Connected and Capable

10 Sensory Red Flags that are Easy to Miss

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.

15. How to Help Toe Walkers Walk on Their Whole Foot👣

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:50 GMT

Toe walking seems like an odd habit, and while it can become habitual there are almost always underlying reasons kids are toe walking!

Getting to the bottom of what's causing your kid to tip toe all over the place is key for helping them walk on their whole foot, which is important because long term toe walking can cause physical issues.

But, I do have one thing you should no matter why your kid is walking on their toes and several more ways you can start helping your kid right now! We'll also talk about what to do when you get conflicting advice from professionals about how to handle toe walking!

If this episode was helpful leave us review, we greatly appreciate every single one.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Retained Primitive Reflexes 101

Key Timestamps:

2:00 The real question you need to ask

4:00 A surprising reason kids do this

6:00 The hidden driver most miss

9:00 When it’s not just one cause

12:30 What actually helps (and what doesn’t)

17:30 Where to start first

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

14. 5 (More) Executive Functioning Skills Uniquely Wired Kids Struggle With

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:41 GMT

So often we see gaps in executive functioning skills as personality traits. Or, they frustrate the heck out of us. In my own parenting journey understanding my kid was struggling with executive functioning AND wasn't just a difficult kid, changed everything.

That's why it's important to understand more of these executive functioning skills in this part 2 edition of our episodes dedicated to executive functioning skills (see episode 5 for part 1.

You'll also learn how to start helping your kid strengthen these skills, because yes that is very possible! The brain is amazing like that.

Join me for this surprising episode and then let us know if anything you surprised you about your own kid!

Get detailed strategies in our new free event, Executive Functionings week (starts April 13): https://yourkidstable.com/efweek

Key Timestamps:

01:49 Executive Functioning in Adults

03:44 Self-Control Explained

06:56 Understanding Impulsivity

11:58 Organization as a Skill

14:14 Planning and Sequencing

20:11 Time Management Challenges

26:15 Importance of Self-Awareness

28:42 Structure and Routine Benefits

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

13. Stop Using Timeouts and Lecturing with Neurodivergent Kids: Do this Instead!

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:41 GMT

Neurodivergent kids often struggle with following directions, listening, and self-control. What are we to do? We worry they aren't learning and want them to understand consequences. Both are very valid. In this episode learn why these popular parenting techniques we sometimes use intentionally and often out of desperation backfire with kids that have ADHD, Autism, or sensory needs.

Full disclosure lecturing is something I struggle with using with my ADHD kid. But, there's something going on under the difficult behaviors, and if it's not addressed the behaviors will likely only happen more often. Come learn what powerful shift can change how your kid acts, how they feel about themselves, and even grow skills with examples for preschoolers to teens.

Get a seat in our new free Executive Functioning Week with daily specific strategies that help kids listen, regulate, and follow directions here: YourKidsTable.com/efweek

Key Timestamps:

00:25 – Why timeouts don’t work the way we think

03:10 – What’s actually happening in your child’s brain

06:45 – The mistake most parents don’t realize they’re making

10:20 – Why lecturing backfires (even when it feels right)

14:05 – The shift that changes everything

18:40 – What your child actually needs in that moment

23:15 – A better way to respond (that actually works)

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

12. 4 Ways to Improve ADHD Symptoms (That No One Talks About!)

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:20 GMT

Most parents are told that ADHD treatment begins and ends with medication, which can be helpful for some kids. But there’s so much more to the story. (Grab a spot in the free Executive Functioning Week for parents below).

In this episode we talk about four powerful — and often overlooked — ways to improve ADHD symptoms in kids.

You’ll learn why ADHD is actually more than just poor attention, so much so that "ADHD" isn't really the best name for this diagnosis, how sensory needs and hyperactivity are closely connected, ADHD super-powers, and 4 ways we can support kids with ADHD so they can regulate, focus, and thrive.

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD (or suspect your child may have it), this episode is for you!

