This week's F word is Fitness!

Mobility is medicine and this week, we talk about what movement means for our bodies. This is relevant to all of us because long, uninterrupted sitting is not great for our health. Our goal is to break up long periods of sitting to move more and be physically active. Movement is great for our lungs, digestive system, bones, muscles with social, emotional and cognitive benefits! It certainly makes us feel better too thanks to the lovely release of endorphins.

Join us as we talk about what Fitness means for our kids as well as how Healthy Strides got it's name!

This week we continues the discussion on the topic of family, reflecting on our previous conversation with Jen Prior!

It's important to emphasise that family isn't limited to blood relatives but includes the people you trust and do life with. It is integral to the "f-words" because it provides the why, how, and when for decisions, including pursuing therapy.

Key takeaways from Jen's conversation and our own reflections include the crucial role of parents as experts on their children and the importance of advocacy. A significant part of the discussion focuses on the timing of therapy, suggesting that while intensive therapy is valuable for achieving lasting results, it should be carefully planned around family needs, school, and holidays rather than being continuous.

Prioritising family time and choosing evidence-based therapy are real ways to achieve balance, reduce potential feelings of guilt or comparison, and to ensure that therapy aligns with the goal of enabling the child and the family to live their very best life.

We catch up with Jen Prior - an incredible mother (to the one and only Emily Prior), an advocate and a founding member of the Healthy Strides Foundation!

We get to speak with her about all things F-Words and FAMILY in particular!

We're back with a 2nd episode with the incredible Emily Prior! This time we discuss FUN - one of the very best F-words! 🥳

This week we catch up with Emma! An incredible advocate and parent, she describes herself as a big kid and a perfect example of this week's F-word, F.U.N, in action!

Emma's thoughts on the importance of fun really hit home for me. It's so easy to get bogged down in appointments and therapies, especially in the beginning, and forget that the simple act of enjoying time together is crucial. Emma reminded us that happiness isn't a luxury, it's a fundamental need for our kids to thrive and reach their full potential.

It made me think about how much pressure we can put on ourselves to constantly "do all the things" and how important it is to prioritise our children's joy and what truly makes them light up.

Emma's journey really highlighted the shift from the purely medical model of disability towards a more holistic and social perspective.

What I found particularly inspiring were Emma's practical ideas for weaving fun into therapy and everyday life. From creating songs for daily routines to transforming activities into games and incorporating her son's love for loud music, it's clear that tapping into your child's passions is key.

Emma emphasised the importance of giving him choices and control, something that is so incredibly beneficial. Her reminder that therapy doesn't have to be traditional clinic-based exercises – whether it's exploring the neighbourhood or playing in a walker – was so freeing.

Ultimately, Emma's powerful message resonated deeply: if our children's goals aren't tied to happiness and fun, perhaps they aren't the right goals. It’s about truly listening to our kids, letting their interests guide us, and remembering that play is their way of learning and where so much meaningful progress and joy can blossom.

Why FUN matters so much in therapy and everyday life!

We kick things off by talking about how a lack of enjoyment can make therapy feel like a chore—limiting engagement, motivation, and progress. FUN doesn’t mean easy; it means finding joy in the journey and making therapy something kids want to come back to.

We share our own experiences of how the idea of FUN changes as kids grow, and how we have to be intentional in keeping things playful and engaging. For children, play is their work—and when they’re having fun, they’re more likely to learn and try new things.

We also chat about the “just right challenge”—meeting kids where they’re at and gradually stretching them in ways that feel good, not overwhelming. Old-school ideas that crying equals progress just don’t hold up. Instead, we focus on creating a safe, happy space where kids can thrive.

At the end of the day, FUN isn’t a bonus—it’s a key ingredient in effective therapy and a positive family experience!

Friends with Emily Prior!

Model, Actor, Activist and friend (see what we did there! 😉) of the show - the returning Emily Prior. Emily has appeared on our sister podcast ResearchWorks and is here for a 2 episode stint with Dayna and Kate!

An amazing conversation with an amazing young woman!

This week we catch up with Rynae to talk about FRIENDS - a parent's perspective!

Kate's write-up to come!