In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron welcomes Craig Parks — a dad, musician, and longtime advocate for kids with special needs. Craig shares his journey raising a son on the autism spectrum, the power of music in building connections, and his "Parenting A to E" framework designed to help parents foster joy and lasting memories with their kids. He highlights the importance of support networks, inclusive environments, and embracing curiosity over judgment to build a more connected, compassionate world — one relationship at a time.

Key Takeaways:

Inclusion = Connection - True inclusion is about creating meaningful connections, which looks different for each person.

Power of Music - Music is a universal tool for calming, connecting, and creating lasting family memories.

Big Affect Matters - Engaging kids — especially nonverbal ones — with exaggerated facial expressions and body language builds connection.

Support is Essential - Parents of kids with disabilities need community and safe spaces to share experiences without judgment.

Ask with Compassion - A simple, “Can I help?” asked with genuine curiosity can break barriers and build empathy.

Craig’s definition of inclusion:

Inclusion is seeking to understand what each person needs to feel connected and then creating those spaces.

Craig’s Bio:

Craig Parks has worked with kids for decades as a camp director, kids musician, and a proud dad of two kids. His A to E Parenting method has helped many parents to lift the mundane into the memorable and increase the joy while reducing the stress of parenting! He has trained hundreds of people how to effectively work with children to elicit their best and be lifted by the experience. He even created a weekly show with his 5 year old daughter that has kids and parents laughing and inspiring them to create their own positive family memories! You can check out some of his kids music on Spotify and get an exclusive song for free only at www.parentingharmony.com

Connect with Craig:

Website: https://parentingharmony.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingharmony

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigparksmusic

SPAM© Count:

Host:

Yes

Current Guest:

No

Cumulative Guest Stats:

Yes - 37

No - 50

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