How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Here’s a thought for you – every interaction you have with your child will leave a trace – in the wiring of their brain. Repeated interactions of the same type will build permanent connections – so we want these to be helpful ones which build resilience rather than reliance. In this episode I’ll share the five core skills we should be teaching our under five year olds to give them the best possibl...

This week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode is a must-listen as it'll help both you and your children!  It's all about creating new habits, and I share my top tips to not only establish new habits but to also maintain them in the long-term.  Tune in now and discover how you can make positive changes in your life. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least...

I get asked about back-chat a lot as I know it’s something we can really struggle with as parents.   We usually associate this type of behaviour with the teenagers being rebellious and pushing every boundary, but it’s about what’s happening in our children’s internal world than something which is specifically related to a given age or stage of development.  I’ll share my thoughts on...

In this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode I'm answering a listener question "Can I insist on no devices when my child is having a sleepover?"  With the rise of technology, it's a question that many of you may face, and as the CEO of your family, you can insist on this!  Listen in as share my strategies to manage this situation and ensure that your child has a device-free s...

We have 6,000 thoughts a day - 80% are negative and 90% of which are habitual. If you have low confidence you're telling yourself 4,800 times day you're not good enough!! I'll share how you can help your child build a new narrative. Here are the highlights:  {1:18} The impact of words {4:15} Our words shape our child’s brain {6:50} They are always listening! {9:21} Think about the gender-base...

Would you like to achieve a #winwin? This week’s Bucket Emptying episode is just what you need! I’ll explain how your habit of completing routine tasks for your children is causing you to miss out on opportunities and hindering your children’s development of independence. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll to le...

Parenting isn't a popularity contest. It's about making the difficult decisions, because we're playing the long game AND it won't make us popular. Boundaries allow children to grow and become the resilient adults we all want them to be. Here are the highlights:  {0:40} Positive parenting does not mean equal terms friendship {2:00} What do we mean by boundaries? {5:28} You children will hate y...

This week's Bucket Emptying episode is a must-watch for all parents out there!  Join me as I share my advice on how to stop comparing yourself to other parents and empty your own bucket.  Let's break the habit and start focusing on our own journey.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll to let me know wha...

Children’s Mental Health Week takes place from 5-11 February 2024 in the UK and this year's theme is ‘My Voice Matters’. It was set up by children’s mental health charity  Place2Be  and shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. My Voice Matters  is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to expres...

In this week's Bucket Emptying episode, "Are All Rewards Created Equally?", I share my insight and tips. If you haven't had a chance to listen to the previous episodes, "Bribe or Rewards?" and "Help My Child Is Acting Entitled," be sure to check them out as the knowledge builds throughout the 3 episodes. Here are the links for your convenience: Bucket Emptying Episodes; Bribes or Rewards?  ht...

When our children act as though the world owes them a favour and they aren't prepared to work at something the alarm bells should be ringing. I'll explain what entitled behaviour is, how we inadvertently create it and what we need to do to fix it. Here are the highlights: (1:04) Is my child entitled? (5:00) What behaviour do you show your children? (8:09) Are you trying to be a friend or a parent?...

Bribe or reward? Are they the same thing? No, they're not, and understanding the difference is crucial, especially when it comes to parenting.  Tune into this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode where I'll explain more. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll to let me know what you'd like in future episodes 💚 Yo...

More discussion with Catherine around managing screen time, how social platforms affect emotional wellbeing and finding a balance. Here are the highlights: (2:15) Understanding how your child uses their devices (9:45) Why do you need your phone close by? (13:55) Tracking screen/device time? (16:55) Which rules do you still follow? (18:45) Catherine’s 3 top tips for parents 💚 Let's grow our villag...

As parents, we all want to give our children the tools to navigate the world with confidence. But what about when they're away from home? I was recently asked to write a blog post with guidance for parents managing their child’s first residential school trip, and I'm excited to share this advice with you in this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode. If you're looking for ways to help your child...

I'm joined by my daughter to talk honestly about how she managed her own digital devices as part of her digital journey in the hope it helps you as parents have those conversations with your children. Here are the highlights: (2:30) Catherine’s journey with digital devices (5:25) Ages/stages and platforms (7:30) Navigating friendships with parents digital device rules (12:35) Instagram is a moment...

As parents, it's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by our own emotions, which can make it challenging to help our children manage theirs. But don't worry, I'm here to help!  In this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode, I share some practical tips to help you regulate your own emotions, so you can in turn help your children manage theirs.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please shar...

Ditch the resolutions and set 'promises & intentions' instead. Helping children build their confidence is all about day to day behavioural changes. This is a super practical episode with a great free resource to get you started. Here are the highlights: (2:25) The top resolutions and who sets them  (5:50) Let’s look at it differently (8:00) Why intention setting is so useful for the whole...

Are chores causing arguments in your home? In this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode, I'll explain the importance of shifting the language we use to encourage family members to work together in maintaining the home.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll to let me know what you'd like in future episodes 💚 You...

How should we respond to a child or teen who swears, is physical and aggressive when they experience big emotions? We might not recognise our child or teen in these moments. I will share my top tips of what to do in the moment to diffuse things, and how best to approach the education piece in order to distinguish future explosive outbursts. Here are the highlights: (2:15) Recap from Ep 134  (...

Learning to say no can be a game-changer.  Do you often find yourself saying yes to everything and everyone, only to regret it later? Setting boundaries takes practice and can be challenging, but it's worth it. In this week's Bucket Emptying episode I share my tips on how to learn to say no and prioritise what matters most.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode w...

How a child or teen manages those 'big' emotions speaks volumes about their current well-being. I take a belts and braces approach covering why they may struggle with their feelings, how we ought to react in the moment, and how we can help them find more appropriate ways of responding. Here are the highlights: (3:15) What are big emotions? (6:00) 4 principles of emotional behaviour (11:10) Co...

Happy Christmas everyone 🎄 Are you feeling overwhelmed during this festive season? Don't worry, I've got you covered!  In this week’s Bucket Emptying podcast episode, I'm sharing 3 tips to help you manage expectations and make the most of this wonderful time.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll to let...

Independence is the foundation to self-esteem and confidence. Independent children have stronger social skills, greater academic success, and fare better in life. So how do we foster independence? I'll share my top five tops. Here are the highlights: (0:35) What do I mean by independence? (3:00) Reflect - what are you doing to model these skills? (3:28) Encourage your child to make mistakes (...

Have your children started asking if Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny are real? Are you struggling with the dilemma of whether or not to tell your children the truth about these mythical figures? In this week's Bucket Emptying episode, I answer a listener's question on this very topic. Tune in to find out my take on this age-old parenting predicament.  💚 Let's grow our village tog...

It is aptly named the ‘silly season’ for a reason; all routine and rationale goes out the window. Unrealistic expectations and huge pressure to be one big happy of family can have us all pulling our hair out whether it's festive season or summer holidays. I'll share my five top tips to keep you sane. Here are the highlights: (3:00) Where are your flash points?  (8:55) Have realistic expe...