Trauma Podcast with Julie Kurtz

This episode has it all -- neuroscience, parenting, and real life stories. Dorothy Stewart and Alexandra Dutton are joined by Julie Kurtz, MFT who has written two books on trauma. She works with young children who have experienced trauma as well as their teachers and caregivers. Trauma is experienced by 50% of children under the age of 8. The good news: With knowledge of how to help children feel safe and discuss their emotions, we can help them move past events that can otherwise permanently affect their brains.

See Julie's websites: www.optimalbrainintegration.com/ and www.juliekurtz.com/

Her books:

Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators. Nicholson, J., Shimpi Driscoll, P., Kurtz, J., Marquez, D., and Wesley, L. (2019)

Trauma-Informed Practices for Early Childhood Educators: Relationship-Based Approaches that Support Healing and Build Resilience in Young Children. Nicholson, J., Perez, L., & Kurtz, J. Routledge. (2018)

Some recommended books: www.optimalbrainintegration.com/children-s-books

Also, yes, that's Alex's son trying to get her attention whispering "Mama!" Sorry :)

Preparing for Emergencies

With the new reality of fire season and power shutoffs, the discussion of emergency preparedness is important. Dorothy and Alexandra Dutton talk with an OFS family, Annette and Dan McCormick, who had to evacuate their home due to the fire in Lafayette in October. They share their experience, what they learned, and what they will do differently -- and we hope their experience helps all of us be more prepared.

Navigating the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, and to introduce your children to special traditions. Sometimes all of these new people, new expectations, and new foods are a bit overwhelming for young children, so what is a parent to do? Dorothy, Judy Haus (OFS Walnut Creek Director) and Alexandra Dutton (OFS Lafayette director) share ways to make the holidays more enjoyable to for everyone, relatives and children included!

We referenced this fantastic article from the Child Mind Institute: childmind.org/article/the-family…-a-survival-guide/

Traveling with Children

Are you traveling with your children soon, or thinking about how to take a vacation with your little ones? Let us help you! Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton, OFS Program Director, and Lisa Kallen from Alamo World Travel and Tours, about all the things to consider when traveling with children. From tips on flying, to tips on hotels, Lisa covers all the bases.

For more information about Alamo World Travel, please see their website: www.alamoworld.com

Making Doctor's Visits Easier

Do you have a dreaded doctor's visit coming up and you already know your child will scream like a banshee when getting a shot? We are here to help! Dorothy speaks with Rachel Turtledove and Alexandra Dutton on the best ways to prepare children for routine doctor's visits as well as more serious ones. Rachel and Alexandra both have children who have required special medical care and have tried many of these strategies to soothe their children. You'll be all ready for your child's flu shot after listening to this episode!

Making Transitions Easier

The new school year is under way, and if you're having a hard time saying goodbye at drop off at preschool or daycare, this podcast is for you! Dorothy is joined by Judy Haus and Alexandra Dutton, and they share some strategies to help ease the pain of saying goodbye. The most important rule: Never sneak out!

Introducing Young Children to Nature

Listen to this while you're on a walk! Dorothy and Alex talk with Sharol Embry (naturalist with East Bay Regional Parks) and Cindy Margulis (Executive Director of Golden Gate Audubon Society) about how to explore nature with young children. Nature can be a destresser and offers ways to build compassion -- but only when you allow your children time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Sharol and Cindy share stories that show it's simple to get children to love nature.

The Importance of Grandparents

Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton and Dr. Judith Van Hoorn, author and professor, about the art of grandparenting. As a grandparent herself, Judith is writing a book about the role of play and the art of being present and available to support both her children and grandchildren. They share insights on how powerful grandparent figures can be in the lives of children.

Separation

Shakespeare wrote, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," but it's not always sweet when you have children who are loathe to let you go! Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton and Judy Haus about ways to ease separations, whether you're going to be apart for just the school day, or gone for a longer trip. (And pardon the noise of the fan in the background -- it was 100 degrees when we recorded this!)

