The Autism and Sensory Parenting Podcast

Join us on our first podcast! This is actually happening!! I am starting by sharing my story with you so you know my perspective on parenting and raising a child with Autism and sensory needs!

In this episode, I’m going to:

Introduce what to expect from this podcast

Tell you about my journey as an Occupational Therapist and a parent of an Autistic child

My top 5 tips for parents that have children with Autism & sensory needs:

• Don’t forget about your child’s strengths!
• Don’t forget that you are the expert on your child – you know your child better than anyone else and your goal when you seek out other professionals is to learn from them
• Tap into your child’s interests!
• Check in with yourself! This is as much a growth journey for you as it is for your child!
• Make sure that you are making self-care a priority!

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others." ~ Audrey Hepburn

Don’t forget to join our FREE facebook group: Autism Moms Prevail! https://www.facebook.com/groups/autismmomsprevail

Listen in for a hard core, quick and dirty, lesson on the Vestibular System! Why you ask!?!? Because, the Vestibular System is a foundational sensory system that makes a HUGE difference in how your child gains new skills!

Learn:

1. What is the Vestibular System?
2. Why is the Vestibular System so important for our child’s development?
3. Connections between the Vestibular System and our brain and body
4. Some simple activities you can do with your child to support better development!

Make sure that you get my free audio training: My Simple 3 Step Process to Improve your Child’s Development https://www.integratefamily.com/free-audio-training/

We get information for our brain to make sense of the world through our senses

• Touch
• Hearing
• Taste
• Smell
• Vision
• Vestibular System
• Proprioceptive System
• Interoceptive System

The Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller

All of our brains are wired different, but generally there are certain things that we can do to affect our brains and our bodies based on what information we give it through our senses.

Some of my favorite things to do with my kids

• Straw in the am to drink applesauce or smoothies (crazy straws are even harder) to get more muscle work (proprioception and deep breaths) for more focus
• Taking regular movement breaks like go noodle during online school or going to the park and swinging, using the monkey bars or going down the slides
• Blanket roll ups
• Listening to meditations at night or taking a warm bath with relaxing Epson salts

Sensory Integration is the ability of our brain to organize all of the information that we get through our senses. Usually, as we develop, we do this automatically; however, if for whatever reason our brains have difficult time doing this the Sensory Integration framework is a specific framework or treatment approach that was developed by Dr. Jean Ayers, a neurologist and Occupational Therapist. The treatment is based on what we know about how the brain works and how sensory motor development happens.

Sensory Integration and the Child by Dr. Jean Ayers

Improving the development of our Autistic Children is a huge desire for so many of us. But, where do we start when there are so many conflicting messages out there? My guest today decided to make the conscious choice of connecting with her child over countless behavioral strategies and "expert" recommendations. Her optimistic attitude and realization that she needed to become empowered since she was the constant in her son's life was a dynamic and unmovable force that allowed this mother to catapult her son's development.

Find the show notes here: https://www.integratefamily.com/2020/10/using-connection-with-autistic-children-to-improve-development/

I am sure that I will say this about a lot of people I interview, but I am over the moon excited for you to listen to the interview today! My guest and I share so many thoughts and ideas about family and life in general, but she will immediately make you feel comfortable and as if you have known her for years. I am so so very thankful that I have had the opportunity to meet such a charismatic and caring woman. She is one of those people that is just genuinely her warm, wonderful and positive self and is full of passion for helping others.

So without further delay, meet Brandee. She is a family success coach as well as a behavioral consultant, parent-educator, volunteer extraordinaire, blogger and budding author. She loves making connections, reflecting upon life, and sharing it with others. Helping people navigate the complexities of parenting, managing a kiddo with special needs, or stepping into their own greatness, is where she SHINES. And she always seeks the lessons from each and every experience and is one who strongly believes in owning your OWN IMPACT. To this end, she aspires to help others find the joy, meaning and deep connectedness in their innermost circles with whom they share their most intimate life

experiences~their family.

Her life’s purpose is to LOVE her people fiercely, as her children are her LEGACY to this world. She wears that responsibility like a prideful ribbon. Her secondary purpose is to be a sharer of the wisdom she gleans along the way. Providing insight and inspiration to help others UP their personal and parenting GROWTH GAME. Her greatest hope is to be a guiding light for those that are seeking clarity, connection and community as they find their own personal formula for fulfillment. To help them release the daily chaos and find their FLOW.

Brandee is thrilled to be pouring into all of you today! Enjoy the interview!

Recommended books:

Raising your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Top 3 takeaways

1. You have to make priorities because if we are focused on everything, we are focused on nothing. That negative energy that is created will spill into all areas of your life. Instead, purposely set up your child’s day for success and it will be a win for both of you.
2. Focus on the strengths of your child and avoid comparing your child to all the other kids. Ask yourself why you want your child to be like everyone else. You will open up an opportunity to connect with you kids when you focus on your child’s strength, because we don’t need to “fix” our children.
3. Trust your gut and follow through on those feelings. This flows right into the idea to never stop advocating for your child (and then down the road teach your child how to advocate for your child). You know your child and you need to voice what you feel like your child needs by being an active member of the team, because you are the expert on your child!

You can find Brandee at:

https://brandeelandblossoms.com/ where they can access information about my Surviving to Thriving and Full Circle Living Coaching Programs and a soon to be released membership program

Her private Facebook Community – Purposeful Parenting for Moms with Extraordinary Children