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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 personality 6:05 Attention isn’t the whole ADHD story 16:20 Perseverance is a brain skill, not a trait 20:00 Working memory & “why won’t they remember?” 23:20 Task initiation: frozen before starting 26:40 Flexibility & meltdowns when plans change Get 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 YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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 your child’s big emotions aren’t random… and they’re not a behavior problem either? In this episode, Alisha dives into Emotional Regulation 101—and unpacks why some kids flip from calm to overwhelmed in seconds, why meltdowns can feel so sudden, and the hidden brain shift that changes everything about how we respond. You’ll hear a perspective most parents never get about what’s really happening under those reactions, why talking through emotions often doesn’t work in the moment, and one surprisingly simple starting point that can begin to shift the pattern over time. If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells around your child’s moods—or wondered why nothing you’ve tried seems to stick—this conversation will help you see those moments in a completely new way.  Key Time stamps: 2:30 What emotional regulation really is 6:45 An important analogy for big feelings 12:10 Why fight/flight shuts regulation off 17:55 2 other factors that can cause dysregulation 22:40 The #1 way to help kids build emotional regulation Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/  MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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/tch Key Time Stamps: 01:30 – Why sensory needs show up everywhere in daily life 05:05 – The 8 senses that shape your child’s behavior 10:05 – The three sensory modulation patterns you need to know 15:30 – How sensory needs change day-to-day based on sleep, stress, and emotions 17:15 – How sensory sensitivities can snowball over time 18:45 – How to support without forcing or avoiding growth MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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.

Retained primitive reflexes are often overlooked—or completely missing—from the conversation when it comes to kids with sensory needs, attention challenges, anxiety, coordination difficulties, and diagnoses like ADHD or autism. In this episode, I’m breaking down what retained primitive reflexes actually are, why they matter far beyond infancy, and how they can impact your child’s sensory processing, emotional regulation, focus, learning, and movement:  We’ll talk about: 1. What retained primitive reflexes actually are in layman's terms 2. Common signs that reflexes may still be firing (or retained) 3. Why this piece is often missed—even by professionals 4. How working on reflex integration can support regulation, sensory needs, attention, and daily functioning. 5. Ways to work on integrating reflexes   This episode is about understanding the body first—because when the body can organize and respond the way it was designed to, everything else becomes more accessible. Join me in The Connection Hive for the 30 Day Reflex Challenge, you can get started in just a couple minutes: https://yourkidstable.com/TCH Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/  Key Timestamps01:00 – What retained primitive reflexes actually are 02:25 – The grasp reflex and why it matters later in life 03:45 – The Moro reflex and its link to anxiety and hyper-vigilance 06:10 – How reflexes impact coordination, reading, and focus 09:18 – Why many professionals never talk about reflexes 15:43 – Simple ways families can start integrating reflexes at home MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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 YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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.

Welcome to The Connected and Capable Podcast—a supportive space for parents raising kids with sensory needs, big emotions, and behavioral challenges. If your child is highly sensitive, struggles with focus, self-control, aggression, picky eating, or simply seems overwhelmed by the world, you are not alone. In this podcast, we talk about the real worries that keep parents up at night: Will they grow out of this? What am I missing? How do I actually help my child? Whether your child has ADHD, sensory processing challenges, autism, or no formal diagnosis at all, this show is for families navigating days that feel long, confusing, and exhausting. Hosted by Alicia Grogan, pediatric occupational therapist of over 20 years and a mom raising kids with big emotions, sensory needs, and ADHD, The Connected and Capable Podcast breaks down doable, evidence-based strategies that truly support uniquely wired kids. You’ll learn how many common challenges are deeply connected—and how to build new pathways in the brain that improve sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and more. This podcast is about giving you peace in your day and setting the foundation for your child to reach their full potential. As the person who knows your child best, you have more power than you think—and real change is possible, even for the busiest parents. Your child is capable. And so are you. Let’s dive in. MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU Ready 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/TCH LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Yourkidstable Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Yourkidstable Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/Yourkidstable If 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.