This episode continues our sensory series, diving deep into the world of Sensory Sound, with actionable strategies for supporting sensitive kids wherever you go.

Why Are Loud Spaces So Overwhelming? Colleen unpacks how unpredictable peaks in sound, bustling crowds, harsh lighting, and layered sensory inputs can overload sensitive nervous systems. Whether it's a mic popping at announcements, the hum of the HVAC, or the swirl of cafeteria chatter—these environments can quickly become "too much."

Building a Predictable Noise Plan—Step by Step This episode is all about taking back control and creating a kind, doable plan so your kids can participate and feel safe:

• Recon the Space: Visit venues early, spot the quiet zones, locate exits, and identify problem areas.
• Create a Noise Map: Colleen shares practical tips for sketching out "green" (safe/quiet), "yellow" (watchful), and "red" (overwhelming) areas in any environment.
• Try the Gear: Explore sound-dampening solutions, from free options (hoodies, signals) to noise-canceling headphones and musicians' earplugs—covering several budgets.
• Practice Exit & Reentry: Teach simple signals, rehearse calming routines, and have a regrouping spot so kids know when and how to retreat and return.
• End With a Win: Celebrate every step your child takes in self-advocacy—even if it means sitting out for the day. Praise their use of the plan!

Real-Life Stories & Church Success Inspired by a learner's lab member's ongoing journey, Colleen offers scripts for requesting accommodations and creative ways to normalize sensory gear. You'll also hear practical solutions for church, co op, cafeterias, and gym settings.

Thank you to our sponsor:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

• The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
• The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
• Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
• The Anxiety Toolkit
• Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home
• Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
• Managing the Holidays with Sensory Kids with Sarah Collins
• Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs
• Respecting Your Child's Sensory Needs: When You Have to Say "No"
• Sensory Science Activity: Perfect For Your Homeschool
• Embracing Art and Its History for Kids With Sensory Issues
• Yard Work for Sensory Input
• Pumpkin Play Dough | Sensory Fun for Kids
• Sensory Play with Spice Painting
• Sensory Play for Kids

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down what a sensory diet is (and isn't!), why it matters, and how to get started with simple, safe, and low-prep strategies that work in any space—even if your house is bursting at the seams.

Here's what you'll find inside:

• A breakdown of the five key sensory systems: proprioceptive, vestibular, tactile, oral motor, and auditory/visual.
• Ideas for easy, everyday sensory activities: From "squeezy hugs" and wall pushups to crashing into beanbags, squishing play doh, sipping yogurt through a straw, and more—no fancy equipment required!
• How to spot your child's "pressure points" throughout the day (transition trouble spots, meltdown times, etc.)
• Ways to tailor your sensory menu: For movement-seeking kids, those who prefer sameness, and kiddos with anxiety or academic challenges.
• Troubleshooting tips: Small spaces, tight budgets, sibling drama, and even messy play.

Most importantly, you'll learn how to help kids notice and communicate what works for their bodies. We're all about empowering them with choice and self-awareness!

Free Download: Home Sensory Diet Planner

Grab Your Sensory Diet Planner!

Ready to build your own sensory toolbox? Head over to the show notes and grab your free planner! It's packed with suggestions and space to track your kids' pressure points, sensory wins, and more.

Thank you to our sponsor:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

• The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
• The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
• Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
• The Anxiety Toolkit
• Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
• Managing the Holidays with Sensory Kids with Sarah Collins
• Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs
• Respecting Your Child's Sensory Needs: When You Have to Say "No"
• Sensory Science Activity: Perfect For Your Homeschool
• Embracing Art and Its History for Kids With Sensory Issues
• Yard Work for Sensory Input
• Pumpkin Play Dough | Sensory Fun for Kids
• Sensory Play with Spice Painting
• Sensory Play for Kids

As part of the ongoing Executive Function series on the podcast, this week's episode dives into the essential (and often misunderstood) skill of working memory—how it impacts neurodivergent learners and what we can do to help.

If your child loses track of multi-step instructions, forgets a task mid-way, or gets overwhelmed by routines, you’re not alone—and it’s not simply forgetfulness. It’s about the way their brain processes and stores information moment-to-moment.

Key Takeaways:

• Make Instructions Visible & Bite-Sized: Use a Working Memory Command Center (think: whiteboards, sticky notes, rhythm cards) to externalize each step of a routine. Break down big tasks into 3-5 micro-steps and post them where your child needs to see them.
• Create a Personalized Micro Prompt Library: Build a set of actionable cue cards (“Write the date,” “Circle the operation,” “Put away 10 things”) specific to your child’s daily routines. This makes starting and completing tasks less overwhelming and more achievable.
• Teach Back & Retrieval Practice: Use playful strategies like the 30-second teach-back and “look away retrieval” games to help kids practice recalling information, building both confidence and working memory muscle—without stress.

