you gather together. Plan the meal at a "typical" mealtime If you are able to have any say in the mealtime, try to have it as close to a typically occurring meal or snack as possible. Keeping your child on a routine will be very helpful. In a sea of changes, having relatively the same meal schedule keeps them anchored and feeling safe. Have regular meals and snacks This tip not only helps the kids but the adults too by keeping irritability ,from hunger, at bay. Incorporate the snack into your gathering by allowing your child some input in the choosing of the snacks being offered. Chances are, everyone at the party will enjoy some of the same things your child does. Serve them right alongside more "adult" options. I have attended countless parties where adults end up gathered around the kid snacks instead of the fancy snacks. Crackers are almost ALWAYS a hit. Have a kid table It turns out that the kid table really does much more for kids {especially picky eaters} than just giving the adults a kid-free meal. A kid table means FUN. It means less pressure, more laughs, less sensory stimuli, less commenting on what is or is not on your plate {most kids don't care what other kids are eating}, chairs that fit little bodies better and plates that are just the right size. Now, if you can swing it, I would highly recommend covering the kid table with butcher paper and provide crayons, stickers and pencils to allow the kids a little fun while they eat or when they are done eating. This allows the pickiest of eaters to stay at the table with the others even IF they aren't eating. Remember, mealtime isn't JUST about the food. I also recommend serving the kid table buffet style which helps children learn their place in the eating dance. Find out more about buffet style meals from Ellyn Satter Institute and her Division of Responsibility {D.O.R}. Get out those smaller serving bowls and mismatched Tupperware and allow the kids to serve themselves-this builds confidence and takes the pressure off. Yes, this is a little more work in the form of dishes but this extra work translates to less work in the form of helping your picky eater. Trust me. Remember it's not about the food I know, I know. It IS kind of about the food...but admit it...it really isn't when you get down to it. It's about reconnecting with those we haven't seen in months, sharing memories, new stories and gathering together. Allow your picky eater to be a part of THAT by taking the pressure off to eat perfectly that day. May your family have a blessed and joyous holiday. Until next time, keep growing and blooming. Jen For more helpful tips on how to navigate a holiday meal with children who have special dietary needs or need ideas for what to say to well meaning relatives when your child isn't eating, take a look at Melanie Potock/My Munch Bug's article here.
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Are you a teacher? Do you struggle with knowing when a student just needs to mature or if it could be something "more?" If you do, you're not alone. There are many conflicting reports on this topic as well as the ever increasing feeling that "everyone has ADD/ADHD. He's just a boy and needs time to mature. She would just rather socialize." Sometimes, that might indeed be true, but many times there are multiple areas that are lacking and this can be consistent with Executive Function Dysfunction.
You may see the following, most commonly reported, signs of Executive Function DYSFUNCTION in students {classroom}:
If you see several of these symptoms in a particular student, they are very likely to have Executive Function DYSFUNCTION and steps should be taken for the proper assessments to be completed either through the school or by a private clinician. Without the proper interventions and support, these skills will not improve and are likely to be lifelong struggles. Being successful with the skills needed to perform well in school have a direct correlation to success in life. If you suspect that a student has Executive Function Dysfunction based upon signs/symptoms in the classroom, please check in with parents about what they see at home. My first post in this series, or BlogTalkRadio show would be a wonderful resource with which they can start. For even more information on what to look for in the classroom with regard to Executive Function Dysfunction, tune in to this week's BlogTalkRadio Show when I'll be discussing this subject in more depth. Until next time...keep growing and blooming. Jen 
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If you're a a parent of a tween or teen I think you can relate to the picture above. Parenting a tween or teen that has Executive Function DYSFUNCTION creates an even bigger frustration. These children struggle with the brain based {AKA Cognitive} processes that allow us to plan, organize, make decisions, pay attention and regulate behavior.
OK, but what does that look like in REAL LIFE? Welcome to the first post in a series of posts that outlines the signs and symptoms of Executive Function DYSFUNCTION in three different settings {home, middle school/high school and college}. These posts are designed to help parents, teachers and students recognize that there really IS something going on and it's not that that there is an issue with laziness, motivation or simply lack of trying. It is a true, brain based issue that needs the proper treatment/coaching in order to see improvements. You may see the following, most commonly reported, signs of Executive Function DYSFUNCTION in your child at home:
Now, everyone has a messy bedroom once in a while but if you see several of these symptoms in your child, they are very likely to have Executive Function DYSFUNCTION. Without the proper interventions and support, these skills will not improve and are likely to be lifelong struggles. Needing more information? Tune in to my BlogTalkRadio show on Thursday, or download the archive, to hear more examples of what the above looks like at home. If you are ready to get started on a plan to help right now contact me, I'm ready. Until next time...keep growing and blooming. Jen Does our brain and the way we think have anything to do with why we choose certain foods over others or choose to eat or not choose to eat? It does, but not how you think...{pun intended}. Take a minute to listen to this week's podcast and learn about research that ties our executive function skills to eating. You'll also learn some GREAT tips on how to strengthen these skills AWAY from the table. What are you thoughts? Does this sound like your picky/selective eater? Have you found that as flexibility increases in other areas that it also increases at the table and with food?
Until next time...keep growing and blooming. Jen November, really?
Anybody else feeling like the months are flying by? I'm not necessarily complaining {because I love fall and the fall holiday season} but wow did this come up fast. As I was researching ideas for our November monthly theme, I came across so many interesting topics but the idea that kept whispering in my ear was Tolerance and Embracing Differences. When it comes down to it, this is exactly what I do in my therapy and coaching practice. Teaching others to be tolerant of one another's differences and embracing that they may be "different" in some way is the absolute first step in having a successful therapy/coaching experience. For one client, it may mean they embrace that they have a dialect and they don't need to "change" it to be successful-perhaps simply learn how to manage it to improve their communication. For another, it may be teaching them to be tolerant of their child's difference whether it be selective eating or chronic disorganization. For yet another, it may mean they embrace that their brain works differently and they simply need to have strategies/structures in place to help them be successful. Whatever the circumstance, we need to embrace and tolerate differences both in ourselves and others, if we are ever to move forward into a positive light/change. How can I help you in the process? Until next time, keep growing and blooming... Jen We all know them. We might even have them. THOSE kids. The ones who tell you what's wrong with the way you're doing things "Mrs. Hatfield doesn't do it that way." The ones who tell their friends that they "can't color the grass pink...the grass is green." The ones who have complete emotional breakdowns when they can't control the actions of others or when "rules" are broken. Take 15 minutes to learn 3 helpful tips for dealing with "these kids." YOU need to listen for YOURSELF. THEY need you to listen for THEM. Have you used any of these strategies before? What works for you? I'd love for you to comment and let me know.
Until next time...keep growing and blooming. Jen |
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