Books Judy mentioned:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Bye Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick

How to Handle Grief with Preschoolers

Grief is something we don't want to have to talk about with young children, but saying the right thing can make a difference in how children process a sad event. Dorothy talks with Judy Haus and Rachel Turtledove about handling grief with young children, both as parents and as educators. They discuss why it's important to NOT say that someone has "passed away" or "We lost him," and how parents serve as the model for this challenging emotion.

For more resources, check out these websites:
https://www.thesharingplace.org/
https://www.artwithheart.org/
www.dougy.org/

Some books that were mentioned were:
Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown
If Nathan Were Here by Mary Bahr
The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst

Technology With Preschoolers

Do you feel guilty about how much your child uses technology? Dorothy talks with Alex Dutton and Danielle Roach about the ways preschoolers and parents can use technology -- and you may be surprised at what they say! The truth is, the more educators and parents know, the more they can make informed decisions about appropriate use of the technology in our world.

Keeping Kids Healthy with Dr. Nazia Sheriff

Dorothy is joined by Dr. Nazia Sheriff of Olive Leaf Pediatrics, who shares some hints about keeping healthy all year long, which can be challenging when you have little ones! Learn about what you can do to prevent illnesses in your children, and when you should bring your child to the doctor vs. just riding it out.

Learn more about Dr. Sheriff's practice, which includes doing house calls, at www.oliveleafpeds.com

Math with Preschoolers

While we may not all have great memories of math, we can shape our children's minds about math through simple and easy strategies and games. Dorothy talks with Alexandra Dutton and Michele Bailey, an OFS Lafayette teacher about how to create an environment where children will love math. They discuss the importance of Sets, Number Sense, and Counting.

Executive Function with Zero to Three

In August 2018, Old Firehouse School hosted the speakers from the national organization, Zero to Three. The speakers, Christy Stanton and Katrina Macasaet, discussed brain development in children 0-5 years old -- specifically executive functions, which are key skills, like problem solving, that all children need. Listen here to learn more about executive function, how it relates to your child's development, and how you can help it further develop.

Sibling Rivalry

When siblings fight, it can drive parents crazy! Dorothy Stewart talks with Judy Haus and Alexandra Dutton about how to help create positive relationships between siblings and specific language to use. They discuss why comparing your children is unhelpful (02:23), what to do when name calling occurs (05:30)and how to handle the classic, "That's not fair!" (10:56)

We were greatly inspired by Todd Sarner's Transformative Parenting video about sibling relationships, as well as Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish's "Siblings Without Rivalry."

Holiday Sanity

Holidays are a time of joy -- and stress -- for us all! Alexandra Dutton and Judy Haus, Old Firehouse School directors, share some strategies to help all of us enjoy the holidays more by simplifying our expectations and schedules.

Gratitude

OFS Program Director Alexandra Dutton talks with teacher Madison Montoya about the importance of Gratitude. Gratitude is shown to help improve mental health and ward off negative emotions, while helping us to be more present and positive. Madison and Alexandra share activities and games that encourage building the gratitude muscle.

Halloween Tips with Rachel and Alex

Halloween is a fun, but sometimes scary, holiday for young children. Alexandra Dutton, OFS Program Director, and Rachel Turtledove, OFS Lafayette Preschool Teacher, discuss ways to make this holiday fun, safe, and memorable for our young ones.

Biting

All living things bite! But when that means your little one is biting you, or worse, biting other children, that is not an easy pill to swallow. Dorothy speaks with the OFS directors, Amy Baker, Judy Haus, and Alexandra Dutton, about why children bite, how to stop it, and how we deal with it at our schools.

Nutrition with Cary Berkley

Sometimes it can seem like an uphill battle to get children to eat! Nutritionist and former OFS parent Cary Berkley talks with Dorothy about how to help your children eat better and why it can be such a challenge. Get some really good, interesting tips about making mealtimes more pleasant for everyone.

For more information on Cary's work, or to consult with her, check out her website:
www.newfamilynutrition.com/