How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

If you’re a parent, you might dread the thought of a long car ride. Managing your kids’ hunger, boredom, and frustration is like being in parenting hell until you reach your destination. Well, you’re not alone. So in this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to share some quick tips and simple hacks to help you manage those long journeys without having a meltdown! So pour yourself a cuppa, find a co...

Do you feel overwhelmed by the pressure to provide constant experiences? Have kids who are "always bored" or glued to devices? Or struggle with guilt about not doing "enough" activities? Then this episode is for you. I challenge the modern parenting myth that we need to pack our children's lives with endless activities and experiences. Instead, I reveal why unstructured play is actually your child...

What do you do when your child says "Everyone hates me," "I'm rubbish at everything," or "I'm a loser"? In this bucket-emptying episode, I share exactly how to respond in the moment when your child is being self-critical. I'll walk you through my 5-step approach to handle these heartbreaking moments without dismissing their feelings or being overly positive. You'll learn why that internal dialogue...

Struggling with your child's impulsive behavior? In this episode, I share 6 game-changing strategies to help children break free from autopilot reactions and develop better impulse control. Whether your child has ADHD, anxiety, or gets emotionally dysregulated, these techniques will help them pause, think, and respond more thoughtfully. I'll walk you through my traffic light zone system to identif...

Every parent has been there – your child has a complete meltdown in the middle of the grocery store, and you feel all eyes on you. In this essential Bucket Emptying episode, I share 5 game-changing strategies for handling public tantrums without the shame spiral. Discover how to transform these challenging moments from overwhelming experiences into opportunities for connection and growth. I break...

I'm sharing something that honestly terrifies me as a parent - how our devices are literally rewiring our children's brains from as early as 4 months old. Today I'm joined by Dr. Charlotte Armitage, author of Generation Zombie , and what she reveals about screen time and brain development will change how you think about tech in your home. . What we dive into: Why I discovered that babies as young...

Have you ever played Jenga? Sure, it’s a fun family game, but when you think about it - working together to build a structure taller and taller and, when it eventually topples, rebuilding without hesitation and starting again - Jenga is the perfect analogy for a family. Which is why in today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m going to show you how Jenga can be used to build a strong, meaningful connec...

Strong-willed, stubborn, defiant, opinionated, headstrong - that's how I like to think of myself for recording a podcast during a heatwave! But it could also be some of the words you use to describe your child. If so, this episode is for you. I know what it's like when your child is naturally headstrong. They can be a force of nature, and some days parenting them feels impossible... especially if...

Do you suffer from parental guilt? Do you often guilt yourself into doing things you know you shouldn’t do? Does this guilt manifest in material stuff like toys and treats? You don’t need to feel embarrassed, we’ve all been there. It’s so easy to feel that guilt, and then we do whatever it takes to make that guilt disappear. If you think your parental guilt is getting better of you, I’m here to he...

Today’s episode is a massive treat, as I am joined by Sophie David, a play guru, influencer and now author of Read, Write, Play: 100 Easy Ways to Make Phonics Fun for Children Aged 3-7 . In this conversation, Sophie explains how she implements all of the information and resources on her website, to create a fun learning environment for her kids, from phonics and reading to homework, screen time, a...

Leaving your child with someone else is one of the hardest things a parent will do. What if they need me and I’m not there? Am I just being a bad parent? What if they don’t like the babysitter? These are all rational concerns, but they shouldn’t stop you because, as we’ve discussed before, you cannot look after your children if you don’t look after yourselves. That’s why in this bucket emptying ep...

Is your brain always on? You’re brushing your teeth, but also mentally planning meals, remembering the pickup times and wondering if you’ve RSVP’d to the latest birthday party? Parenting is tough, and the burnout is real. I’m here to tell you not to be ashamed about that, but to talk about it, because every parent out there is feeling it! To talk more about this invisible load, and the impact it c...

It’s a moment most parents dread, but it’s inevitable for all of us… when your child tells you, for the first time, that have a boyfriend or girlfriend. And for many of us, this might be much sooner than we’d expect. Not teenagers, but while they’re still in primary school. When this happens, it’s so important to deal with it head on, and I’m here to tell you exactly how to do this. And, if you fi...

This week I am revisiting a classic episode from last year about what to do when expecting your 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 ke...

Do you have entitled kids? Are you at a loss about what to do with them? In this bucket emptying episode, I give you some practical advice to help you tackle entitlement in your children, because we both know all kids are kind at heart, so let’s bring that out in bundles! So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation… Highlights from this episode: 00:30 - Our kids have mor...

As the great Ru Paul would say, “if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love someone else?” As parents, we instinctively put our children and family before ourselves, but that’s not always the best thing! In this episode I discuss the importance of self care, and why neglecting your own needs could be bad… not just for you, but for everyone. And joining me to discuss this is a super sp...

Confession time: I have put my kids’ artwork in the bin. Let’s face it, we can’t keep everything they do, and not everything they do will be successful or, in your opinion, praise-worthy. But praise isn’t just about the outcome; it’s not about winning or losing. Praise, when used at the right time and in the right way, can be super powerful at building confident, resilient children. In this bucket...

What do you do when you’re out in public and your child absolutely loses it? Dealing with tantrums can be a daily occurrence as parents, but have you ever been at the end of tether and lost your cool? You’re not the worst parent - we’ve all been there! And that’s why, in this episode, I’m going to help you deal with the meltdowns and the tantrums. You’re going to understand what can cause them, ho...

Does your child the one who always runs to the front of a crowd, or insists on being the first in the bath, or can’t wait their turn during a game? Don’t worry, because you’re not alone! Insisting on being first is a common challenge faced by parents, so in this bucket emptying episode I am going to explain the reasons why this happens, and give you some practical things you can do to address it....

As parents, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. To be patient. To never lose our temper. But spoiler alert: we’re still human. In this episode I’m here to help you in those moments where things are about to bubble over, and then you lose your cool. Because when you do that, you feel awful: it’s not who you are. I get it! I am going to share six things that you can do to help, so yo...

Are you a problem solver? You’re a parent, so of course you are! But not all problems need us to swoop in and save the day. As hard as it might be, our children sometimes need the opportunity to problem-solve, make mistakes and build those core skills that make them confident, resilient people. In today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m going to give you a life-changing strategy to help you identify...

What should I look for in a school? Are grammar schools really better than comprehensive? How important are Ofsted reports? In this episode, as another year of school applications approaches, I’m going to guide you through the complicated and confusing world of choosing a school for your kids, with the help of my super special guest Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor at The Good Schools Guide. The...

Do your children never pay attention to you? Are you at your wit’s end? Don’t worry, every parent struggles to get their kids to pay attention, and in this bucket emptying episode I’m going to share three things you can do that might help. So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation… Highlights from this episode: 01:04 - The reasons for their inattention 03:27 - Outside...

Do you like to fix your child’s problems? Are you trying to be their best friend? Sorry to break this to you, but these are some of the reasons why your kids may not be building the resilience you hoped. And I get it - we all want to help our children, and we hate seeing them struggle, but building identity and resilience is about learning how to fail and how to problem solve. In this episode, I t...

What does being the best really mean? What does ‘fitting in’ look like? Parents and children living with physical disabilities live with a unique set of challenges. They often find themselves judged or ridiculed, and this can have a big impact on our kids. On this week’s bucket emptying, I welcome back Cathy Reay, a disabled writer and journalist, and mum of two (plus a very cheeky cat!). She also...