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Free Executive Functioning Week: 5 Days to Calming Big Emotions, Improving Focus, and Building Self-Control for Uniquely Wired Kids.

Unlocking ADHD Workshop (Included in memberships below):

The Connection Hive Membership: https://YourKidsTable.com/tch

Therapist Membership / Therapist All-Access: https://YourKidsTable.com/taam

Key Timestamps:

03:51 – The three ADHD subtypes explained

06:48 – Is hyperactivity ADHD or sensory?

09:21 – ADHD is so much more than attention...

17:26 – Why medication isn’t the only support

19:47 – Executive functioning are skills that can be strengthened

22:58 – What the research says

27:46 – The nutrition connection

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

11. Vestibular Sensitivities: The Overlooked Issue Affecting Reading, Balance, and Anxiety

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:33 GMT

If your child avoids swings, hates being tipped back to wash their hair, or panics when their feet leave the ground… there may be more going on than simple fear.

In this episode, I’m diving into vestibular sensitivities — one of the most overlooked sensory challenges that can quietly affect everything from balance and coordination to reading, attention, and anxiety.

You’ll learn what the vestibular system actually does, the subtle signs of gravitational insecurity, and why some kids feel completely unsafe when their body moves in space.

I’ll also share a powerful real-life story of a child who went from avoiding movement completely to sledding down a hill, and what made that change possible.

If your child seems fearful of movement or struggles with balance, this episode may connect a lot of dots.

Episodes mentioned in the show:

2. Retained Primitive Reflexes: What Every Parent of A Uniquely Wired Kid Needs to Know

3. If Your Kid Has Sensory "Issues," You Need to Hear This.

Get more help in The Connection Hive for Parents

Therapists, learn reflexes + sensory in the Therapist All Access Membership

Key Timestamps:

02:57 – What the vestibular sense actually does

08:06 – When kids don’t feel safe moving

11:09 – Signs parents often miss

17:28 – The reflex that may be causing it

21:10 – Should we just avoid movement?

30:29 – A real-life breakthrough story

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

10. How to Avoid After School Meltdowns (Restraint Collapse!)

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:21 GMT

After-school meltdowns are so common there’s actually a name for it: after-school restraint collapse.

If your child comes home and completely falls apart — big emotions, aggression, withdrawal, nonstop chaos — you are not alone.

Yes, masking all day is part of the story. But it’s not the whole story.

In this episode, I walk you through two other big reasons uniquely wired kids struggle during that after-school window — and why understanding what’s really happening changes everything.

When you see the root, you parent differently.

And when you parent differently, the whole tone of your home can shift.

I’ll also share three simple ways to ease that transition — things you can start today — so after school doesn’t have to feel like you’re bracing for impact every afternoon.

If this time of day feels heavy in your house, this one’s for you.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 9: Why Screens Feel Regulating (But, Might Not Be)

Get the visual supports, Meltdown Rescue Kit, and regulating activities in The Connection Hive: yourkidstable.com/tch

Key Timestamps:

00:30 – What “after-school restraint collapse” really means

04:30 – The reason everyone talks about (but it’s not the whole story)

08:39 – The transition most parents miss

10:30 – The simplest way to prevent the spiral

19:06 – Why movement changes everything

23:58 – When space works better than talking

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

9. Why Screens Feel Regulating (But Might Not Be)

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:11 GMT

Some say screen time is “regulating”… and honestly, it can look that way.

In this episode, we slow the conversation down—no shame, no judgment—and unpack why screens can feel like the only thing that works when your child is overwhelmed. But we also zoom out and ask the bigger question: is that calm actually regulation… or is something else happening?

I’ll share a personal story that changed how I see this, plus a research angle every parent of an ADHD (or otherwise neurodivergent) kid should hear.

