Dr Kathy Weston's Get a Grip! Parenting Podcast

Our Researcher of the Month, Tanya Manchanda, has recently published a review which assesses existing friendship interventions and their impacts on the mental health outcomes of adolescents aged 12–24 years. In this interview, Tanya considers what we know about these interventions, for both the teen who is trained and their friends and reveals that surprisingly few interventions which utilise auth...

In this interview, we talk to cyberpsychologist Dr Danielle Paddock about her fascinating examination of how teens converse with each other about appearance on social media. We know that appearance-related concerns are very high among teens in the UK. We also know that visual social media platform design encourages both image creation/sharing and interactions about these images. Dr Paddock chats a...

In this interview, Professor Jessie Ricketts talks to us about her research into reading and language development in both teens and younger children. We explore early reading development, how reading ability continues to evolve into adolescence and discuss evidence-based ways to boost young people's motivation to read. Professor Ricketts also provides information on useful tools that can be us...

Our Researcher of the Month, Professor Shana Carpenter, talks to English teacher and examiner, Patrick Cragg about the science behind two effective learning strategies: spacing and retrieval. She outlines how and why these simple practices can benefit learning and explores why so few students actually use them. Listen for top tips on how to integrate these strategies into the classroom or at home.

In this interview, Suzanne Graham, Professor of Language and Education at the University of Reading, chats to us about the potential benefits of learning foreign languages. She discusses the links between language learning and creativity, talks us through her research into learning foreign languages in both primary and secondary settings and considers how we can motivate young people to engage wit...

Have you ever considered the impact of the climate crisis on young people or really asked how they feel about the constant barrage of bad news that faces them? In this interview, Dr Weston chats with Dr Verity Jones about sustainable futures and education. They talk through optimal ways to discuss climate change with children and young people and outline the things that young people would find hel...

In this interview, clinical psychologist and eating disorder expert, Dr Amy Harrison, talks to us about optimal ways to support a friend who has an eating disorder. She discusses her innovative research into the impact of eating disorders on social functioning and gives us some actionable tips that might be helpful in maintaining and strengthening friendships. She also guides us through some topic...

Should we worry if our teens spend hours a day gaming? New research shows that for the majority of teens, heavy gaming is not detrimental to their wellbeing and might even have a positive relationship with it. However, it also shows that there are a small number of teens for whom heavy gaming is associated with poor wellbeing. Dr Simona Skripkauskaite, our Researcher of the Month for February 2023...

In this episode, Dr Weston talks with Dr Leor Zmigrod about the psychology of ideological extremism. It's a fascinating discussion which outlines cognitive characteristics that might act as vulnerability factors for radicalisation and ideologically-motivated behaviour in young people, before addressing what strategies  might help to protect young people from this kind of rigid, and poten...

Researcher of the month, Dr Cele Richardson, discusses her 2022 study, which shows that when parents have a warmer relationship with their teens, teens tend to have better sleep hygiene practices, sleep for longer at night and feel less sleepy during the day. Lack of sleep can have a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many teenagers. As parents, we are ideally placed to help...

Dr Weston delivers a Christmas message focusing on emotional literacy, oracy and zones of regulation.  Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras  from  Pixabay .

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Susie Bower-Brown about the experiences of binary-trans, non-binary and gender questioning young people in UK schools. Her research uncovers various ways in which teens who identify in this way often feel invisible or discriminated against. Listen for her thoughts on how schools can best support these young people and improve their mental health outcomes.

In this interview, Dr Weston talks to Professor James O'Higgins Norman about bullying. Professor O'Higgins Norman is the UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace at Dublin City University, where he is Director of the fantastic National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre. We chat about what bullying looks like in 2022, how schools can best tackle it and the importance of...

Professor Brackett outlines how, far from being a weakness, emotions - and our ability to feel, understand, and use them - are vital to achieving success. He describes his effective, evidence-based approach to emotional intelligence, known as RULER, which is used in thousands of schools worldwide.

In this interview, Dr Weston chats with Ella Podmore about her role as senior materials engineer at McLaren Automotive. Ella answers questions from children and young people, talking inspiringly about setting goals and how to work towards achieving them. Passionate about inspiring other girls into STEM industries, Ella also highlights some campaigns and organisations working in this field.

In this interview, Dr Weston talks with PhD student, Caoimhe Dempsey about her research into how parents feel when their children first start school. We know a lot about how to make children 'school-ready' in terms of their learning, but what about how parental attitudes and emotions impact their transition? Do parents tend to feel positively about school starting? How does it impact on their life...

In this interview, Dr Weston chats to England and Saracens rugby player, Sonia Green, otherwise known as Sonic. They discuss how to encourage sporting participation, how to balance academic pressures with sporting aspirations and the best way to deal with inevitable injuries. A must listen for all parents of young athletes and their children.

In this interview, Professor Mina Fazel talks to Dr Weston about supporting displaced children once they are in a place of refuge. Listen now to find out about the crucial importance of a sense of belonging and how the outcomes of these children are dramatically improved if they are able to form natural social connections. Teachers and school staff can learn some top tips on supporting the mental...

Researcher of the month, Professor David Putwain, discusses his recent paper which focuses on whether warning GCSE students of the consequences of failure (otherwise known as a 'fear appeal') is a motivating strategy in terms of their levels of engagement and achievement. He outlines the reasons why teachers use fear appeals, how this kind of approach can have very different outcomes depending on...

In this podcast interview, Dr Weston talks with Professor Deirdre Butler and Dr Paula Lehane about how Minecraft: Education Edition is being used in classrooms. They discuss the great potential of so called 'sandbox' games in children's learning, outline current gaps in the research evidence and provide useful tips for any teachers wanting to make the most of game-based learning.

Researcher of the Month, Dr Éadaoin Slattery, discusses her recent paper, which systematically reviews the evidence around popular sustained attention training interventions, which are widely used in schools. She talks us through what sustained attention is, why it is important and whether or not widely used interventions are likely to have a significant impact. We've probably all heard of brain t...

In this interview, Dr Weston talks with Justin Bowen about his own family's experience of loss and what prompted him to write support books for parents, schools and children experiencing bereavement. They discuss how schools can best support children who have lost a loved one (and how settings can access Justin's fantastic and practical book, 'Be The Rainbow') and dwell on Justin's personal insigh...

In this interview aimed at school staff, educational consultant Victoria Franklin talks with Dr Weston about key messages from new Government Guidance on school attendance, which is being implemented as of the beginning of September 2022.

Our Researcher of the Month, Tom King, discusses his recent paper which reviews the evidence for peer-led mental health and wellbeing interventions, widely used in schools worldwide. He talks us through why they are so appealing to schools and outlines the potential benefits and risks. 

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Bennie Kara, deputy headteacher, author and speaker on diversity in the curriculum and school environment. Bennie shares her wealth of expertise on how schools can build an inclusive school culture, talks about the importance of language and outlines some key terminology that all educators and parents should be aware of.