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12. ADHD: In It Together
45:12||Ep. 12ADHD can feel overwhelming at times. As an ADHD adult or a parent of a neurodiverse child, there are days when the struggle feels impossible. Whether itās dealing with emotional meltdowns, rejection, self-sabotage or workplaces & schools that just donāt āget itā, ADHD aināt easy.But you are NEVER aloneā¦and the story told by this weekās guest proves it. We were delighted to welcome Neal Mankey, Chair of ADHD UK, neurodiversity champion and a father who was diagnosed with ADHD in his early 40s. In this raw, open and honest episode of the EPIC Families podcast, Neal reveals how ADHD doesnāt have to be a tripwireā¦it can be the missing piece of the puzzle:šŗļø The personal journey of undiagnosed ADHD in his younger years that went from āhyperactive kidā to school-leaver with zero qualifications to jumping from job to job and struggling with mental health and alcohol challenges.š How an ADHD diagnosis can help to explain the aspects of our lives that weāve struggled with for so long, and trigger a vast range of positive lifestyle changes.ā ļø The shocking statistics highlighting the links between ADHD and mental illness in young people and adults, and the strategies that can be put in place to help.š Why āletting goā can be the secret to dealing with ADHD-related challenges, and how vulnerability can be your greatest strength.ā¤ļø The importance of creating environment that offer psychological safety and the acceptance to allow people to let their authentic strengths shine.š How to help your children thrive in a learning environment, and why ābeing their authentic selvesā may be easy to talk aboutā¦but almost impossible to achieve.PLUS, Neal reveals:šŖ How he discovered the secret āconfidence to not conformā in the most unlikely of places.>>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
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11. Learning The Most Powerful Lesson
37:18||Ep. 11If you want to unlock your childās unique learning abilities and help them to thrive in the classroom, meet the expert who specialises in supporting the "neuro-spicy" and "neuro-sparkly" learners - those brilliant minds who process information differently and often struggle to find teachers who truly understand them.Dani Archer is the owner of The Study Nook (https://www.thestudynook.co.nz/) - a child learning organisation that doesnāt just help students to learn, they focus on building confidence, fostering understanding and celebrating extraordinary minds.In this fascinating episode of the EPIC Families podcast, Dani reveals:š What āstructured literacyā is, and why itās seen as the secret weapon to support children who are neurodiverse or with additional learning needs.š¬ The importance of taking an individualised approach to your childās learningā¦even in a classroom that wants everybody to be the same.š āTheyāre not just being naughtyā How to understand why certain behaviours creep into the playground.ā³Why patience is a virtue for parents when it comes to helping children with their learning, but nothing matters more than TRUST.ā ļø Hidden signs of learning difficulties - what you need to look out for in your children.š§ The āworking memoryā secret that can create an individual learning breakthrough for your child.PLUS, Dani revealsā¦ā„ļø How to help your child build resilience and inner confidence so theyāre not afraid to FAIL>>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
10. ADHD: Break Down to Break Through
37:04||Ep. 10If you want to cut through the clouds of confusion that appear when navigating a child neurodiversity maze, then this episode is going to light a path to clarity, certainty and confidence for your familyās future.Meet the unstoppable Kirsty Brown: Mental health nurse practitioner and a true expert in giving neurodiverse families the tools they need to become EPIC families. Kirsty gives a straight-talking, no-nonsense masterclass in how lifestyle factors can impact ADHD symptoms and treatments, and how families can make small adjustments to experience big improvements in their lives.In this truly epic episode, you will discover:āļø The tools and habits that you need to operate at your optimal best on a day-to-day basis.š§ āDonāt be rigid, be smartā - The secret to creating the personal conditions for you and your family to thrive with ADHD.š½ļø The special kind of diet that can be highly beneficial for people with ADHD.š āItās not rocket scienceā - The key ways parents can overcomplicate neurodiversityā¦and how to take an easier approach.š§² Understanding HOW ADHD shows up for your child (or for you!) and putting the right structures in place to work with it, not against it.š The āking & queenā conundrum that might mean your child is doing the OPPOSITE of what you want them to do.āØ Why medication isnāt always the āsilver bulletā families needā¦and what other measures they can put in place.š How to help your child shift from little meltdown demon to ADHD angelPlus, Kirsty revealsā¦ā„ļø The most POWERFUL things parents can do to help their children embrace ADHD >>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
9. ADHD Unlocked