Get our new 1 hour screen time workshop in The Connection Hive here: yourkidstable.com/tch

*Are you a therapist, this resource will also be in The Therapist All Access Membership: yourkidstable.com/taam

Key Timestamps:

01:06 No guilt, no judgment—why this is so confusing

04:40 Why screens work in the moment

10:21 Calm vs. regulation

13:51 A personal story that shifted my perspective

20:40 The research that links screentime to dysregulation

22:42 What to do next if screens are becoming a struggle

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

8. 10 Sensory Red Flags that are Easy to Miss

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:48 GMT

Have you ever watched your child do something that just makes you pause… but you can’t quite explain what's going on, but you know something deeper is behind it?

in this episode, I’m talking about things kids with sensory needs do that are easy mistake s quirks, phases, or personality.

This isn’t about labeling your child or diagnosing anything. It’s about helping you see your kid through a new lens so that you can understand and ultimately support them in new ways that leads to growth.

If you’ve ever thought, "Why does my child act like this or do that?" this episode is for you.

Download the Free Sensory Mini-Toolkit Here: https://yourkidstable.com/sensoryessentials/

THERAPISTS: Get inside our Therapist All-Access Membership Here

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

Key Timestamps:

02:11 – What I really mean by “red flags”

05:47 – The sign most parents dismiss

09:15 – When reactions to food aren’t a choice

14:02 – Why parties can feel overwhelming

19:39 – The truth about the “wild child” label

25:08 – When it looks like they’re ignoring you

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

7. The Secret Key Each Parent Holds to Regulating Their Kid

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:32 GMT

What if the most powerful tool for reducing meltdowns isn’t a strategy, a script, or a consequence — but something you already carry with you?

In this episode, Alisha breaks down the often-misunderstood role of co-regulation and why it works in every setting, at every age, and at every intensity level. She explains why common “in-the-moment” techniques fail when a child is dysregulated, and what actually has the power to shift the nervous system instead.

Through real-life examples, including a powerful story from a parent who put this into action, you’ll hear why regulation is contagious, why your own state matters more than you think, and how these moments quietly shape your child’s brain over time.

If you’ve ever wondered why doing “all the right things” still doesn’t work in the heat of the moment, this episode will change how you see regulation—and yourself—entirely.

Join the new Therapist All-Access Membership: YourKidsTable.com/TAAM

Key Timestamps:

0:39 – The “Secret Key” Parents Hold

3:38 – Regulation Is Contagious

7:07 – Why Logic Fails in Meltdowns

9:12 – The One Thing Kids Can Respond To

14:25 – A Real-Life Meltdown Turns Around

24:27 – The Brain Connection Being Built

32:31 – You Are Connected and Capable

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

6. The Huge Iceberg Hiding Under Your Kid's Biggest Struggle

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:30:31 GMT

The struggles are kids have can be hard, dysregulating, and cause lots of worry. Understandably so! What's the best way to tackle them? How can we help them make lasting change?

In this episode I'm diving into what really works and how to know which way to turn whether your kid is struggling with anxiety, bad handwriting, aggressive behaviors--or anything in between.

It's the question we all must ask for our kids and the various struggles they face, especially the one's that can feel like they're taking over.

Check out the clinically based therapists summit coming soon: https://yourkidstable.com/therapist-mini-summit/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

5. 5 executive functioning skills that uniquely wired kids struggle with

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:30:52 GMT

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/

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

4. Emotional Regulation 101: What to Do About Meltdowns, Hitting, & Roller Coaster Emotions

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:30:44 GMT

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

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

3. If Your Kid Has Sensory "Issues," You Need to Hear This.

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:30:06 GMT

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

LET'S CONNECT:

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.

2. Retained Primitive Reflex: What Every Parent of A Uniquely Wired Kid Needs To Know

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:30:35 GMT

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 Timestamps

01:00 – 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

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LET'S CONNECT:

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.

1. The 4 Hidden Causes Behind Sensory Needs, ADHD, & Big Emotions

Alisha Grogan — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:30:12 GMT

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 Timestamps

04:21 — 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

LET'S CONNECT:

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

Alisha Grogan — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:19:37 GMT

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.

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