If you want hands-on ideas you can implement today (including one-week action steps!), this episode and the free Executive Function Quick Start Guide are for you. Let’s reframe the narrative: your child isn’t lazy or forgetful—they just need tools that meet their neurodivergent brains where they are.

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Night Zookeeper – Fun, comprehensive language arts for ages 6-12

• 101 Reasons Eclectic Homeschooling Works for Gifted Kids
• Why Smart Kids Can’t Find Their Shoes (and What to Do…)
• Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals
• RLL #271: Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children
• Why Movement Matters (Especially for Our Neurodivergent Kids)
• Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah Collins
• Overcoming Sleep Struggles: Tips for Neurodiverse Families
• Beating Homeschool Overwhelm with Heart and Flexibility
• Building Flexible Thinking Skills in Your Neurodivergent Child
• Changing Rhythms | Homeschooling in Sync with the Seasons

If you tuned into this week's episode, you know we're in the thick of our executive function series—and this time, we took a deep dive into a challenge so many neurodivergent kiddos (and their parents!) know all too well: getting started.

Task initiation can feel impossible for kids who are gifted, twice-exceptional, ADHD, autistic, anxious, or just generally outside-the-box thinkers. They might be able to talk your ear off about their passions, but ask them to start a five-minute worksheet, and it's like hitting a brick wall. Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: your child isn't broken, and neither are you. Their brain just needs some extra scaffolding and gentle strategies—and that's exactly what we covered in this week's episode.

• Start small for big wins: Break tasks into "micro steps" or "bricks." Even something as simple as writing the date can be the first win that propels kids forward.
• Audit and reduce friction: Quick 5-minute "friction audits" help you and your child identify what's holding them back—be it sensory needs, unclear instructions, or missing tools—and address it before frustration builds.
• Model and scaffold for independence: By using techniques like body doubling (working in parallel), giving clear "done statements," or offering guided choices, you're not just helping them now—you're equipping them with lifelong executive function skills.

If you're a parent, educator, or homeschooler supporting bright, quirky kids, this episode is a toolkit of actionable insights. Grab the Executive Function Quick Start Guide for even more resources!

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Night Zookeeper – Fun, comprehensive language arts for ages 6-12

• 101 Reasons Eclectic Homeschooling Works for Gifted Kids
• Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do…)
• Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals
• RLL #271: Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children
• Why Movement Matters (Especially for Our Neurodivergent Kids)
• Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah Collins
• Overcoming Sleep Struggles: Tips for Neurodiverse Families
• Beating Homeschool Overwhelm with Heart and Flexibility
• Building Flexible Thinking Skills in Your Neurodivergent Child
• Changing Rhythms | Homeschooling in Sync with the Seasons

Struggling with chaotic mornings—especially with neurodivergent, gifted, or twice-exceptional kiddos? You're not alone! This week's episode of the podcast dives deep into practical strategies for establishing morning routines that truly work for your unique family.

• Ditch the "One-Size-Fits-All" Approach: Neurodivergent kids break the mold! Traditional checklists and rigid schedules can actually increase stress. Instead, focus on finding rhythms and anchors that guide your morning rather than the clock.
• Externalize Time & Reduce Decision Fatigue: Many kids (and adults!) experience "time blindness." Support them by using visual timers, playlists, or analog clocks, and prepping choices the night before to streamline mornings and cut down on stress.
• Prioritize Movement, Regulation, and Connection: Mornings run smoother when you weave in brief movement breaks, sensory supports, and moments of connection before tackling big tasks. These micro-habits help everyone launch into the day feeling regulated and ready.

Want more practical tools? There's a free download in the episode with sample morning routines and rhythm cards—perfect for building routines that are realistic and sustainable!

Let's make mornings kinder for everyone—especially YOU, the parent.

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Night Zookeeper – Fun, comprehensive language arts for ages 6-12

• Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do…)
• Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals
• RLL #271: Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children
• Why Movement Matters (Especially for Our Neurodivergent Kids)
• Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah Collins
• Overcoming Sleep Struggles: Tips for Neurodiverse Families
• Beating Homeschool Overwhelm with Heart and Flexibility
• Building Flexible Thinking Skills in Your Neurodivergent Child
• Changing Rhythms | Homeschooling in Sync with the Seasons
• 101 Reasons Eclectic Homeschooling Works for Gifted Kids