How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Do your kids like to play rough? Can they take it too far until one of them gets hurt? Do arguments quickly escalate into physical fights? You're not alone! Most parents with multiple children will experience this at some point, so in this week’s bucket emptying episode, I explain what you can and should do when siblings get physical, and share some quick tips you can use right away. We explore ho...

Spoiler alert: all children lie! And many of our children will experience self-esteem issues, so it’s really important to understand how to recognise it, and support your children through these difficult times. Does your child lie often about silly things? Are they not growing out of it like you thought they would? Do their lies cause upset or consequences to others? If you answered yes to any of...

Whether your situation - be it parenting solo, coparenting, parallel parenting or something else - we can all agree that sometimes parenting is hell! That’s why this episode is all about finding contentment. From the Happiness Myth to mantas, I share some top ways you can cultivate your own contentment, helping you stay happy, healthy and motivated to take on whatever life (and the kids) throw at...

Does your child seem anxious or worried? What are the signs to look out for? And what can you do to help? In this episode, I am going to talk you through how to manage anxiety and worry in your child, by applying what I call the Seesaw of Wellbeing. I help you to understand what an unbalanced seesaw looks like, how this might present itself in everyday life, and some actionable steps you can take...

Today, I’m answering a listener question that I think will empty quite a few of your buckets. It’s all about  rude behaviour . Whether it’s a young child screaming, “I hate you!” or a teen being disrespectful, name-calling, or acting out in ways that feel rude, I’ll explore strategies to understand and address these challenges effectively. Join me as we unpack the roots of rude behaviour and...

Whether it’s managing emotions better, building confidence, or reducing anxiety this framework is all you need. Here are the highlights: (3:11) Kaizen principles and the ladder (5:50) Let’s look at a child lacking confidence and the ladder (18:40) Let’s look at a lack of motivation and the ladder 💚 Let’s grow our village together, please  share this episode  with at least one frien...

In this episode, I’m introducing a transformative new concept:  The Power of One . Instead of concentrating on your child’s current behavioural challenges, I encourage you to shift your focus to building the relevant skills that address the root cause.  💚 Let’s grow our village together, please  share this episode  with at least one friend 💚 You can  watch the...

42% of marriages end in divorce, and the negative impact can be minimised if you follow these simple steps.  Here are the highlights: (3:20) Trauma caused by separation or divorce (7:30) Communication (12:20) Have a plan about logistics (18:45) Be available to answer their questions (23:20) Provide Reassurance (24:00) Behaviour regression is normal (26:18) Accept parenting may be different to...

Today, I’m sharing a super simple technique to add to your toolkit, which is powerful at encouraging our children to do more of what we want without the nagging. It's called descriptive praise.    Join me as I share my 3 top tips to implementing this incredible tool. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member t...

You’ve loved the guest episodes this year, so we’ve curated some of your favourite moments from 2024! Whether you’re revisiting old favourites or discovering gems for the first time, this compilation is packed with insights to inspire, motivate, and empower you. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the best of the best from our incredible guests.  Here are the highlights: (0:00)  Raising resi...

Battles with our children at mealtimes can create stressful family situations. It’s helpful to identify why your child won’t eat, is it texture, specific food types or a phobia? Please trust your gut instinct as a parent and if you are concerned, please consult your GP for medical advice. If your child struggles with eating, you might find these additional episodes helpful (available on Apple...

They say, “Repetition is the mother of all learning,” so we’ve curated some of your favourite Dr Maryhan moments from 2024. Whether you’re revisiting old favourites or discovering gems for the first time, this compilation is packed with insights to inspire, motivate, and empower you. Enjoy!  Here are the highlights: (0:00)  Great habits for super young children (0:00)  Are we too so...

Feeling overwhelmed by the holiday hustle? Don’t let the season steal your joy! In this episode, we’re revisiting  How to Manage Festive Stress . I’ll share  three practical tips  to help you set realistic expectations, stay grounded, and fully embrace the magic of this time of year. Tune in and discover how to navigate the festivities with ease, balance, and a little extra che...

It’s my  favourite  time of year—goal-setting season!  I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I  do  love creating meaningful promises and intentions using a framework that truly works. In this episode, I’ll share my personal goal-setting process, the framework I use, and why setting goals can be such a powerful, life-changing practice. Are you ready to dream big...

Are mornings at your house a whirlwind of chaos? Do you struggle to get the kids out of the house without losing your mind? If you’re nodding along, today’s episode is just for you! In this week’s episode, I’m diving into a listener’s question:  How can we make leaving the house with kids less stressful?  It’s a challenge so many parents face, and let’s be real—it can sometimes feel impo...

Meaningful changes often need very small tweaks. I’ll share five changes for you, and three changes for your children. The impact will be huge! Here are the highlights:    (1:48) Sleep deprived  (6:08) One change at a time (9:15) Practice saying no! (13:37) Curate your tribe weekly (21:08) Early sleep for your child (23:05) Daily mantras (24:50) Reflection a...

In today's bucket emptying episode, I'm introducing the Seven C's to help raise a super confident and resilient adult. The first of these is Competence. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member that could benefit from some support 💚 You can  watch the Bucket Emptying Episodes on YouTube 💚  Access the f...

It’s tough growing up as a male. Society and peers send conflicting messages – be strong, don’t cry! Raising resilient men is possible; it just requires a few tweaks. Here are the highlights:    (1:09) Current challenges for young boys  (10:22) Active listening (17:23) Don’t shy away from difficult conversations (21:10) Be consistent with boundaries and values (2...

I'm often asked about the challenges of extracurricular activities, whether it's finding engaging activities for young children to do with their parents, or the battles that often arise when encouraging teens to participate. Today, I'm diving into this topic in the latest Bucket Emptying episode. I'll be sharing my top tips on how to make extracurriculars more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone...

Facing into motherhood isn’t something you can really prepare for – it just sort of hits you unexpectedly. I share my thoughts after seeing Amy Adams in Nightbitch. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member that could benefit from some support 💚  Complete  my listener poll to let me know what you'd like in fu...

In this week's bucket emptying podcast episode, I discuss affirmations and how using the technique I share for 30 days will help with your internal chatter. Once you've seen the benefits, you can share the resource with your children and add it to your family wellbeing toolkit.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or fam...

Join me for this inspiring story of parent power. When a WhatsApp group went viral a community of over 150,000 parents came together to change the culture around children and smartphones.    Sign the SFC parent pact Find your local SFC community 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member that could benefit from...

I’ve just come back from a couple of days at The Independent School Show in London where I took the bucket for a live explanation and discussion with parents and children attending the show. I wanted to share the visual with you and the examples of bucket emptying activities the children shared with me. You can download your own bucket resource from my free resource library and to go through this...

Frustrated with children who dig their heels in, or seem incapable of doing what we ask of them?? Then this episode is a must listen!! Here are the highlights:    (4:00) Stay calm (8:33) Look for patterns (11:57) Provide choices (16:30) Be clear with instruction and expectation (19:53) Boundaries (21:56) Enforce consequences (25:28) Descriptive praise Listen to t...

Today's bucket emptying episode is a new tool that you can add to your parenting toolkit. It won't necessarily work every single time, but it's a powerful tool that to have in your armoury and it is to sow the seed. The idea behind sowing the seed is to park the approach that you may well have used most traditionally around nagging and reminding our children and our teens that we've said the same...