Talking Sense with Dr Martha

Technology is part of our life and our children get to use it. But how do we ensure as parents that we keep our children safe when they are online? How do you set boundaries around screen time that give you the reassurance you need that your child is safeguarded when they are watching their favourite YouTube? Dr Martha talks about this from a personal and professional point of view and shares some...

Does your child appear to speak loudly all day whether it's during play or talking at you? If this is the case - don't worry, it's very normal. Children need time and practice to learn how to modulate their voice. Dr Martha talks you through this and what you can do to help your child find their quieter 'inside voice' in comparison to their booming 'outside voice'. The Confident Parent course is o...

If you have more than one child you cannot split yourself in half to care for their needs. So how do you manage your children's competing demands? What can you do when you feel like you are constantly being pulled in different directions? Dr Martha answers these questions and offers a thought provoking perspective on parenting multiple children and the importance of boundaries, for them and for yo...

We know that self-esteem (self-love, self-worth) is important, but how can we ensure we take steps to grow this in our children in ways that are long-lasting? And what can we do when our child rejects our offers of love and acceptance that can help them build resilience and a sense of 'good enoughness'? Dr Martha talks about all of this and offers you ideas on how to build this with your child, an...

When something scary happens, what can you do to bring back safety? In today's episode of Talking Sense, a mother asks about how to support her child after a choking episode. Dr Martha talks about what happens to children's bodies when they feel scared and the things that are most effective in helping them move through this. Despite the specific question this episode touches on elements that will...

When children interrupt adult conversations it can feel frustrating and rude. How do we support our children to learn social cues? What is the best way to teach them not to interrupt? And what can we learn from our child interrupting us about the importance of little ones voices? Dr Martha explores all of this and offers practical actionable strategies to guide you and your little one.  &nbsp...

Screens are everywhere! When little ones want to watch screens what is the best way of setting limits? Is there such a thing as ‘healthy screentime’? And how do you find the right balance for you and your family? Dr Martha explores all of these questions and offers you the current evidence base we have on screentime and children.    On January 6th 2023 Dr Martha will be making a big...

How do you know whether you are showing care to your child or spoiling them? Where is the line between nurturing and bringing up an entitled child? Dr Martha shares the difference and the reasons behind why children might ask for care even when they have the skills to do things by themselves.    On January 6th 2023 Dr Martha will be making a big announcement and it will happen on th...

Do you know how to answer your child’s questions about ‘where babies come from’? And what do you do when your answer isn’t enough and they want ‘more’ understanding about how babies are made? Dr Martha gives you the tools and scripts to talk about this with your child to build your confidence in this topic and bring your child a sense of safety that they can trust you to answer their big...

We all want to discourage lies in our children… but what is the true purpose of a ‘lie’? And if we understand this, can it help us respond to our children’s lie’s differently? Dr Martha explores the truth about lies and how you can build honesty and trust with your child, in a way that feeds into the long-term benefit of a stronger connection with you.    Sign up to Dr Martha’s Newslette...

When it’s time to leave some children shut down and struggle to say goodbye. This might seem rude and frustrating, but there is a lot more going on for your little one! Dr Martha discusses what is going on from a child’s point of view and offers 5 top strategies to guide you in supporting your child to learn how to say ‘goodbye’ without using force or coercion.    Want to get simple pare...

Does your child ask for toys? Does it feel like they can never get ‘enough’ and a new thing is always on the horizon? Dr Martha discusses how to respond to children’s requests for more ‘things’ with three easy steps to guide you. She also offers 2 strategies to support you using these moments as opportunities for developing delayed gratification, teaching the value of choices, and managing disappo...

If your child has ever said “I hate you!” or “you are the worst mummy/daddy ever!” it might have shaken you to the core and made you wonder if there was something wrong with your child (or you as their parent!). Dr Martha talks through what is really happening in these moments, how you can be most effective in your response, and strategies that will support your child in changing their words to so...

Have you ever organized a day out with all the things your child enjoys only to find them grumpy and telling you they want to go home? Yep… it’s happened to me too! As adults, you might see this as ungratefulness or plain rudeness – but there is something else going on here. Dr Martha walks you through why children appear ungrateful and what is realistically happening, along with what you can do i...

As parents there will be times when you feel judged by others for the choices you make for your child. How can you respond towards your child at these times? What can you do or say that role models to others that you are doing the best job you can as a parent? And as an adult in the presence of children, what is your role in all of this? Dr Martha uses a real example to walk you through actions, w...

Does your child have nightmares or night terrors? Do you know the difference? And does it even matter? Dr Martha takes a deep dive into this topic, explaining what may trigger a nightmare or a night terror, she explains their differences and similarities, and helps you understand how you can support your child through them.   If you listened and found it useful take a moment to rate and revie...

Are there times when you go out with your child and they seem to go a little bonkers, either saying or doing silly things that seem totally our of character? If this happens to you – you are not alone! Today Dr Martha talks about what happens when excitement becomes too much, how you can support your child in those moments and better still, the things you can do to prepare for times when...

Parental preference is a developmental stage most children go through. If you are the parent out of favour this can sting, and if you are the preferred parent of the moment it can be exhausting! What is the best thing to do at these times to support your child? How can you manage those deep feelings of pain that being rejected can bring? And if you feel touched out by your child, what can you do w...

Praise is a hot topic at the moment and the messages can be confusing. Is it possible to overpraise a child? What kind of praise fosters self-worth and self-accomplishment? Are there unexpected outcomes of praise? Dr Martha answers all of this and gives you examples to help you make sense of what praise is, it’s impact, and how you can use it most effectively on todays podcast.   Be the...

Children get frustrated with small tasks easily. What helps children grow frustration tolerance? How can you support a child to persevere rather than give up? On todays podcast Dr Martha answers these questions and helps you understand what frustration is about and how you can help your child build a foundation to move through it.   Be the first to hear news and have simple str...

It is hard to keep a little one close by sometimes. How do you stop them from running off in a shop, or a car park? What boundaries are appropriate to set? And how will they learn that staying close to you is the safest option? Dr Martha talks about child development and helps you understand why children might run off from your side and what you can do about it on today's podcast.   Be t...

When children show empathy and kindness how do we make sure we also instill assertiveness in them? What helps children stand up for themselves and speak up? And what is our role as parents and adults in children’s lives? Dr Martha answers these questions on todays podcast.   Dr Martha holds a list of favourite reads on useful topics including friendships and social skills. Find the reading li...

As our child gets older we might expect their emotional regulation skills to get better. When can we expect their outbursts to stop? How do we respond when our child is older and still shout at us? Dr Martha talks about this and a lot more on the topic of emotional regulation with older children.   Dr Martha holds a list of favourite reads on useful topics including emotions. Find the reading...

Children are curious about death. It can feel ‘magical’ and strange to them. We all hold different stories about death and making sense of this can help us answer our children’s questions more meaningfully. How can we talk about death without instilling fear? What are the keywords children need to hear to make sense of death? What can you do to look after yourself in this process? Dr Martha talks...

We all know the classical stories and fairytales of our childhood. How do we feel about reading these stories now to our own children? What if we don’t agree with the stereotypes within them? Will it harm our children to hear these stories or will it make some of what we teach them seem ‘at odds’ with this? Dr Martha talks about some of the themes classic stories carry within them and what you can...