S3 Episode 1: Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Hell of School Struggles and Refusal

Hello parents, carers, educators, and practitioners! It's Lucia Silver here, and I'm thrilled to bring you another enlightening episode of My Mighty Quinn. Today, we have the honour of welcoming back Dr. Joshua Madsen, a renowned chiropractic neurologist specialising in children with neurodevelopmental delays and functional medicine. It's been a while since we last spoke, and I'm excited to dive into our discussion today.

In this episode, we explore the profound insights from Dr. Joshua Madsen on neurodevelopmental delays and the critical role of functional medicine. We focus on the underlying reasons behind school struggles and refusal, shedding light on the hidden challenges our children face. 

Key Takeaways

1. Integrative Approach: Dr. Madsen emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach, considering diet, nutrition, gut health, and environmental factors. Addressing the whole child and their environment is crucial for effective intervention.
2. Primitive Reflexes: A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the role of primitive reflexes in neurodevelopment. Dr. Madsen explains how retained reflexes can impact a child's ability to focus, read, and regulate emotions, leading to anxiety and behavioural challenges.
3. Personal Experience: Dr. Madsen shares his own struggles with reading and attention issues during school, highlighting how early intervention and understanding the root causes could have changed his educational trajectory.
4. School Refusal Epidemic: We delve into the alarming statistics of school refusal and persistent absenteeism. Dr. Madsen explains how neurodevelopmental delays and environmental factors contribute to this growing crisis.
5. Practical Steps for Parents: The episode concludes with practical advice for parents. Dr. Madsen suggests starting with small, manageable changes in diet, reducing screen time, and addressing environmental toxins. He also underscores the importance of parents managing their own stress to create a supportive environment for their children.

Call to Action

We know it can feel overwhelming hearing all the things we need to do for our children, so we've created a headliner fact sheet downloadable with this podcast. Additionally, we'll launch a "Fresh Start" challenge for the new school year, including small steps across diet, screen time, and sleep to help you and your child thrive.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Don't forget to check out Dr. Madsen's publications, Instagram, and YouTube channel for more insights. Have a wonderful day, and we'll see you in the next episode

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