How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Today I'm joined by the founder and nutritional lead of NatureDoc, Lucinda Miller. Nutrition for brain health is Lucinda’s superpower, and in an easily accessible way for all parents.   Purchase your copy of Lucinda's book Find out more about Lucinda and visit Naturedoc 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family membe...

In this week's Bucket Emptying episode I'm revisiting an episode answering a listener question about sleep struggles. Listen as I share my tips from babies to teens struggling to get to sleep. If you need more support with this topic, please listen to  Ep 5: Bedroom Routines and Sleep 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or fa...

Libbi shares her experience of teen life on a 4-day digital detox and the surprising effects of being smartphone free. Watch ITV’s Tonight Show Get your tickets for the Independent School Show 💚 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 m...

In today’s bucket emptying episode I'm talking about the thing I believe can have the biggest impact to us as parents in terms of emptying our bucket and that's around boundaries for your child or teen. It might help to think of boundaries as lanes our children travel along, sometimes we may let them widen whilst in certain situations you may need to narrow the lane to keep your child safe. Join m...

Shifting focus in this one area will have  the  biggest impact when it comes to raising resilient adults. Here are the highlights:  (2:15) Reflection on parenting (3:45) Differences in parenting, then and now (8:20 Happiness (11:30) Have an honest conversation (14:15) Stop making life easy (18:12) Focus on accomplishment (19:19) Don’t let failure go to waste (23:20) Have faith in th...

Today I’m sharing a valuable bucket-emptying tip with you all - the power of saying no! In our multifaceted roles as parents, employees, managers, children, siblings, and more, the ability to say no is crucial in preventing overwhelm and enabling us to focus on what truly matters.  Many of us struggle with turning down opportunities or requests, but learning to gracefully decline can free up...

I've received lots of emails asking about suitable punishments for specific behaviours, so I thought it was a great time to revisit this episode which was originally released in 2021. Traditional methods of discipline and punishment can lead to power struggles missing the opportunity to teach our children anything and causing family tension. Join me as I guide you through simple do's and don'ts to...

As parents, we can easily get caught up in habits that may not benefit us or our families. Perhaps we tolerate certain behaviours due to exhaustion or fear of change.  It's time to step out of autopilot and start a morning routine.  I invite you to watch today’s Bucket Emptying podcast episode and take on my SHINE morning routine for a week! Experience the difference and share your insig...

What options do parents have when it comes to smartphones? More than you think! It starts with a simple question – why. Here are the highlights: (0.42) Recap of Part 1 (4:15) My honest opinion (7:25) Feature phones (9:04) Pact with other parents (11:30) Boundaries with a smartphone (15:30) Model good smartphone use (20:15) Digital detox  💚 Let's grow our village together, please  s...

Today's Bucket Emptying podcast topic is homework . Are you facing challenges getting your child to finish their homework?  One key question to ask is, whose homework is it - yours or your child's?  Stay tuned as I reveal my top tips for navigating what can become a frustrating situation.    💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  wi...

Join me and founder of  Rites for Girls,  Kim McCabe, as we discuss the unique challenges our girls face growing up, and how we can best support them to become the resilient women we know they can be.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member that could benefit from some support 💚  Complete  m...

In today's Bucket Emptying episode, I delve into the challenging topic of navigating the balance between pushing our children and knowing when to step back. It's crucial to recognise the fine line between motivating them to excel in areas they are passionate about and potentially becoming overly involved as a parent and living vicariously through your child.   💚 Let's grow our vill...

I promise you a thorough review of the issues surrounding smartphones, and why schools are banning them. Here are the highlights: (2:11) Let’s look at the data (9:35) 6 concerns (23:05) Why are you considering giving your child a smartphone?  💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend, colleague or family member that could benefit from some su...

This episode, originally released last December, resonated with many seeking advice to support children navigating change. In the face of inevitable change, managing transitions can be daunting for both adults and children alike. From school shifts to relocations, adapting to new routines can pose unique challenges. However, with proper guidance and assistance, children can cultivate resilience an...

Does your child struggle to make friends and yet they are super chatty with adults? Is it impacting their self-esteem? I’ll share small wins they can gain today. Here are the highlights: (2:00) Skills your child may be struggling with (11:45) Provide scaffolded play dates  (15:28) Qualities of a good friendship (19:35) Practice role play (17:58) Is it a me no or a them no? (22:30) Keep the fa...

On this week's Bucket Emptying podcast episode, I tackle an important listener question: "How do we help and support our children when they encounter upsetting content on their smartphones?" Join me as I explore two key angles on this topic: Curation of their feed and reflection on their content curation.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a f...

Children develop resilience when we afford them opportunities to take risks. Could we be doing our children a disservice by over-protecting them?? Here are the highlights: (5:30) Kirstie Allsopp’s 15-year-old interrailing (6:25) Risk taking has positives  (11:38) There is no right decisions (15:20) No hard and fast age or stage (17:58) Is it a me no or a them no? (20:38) Practice together (23...

This week's Bucket Emptying episode tackles a common parenting dilemma: how to prevent your child from interrupting all the time?? Several listeners have asked for advice on to manage their young child who continues to interrupt despite knowing it's inappropriate behaviour. Listen as I share my top tips. 💚 Let's grow our village together, please  share this episode  with a friend,...

In this episode, I delve into the secrets to school success, revealing that it's not just about academics!  As parents, our ultimate aim is to raise children who grow into confident, resilient adults capable of leading fulfilling lives on their terms, not ours. I outline my top three tips for achieving this goal and offer practical advice on how you can introduce these strategies into your fa...

This episode responds to a listener question highlighting something so many parents worry about. "How can I make separations easier for my child, for instance when being dropped at school, friends etc?"  In this week’s Bucket Emptying podcast episode I’ll explain separation anxiety and share strategies to support you, and your child understand why it is happening and to manage the situation....

We read about it everywhere. What’s all the fuss about validating children’s emotions and how does it actually help diffuse those big emotions?? Here are the highlights: (2:30) A typical scenario
 (7:10) Let’s banish some myths (9:30) Name it to tame it (12:35) I see you and hear you
 (14:03) Builds confidence  (15:30) Builds emotional literacy (18:40) It allows you to set boundaries 💚 ...

Mealtime management is a crucial skill that can greatly impact the lives of all family members.  Listen to this weeks Bucket Emptying podcast episode, as I explain how mealtime can provide an opportunity for children to fuel their bodies and connect with each other, fostering the development of essential life skills.  💚 Let's grow our village together, please share this episode with a f...

Today I'm focusing on all things Back to School!  Join me as I share tips to prepare your child's mindset, cultivate curiosity, managing back-to-school anxieties, and establishing good habits to help make the return to school easier when it happens. Here are the highlights: (1:45) Our role is to prepare them for a life beyond the immediate (6:10) Reel in bedtimes (9:20) Create some structure...

Today's Bucket Emptying podcast episode is relevant for parents, grandparents, and anyone involved with children navigating disappointing results, whether academically or in relationships.  The episode sheds light on the importance of not overemphasising academic benchmarks and highlighting that success takes various forms beyond traditional academics.  Listen as I share my top tips to g...

In a world where children are bombarded with information, it’s crucial to help them question the ‘facts’. Whether it’s friendship drama or social media hype. Here are the highlights: (03:02) We see things through our own lens (8:04) Question the motives of the information provider (13:44) Cognitive confirmation biais (17:20) Have discussions around the table (22:05) Encourage a scientific approach...