Mummel Road - Podcast Emily Baitch

Leeanne opens up about her experiences of being a parent of a child who is on the autism spectrum. Leeanne beautifully articulates the importance of looking for, and recognising an individual's strengths and interests and making this the narrative to what makes them unique. Leeanne feels so passionate about sharing her story because of the heartbreak that she and her husband, Glenn, have experienced when people have placed their son Riley's deficits at the centre of their perspective of him. Riley loves the Wiggles and the colour red; he loves wearing a red shirt - which he looks fantastic in!! Riley enjoys watching himself in the mirror while he plays the guitar. Riley loves shopping centres, going on familiar road trips with his family and being a part of his school community. I could go on for a long time, but I want to paint the picture for you that Riley has plenty to offer his school, his community and is friends. All we need to do is open our eyes and minds to Riley and look at the world from his perspective. 
There will be so many parents who will be able to relate to this story, I would love to hear your stories of what makes your child brilliant. What would we see if we looked at the world from your child's perspective?

Do your children sometimes feel uncertain or anxious? Does or did your child experience separation anxiety when you dropped them off at school? Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes. or feel the world closing in on you? 
Have you wondered what strategies that you could use to help in these situations? Kylie wondered theses questions in her role as a teacher and then as a mum. What could she do to support he people she loved and supported through these difficult times?
She embarked on a journey to learn about mindfulness. What she learnt gave her the skills to support her family along with thousands of other families across Australia and the world. Kylie founded Head and Heart Mindfulness and this is her story. Enjoy. 

All too often I hear parents of children with additional needs say "I would love for my child to learn to swim but no one can cater for their individual needs". This is a heart-breaking story to hear, especially in a country such as Australia where learning to swim is such a huge part of our culture and society. I have been really interested in delving more into the people behind businesses that cater for children with additional needs. What prompted their move into this field, why do they want to go the extra mile in offering specialised services, and what are their take home messages after embarking on a journey to offer children with additional needs and their families a place where they can access skills, services, or education. Take a listen and let me know your thoughts on Dean's story. 

No parent wants to receive a call from their child's school informing them that they are not welcome in their classroom or in their school community. Unfortunately, these calls are not uncommon. Mostly, they are done with the safety and well being of all the students at the school in mind, which I completely understand. My quick hit today is simply a reminder for all carers, educators, and therapists to ensure that if they do need to call a child's parents, that they consider telling them one positive thing that occurred that day or even that week. I have been found crying at home by my husband after one of these calls and I understand the heartbreak that can follow these conversations. Please tread lightly with parents, please deliver news or reports with an anecdote of a positive thing that their child has done. Please be mindful that your words will remain with those parents for weeks or months to come. 
Thanks on behalf of all parents who are raising children with additional needs. 

Steve Innes work for Kurri Kurri Community Services in the Hunter Valley. Together with his colleagues, Steve is paving the way for individuals with disabilities to gain employment and social inclusion. Steve explains how workplaces in all industries can reframe their understanding and attitudes towards individuals with disabilities; seeing them as an asset rather than a burden. This is a really interesting conversation and one that I would love you to listen to. 
If you are like me and you are the parent of a child with a disability this is a terrific episode for you to engage with. 
Enjoy!

Screen time is part of the daily routine of many children. Screen time can definitely be a calm and peaceful time for many children. However excessive screen time can cause some problems such as poor muscle tone, excessive weight gain and a lack of involvement in outdoor or community based activities. 
My quick hit today offers you some helpful tips on how to support your child to transition from their screen time to another activity.