How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

All we see if the huge emotional explosion when we ask our child to put their toys away, but their bucket is already full from their day's experiences. What is the bucket and how can we empty it? 💚 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 can watch the Bucket Emptying...

This is the first of my new bitesize Bucket Emptying episodes. You’ll find shorter 5-10 minute episodes released each Monday sharing my top tips and answers to your questions, all focusing on emptying your bucket! 💚 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 can watch th...

Here are the highlights: R egulate emotions (4:00) I nput matters (8:11) S leep (9:26) E xercise daily (13:36) S ilence (16:34) T oxins impact thinking (19:40) R eflective practice (21:20) O pportunities for growth (22:40) N ovelty fires neurons (24:42) G ratitude practice (24:00) 💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with at least one friend 💚 Complete the listener poll t...

Children want to talk at the most inopportune of moments, and there is a reason why they do this. If we lean into those moments we could significantly improve their emotional wellbeing and safeguard them from mental health issues. Here are the highlights: (3:26) Moments can make all the difference (8:35) Why does it matter? (10:01) Every interaction leaves a trace (13:37) Create connection (17:58)...

Being shy and being introverted aren't the same thing, although they may look the same. I'll help you understand which your child is, and how to best help them flourish more in social situations. Here are the highlights: (1:55) Difference between introvert and shy person (3:00) A shy child (6:02) An introverted child (10:26) Get super clear on whether it’s shyness or introversion (11:25) Do not la...

Is the pursuit of happiness for our children an illusion? Are we doing them a disservice making happiness our focus because it just isn't possible to feel that way all the time! Maybe we should be focusing on something else?? Here are the highlights: (1:44) Why do we focus so much on happiness? (4:08) We should be accepting of every emotion (5:15) Don’t rush in to fix (10:05) We need to regulate o...

I’m talking about the question we all ask ourselves and each other. “ Is my child’s behaviour a phase, or is it a more permanent issue which they might need help with, and how do I know the difference??"  We know our children will naturally go through ages and stages as they go from baby to adult - I’m talking about whether there’s a way of knowing for sure Here are the highlights:   (2:...

Is it really possible for us to help our children unplug on a regular basis?? Absolutely! We just need to know how. I will help you recognise when your child or teen needs to unplug, and ways we can create balance for our children and family. Here are the highlights:   (1:15) Is it possible to unplug children completely?  (4:00) Patterns of behaviour that show your child needs to unplug...

How can we help our children and teens when they are taking tests and exams? Whether they are lacking motivation and doing absolutely no work, or they are overworking and getting themselves super stressed. Understanding some basic principles is crucial. We can then step up to be the support they need, and they can step up and be their best. Here are the highlights:   (01:40) Revision should b...

Friendships can be hard at any time, however when you're also juggling a new school, raging hormones, and working out who you are it can feel like a whole new ball-game. I’ll share how we can support teens to build their friendships, how to spot an unhealthy friendship and ways we can support a shy / anxious teen to make friends. Whilst the focus is on the specific challenges teens face, the advic...

Sleep and routines are probably the two biggest challenges we want answers to as parents regardless of how old our children are! Cat and Sarah's approach is refreshingly honest and super practical so you're in for a treat. Listen to The Sleep Mums podcast Buy the book 'Sleep Better Baby' Here are the highlights:   (02:45) Do you have a routine or not?  (08:37) Every child has different n...

Repetition is the mother of all learning, which is why this week I'm revisiting an important past episode. Today’s episode “We Still Need To Talk’ is all about how we can have meaningful conversations with our children and teens. You know what I mean - conversations which are two-sided, you learn more than you teach, and you feel a connection. Whether that’s talking about big things such as sex, b...

A conservative estimate states 3-5% of the worldwide population has ADHD. With numbers of children being diagnosed increasing, what can we do as parents if we suspect our child has ADD or ADHD? I am joined by the incredible Lucinda Miller who shares her 20 plus years experience supporting neurodiverse children using nutrition. Here are the highlights:   (02:23) A neurodivergent family  (...

The hashtag 'glass child' has been trending on social platforms and refers to children growing up in home where a sibling requires a disproportionate amount of parental energy. Leaving them feeling as though we look right through them. What can we do as parents to avoid our children growing up and feeling they were 'glass children'? Here are the highlights:   (02:28) Don’t overplay the guilt&...

Attachment theory argues a child's early experiences creates a blueprint for all future relationships. Secure attachments are the result of emotionally sensitive parenting and the child feeling their emotional needs are met. So it's crucial for teaching emotional regulation, and how we achieve this isn't just what we do when our children are babies. In this episode we go back to basics to help you...

Wouldn't it be amazing if our children and teens could conquer their fear of failing? So often they stop doing something or don't even try because they worry about not being good enough, being judged, not being accepted or looking silly. This episode is for all parents and educators who want to help their children or teens feel the fear and do it anyway!! Here are the highlights:   (02:20) Im...

They say 'repetition is the mother of all learning' so we've pulled together some of the best bits from my most downloaded episodes to help give you a little extra support, and a new booster resource. Enjoy! Here are the highlights:   (01:33) Ep 001 - any attention is better than no attention   (05:28) Ep 011 – needs over equality   (08:55) Ep 027 – I've noticed that...   (14:1...

At some point our children will grow up and they will need to navigate adult challenges. They'll need to get a job, or start a business, manage their finances, cook, clean, learn to manage conflict, plan, prioritise, and so on and so on. What are the skills they will need, and how can we better prepare them in childhood so we’re not leaving all the learning until adulthood? Here are the highlights...

This episode addresses what I feel gets stamped on our foreheads the moment we become parents. Guilt.  This guilt comes from the stories we tell ourselves about what it means to be a good mum, so, what are the stories you are really telling yourself and how are they currently serving you?? Plus, I answer a question from one of my listeners, who wants to know what to do about toys in the bedro...

Social and emotional development is made up of skills which help children develop their resilience and manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. For me, they are the crucial components to safeguarding our children's long term wellbeing. It’s no guarantee they won’t struggle with their mental health later in life - but it does mean they’ll be better equipped to navigate any future crisis. Here...

This episode is all about children who get physical and hit. How we respond to hitting follows the same general rules and principles however there will be some additional factors to consider depending on our child's age. For example a young pre-verbal child hitting is a very different matter to an 18 year old. Here are the highlights:   (02:33) Why do children hit?  (09:42) The importanc...

I want to talk about all things connected with lying. Why children do it, when does it develop, what can we do to encourage our children to tell the truth, and what to avoid in the moments when we catch them. Understanding why children do it is crucial to helping us respond in the best way for our child. Here are the highlights:   (00:29) The most common reasons our children lie  (02:14)...

“Tantrums & Meltdowns” is all about how we tackle those inevitable moments when our children simply lose the plot, their emotions get the better of them, or they feel debilitatingly overhwlemed. Of course you may think this is just the domain of the dubbed 'terrible twos' but this can happen to any child, at any ages. In this episode I'll talk about what causes them, how we can prevent them, a...

I am talking all about what we can do when we’re expecting the arrival of our child - however we find ourselves embarking on the journey to parenting.  It's also supremely relevant for all the other stages of our children's lives as they reach them -as these are another birth - walking, talking, preschool, school, university, first job, leaving home... My six pointers will help keep you groun...

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...