43:48||Ep. 9We are SO back! Welcome to season 2 of the EPIC Families podcast!If the ADHD journey has ever left you and your family feeling overwhelmed, underprepared or overlooked, then we have the perfect person to help you get ADHD Unlocked. Meet Tracey Rountree, a key member of ADHD New Zealand, and someone who brings a lifetime of knowledge, wisdom and lived experience to the EPIC Families podcast because she is also an ADHD mum in a neurodiverse household.In this episode, Tracey reveals:šāāļø āMaybe itās ME?ā - The unfortunate truth around how many parents are dismissed when the first signs of neurodivergence appear for their child.š Winning the confidence battle - How to start trusting yourself as a parentā¦even when other people think they know your child better than you!šØāš« The phonecall from school - Why you donāt have to fall into the āperfect parenting trapā when your childās teacher tells you they are struggling.ā ļø The dangers of always trying to get it ārightā, and why ātrial and errorā could be a more powerful approach.šµāš« How to be a more consistent parent in a world where you feel like youāre being pulled in 100 different directions.āøļø Why a strategic āpauseā can be a game changer when it comes to morning and evening routines.š·ļø The debate around ālabellingā a child as neurodiverse, and why NOT doing so can cause additional challenges.PLUS, Tracey helps us to unlock one of the key parenting puzzlesā¦š¬ How to talk to your child about ADHD and wider neurodiversity>>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
8. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These: Neurodiversity & Sleep
27:07||Ep. 8Many neurodiverse families struggle with bedtime routines, falling asleep and staying asleep. But sleepless nights for children (and parents) can be a thing of the past because paediatric consultant Dr Sarah Moll returns to the EPIC Families podcast to deliver a sleep masterclass thatās definitely worth staying up for.In her role as a consultant at Tauranga Hospital in New Zealand and co-founder of Bay Paediatrics neurodiversity clinic, Sarah has helped hundreds of families unlock the mysteries of getting a good nightsā sleep.Sarah Reveals..ā ļø The two main sleep challenges that neurodiverse families face (one might surprise you).ā³What you should do if your child remains awake for longer than 30 minutes after you put them to bed.š“ Why two different stages of sleep are VITAL for your childās development. š How certain ābad habitsā can make the difference between a dreamy sleep routine or a bedtime nightmare.š„± The āsleep hygieneā secret, why so many parents struggleā¦and why it isnāt your fault.āļø How āsleepy foodsā can make bedtime easierā¦but a hot chocolate in the evening may be adding to your childās sleep strugglesš What to do when your child refuses to go to bedā¦and why consistency and routine can make all the difference.PLUS, Sarah reveals a sleepy secretā¦š How to create a āsleep diaryā that can solve the bedtime puzzle once and for all. >>>>> Grab your tickets for EPIC Families LIVE on March 8th and meet the experts to solve your parenting challenges! More info here.EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. Discover how in our website here: https://www.myepicfamily.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/
7. The Resilience Ladder: How to Overcome Anxiety
42:38||Ep. 7Anxiety can be a huge challenge for neurodivergent childrenā¦and their families. It can feel overwhelming, confusing and never-ending. But there IS a way forwards, and you donāt have to let anxiety hold your child back.We welcome child educational psychologist Nadia du Plessis to give a masterclass on how anxiety shows up for your child, the impacts it can have and - most importantly - how you can help your child build true resilience and take back control of their thoughts and emotions.Nadia reveals:š·ļø How āanxietyā can be an extremely heavy label to burden child with, when it could be defined as a different emotion.š¢ Spotting the difference between ānormalā rollercoaster emotions and anxiety disorder emotions.š Why neurodivergent children may experience more anxiety on a regular basis.š The hidden signs & behaviours to look out for in order to understand whether your child is suffering from anxiety.šļø Why anxiety is NOT always about the child who is naughty or disobedient, and is more about controlšŖ« The phenomenons of āemotional blindnessā and āneurodivergent burnoutā and how they can impact neurodivergent children.šµāš« How to deal with āend of yearā chaos when there is too much to do and too little time.PLUSš§ Tried and tested psychological strategies to help your child overcome anxiety āin the momentā>>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. Discover how in in our website here: https://www.myepicfamily.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTokGet free access to the ultimate parentās guide to ADHD for children: ADHD Unlocked.EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/
6. One More Bite: Mealtimes, Nutrition & ADHD
41:54||Ep. 6If mealtimes & food have ever been a challenge for you and your child, then EPIC Families is serving you up a treat.We bring you Dietician Consultant Natarsha McEwan, and she is an absolute expert in advising neurodivergent children and their families about food, mealtimes, diet and nutrition. Through her work at The MacMurray Centre in New Zealand, she helps children and their families navigate the mealtime maze.If youāve ever struggled with getting your child to eat a balanced diet, keeping them at the table, encouraging them to try new foodā¦ or generally get through mealtimes without guilt, overwhelm and a breakdown, then this is for you. Natarsha revealsā¦š± The nutrition & dietary challenges children with ADHD typically face.š©āš¬ Why āfollowing the scienceā is only half the story when it comes to your childās dietary needs.š„ The secret to making long-lasting mealtime changes that work for the whole family.š·ļø How labels of āfussyā, ārestrictedā or āparticularā eater can impact how children perceive mealtimes.š The power of a food diaryā¦.but why your child shouldnāt focus on weight or calories.š„¦ How to help a child to get comfortable eating āyukkyā food.PLUSš āBreak in case of emergencyā what to do when your child gets seriously āHangryā.>>>>> EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. Discover how in in our website here: https://www.myepicfamily.com/Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTokGet free access to the ultimate parentās guide to ADHD for children: ADHD Unlocked.EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealandās leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/