The Enriching Environments Podcast

In this LIVE I gave three reasons why we should involve our children in the joy of food preparation: - supports hand/eye coordination, concentration and fine motor skills - promotes autonomy - empowers picky eaters We also discussed my Wooden Montessori Knife, so that our children have the child sized tools that they need at their fingertips. And my forthcoming 90 Minute Online Workshop on Montess...

✨How to support emotional regulation when our child is angry or frustrated❤ During this InstaLive we looked at why our young children get so angry and frustrated, and how we can help them to calm down. We discussed: > How tantrums/frustrations are a normal part of development, they are a healthy discharge of emotions. > The reasoning part of the brain is not developed until much older, so t...

In this IGLive we discussed Emotional Development in Young Children, how it is linked with Social Development, the essential role that parents and caregivers play in emotional development, and how this relationship between parent/caregiver and child is the foundation of our child's future relationships and how they interact with the world. 💖🙏🏽🌟 Visit enrichingenvironments.com/shop for my trans...

For this Top Tip Tuesday on Instagram Live we discussed food, eating and mealtimes: We discovered that developing a lifelong passion for food. It's not really about how much they eat, it's about the experience; supporting our child in autonomy around food, preparation and becoming an active participant in their home. ❤️ 💚✨🙏 Visit enrichingenvironments.com/shop for my transformative online Paren...

In this session we discussed introducing simple meditation techniques for even our very young children; just one of the tools we can have in our parenting toolbox to support our children on their lifelong journey of emotional regulation. This was a really simple breathing technique for our children (and us) to bring awareness to how out breath moves in our body. A great technique for nap or bedtim...

In this Instalive we looked at how teaching our children respect (of anything and everything) firstly comes from our embodiment of respect in all that we do, how we treat our children, our family members, and those outside the home. And secondly we spoke about what expectations we can have around our children deferring their wishes, waiting their turn; we learnt that respect can only be shown/embo...

In this Instagram Live we unpacked why we overreact, showing ourselves radical self-compassion, and how we can respond both in the moment we are triggered, and the reflection we can we after the event. This is about perfection, this is about our journey, and honouring that we are always doing are best, and so are our children. Thank you for joining me! 💕🙏✨ Visit enrichingenvironments.com/shop f...

In this episode we looked at why young children love real, hard work like this: pushing, pulling, lifting, dragging things that are often "too heavy" for them. (panting and being out of breath is good!) The importance of this work for our child's development. What size/shape of objects are the most satisfying for them to manoeuvre with. Thank you for joining! 🙏🏽❣️💫 Visit enrichingenvironments.c...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: In this Top Tip Tuesday for InstaLive we looked at how to prepare older siblings for the arrival of a new baby. Some approaches suggest buying gifts to 'keep the older sibling busy', and others suggest to emphasise to the older sibling that they are "big now" so as to invoke a sense of responsibility. During the Live we talked about how we can ap...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: What is different about the Montessori approach to babies? During this Live we looked at how in the Montessori way, we offer our tiniest babies freedom of movement from the very first days of life. (sounds crazy right?!). How it calls for a huge shift in our perspective of babies - how we can move from a position of wanting to contain them, to re...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: In this Top Tip Tuesday we looked at the Five Love Languages for Children, a method for strengthening relationships for adults and children alike created by Gary Chapman. We looked at how to identify your child's love language, and when using this to develop our connection with them, cooperation and collaboration naturally grows. Through the Five...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: In this Live we discussed: Why it happens, why it's normal, How to support your child (not blame or shame them) The hitter/biter is out of control when they do those things; it is a very stressful/scary place for a little person to be in. It passes! Being on the other side of hitting /biting. How our empathy and support during these stressful tim...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover the following questions further to a Parent Enrichment Session that I had this week: What is the key to our child being self confident? When do we 'start" supporting them in developing this? And how do we develop this? Do we praise them? Do we not allow them to struggle or make mistakes? Do we protect them so they don't experience disappointment?...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: Supporting siblings with their relationship and nurturing their special bond. 🙏🏽 I often receive questions about sibling dynamics, the role play they engage in together, sorting out (or not) their arguments, when to intervene when it gets physical, and how to nurture this precious sibling bond. And during the holiday season of more intense time...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: Montessori is a pathway to peace. It is a gateway to massive societal change. > The images of pretty shelves and ordered environments can lead people to believe that it is all about aesthetics, or only for the wealthy, or 'not for them'. > Certainly, it has had that image of elitism which is not in alignment with its humble beginnings with...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: ✨Why we observe rather than offering to help straightaway💖 During this week's Top Tip Tuesday we discussed the following: > Why offering to help is actually a hindrance because it breaks concentration. > How offering to help infers that they cannot complete the task, which lowers, rather than increases their self confidence. > What we...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: ✨ Why we don't correct our children when their t shirt is on back to front❤ Our Top Tip Tuesday covers '9 reasons why we don't correct our young child when they get something 'wrong', like wearing their shoes on opposite feet or their t shirt back to front: It can almost be a reflex action for us, this impulse to correct when our children get so...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: This Instagram Live on Top Tip Tuesday covered all the details about one of my Parent Enrichment Courses, 'An Introduction to Enriching Environments'. Module, by Module, I talked through what to expect on this transformative parenting course. Enjoy! Visit enrichingenvironments.com SHOP for my transformative online Parent Enrichment Courses and Wo...

✨Feelings are called feelings because we're meant to FEEL them✨ Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: In this Top Tip Tuesday on Instagram Live we discussed a somatic approach to discussing feelings with our children. > Supporting them in becoming aware of the sensations within their body as a first step. > Us, as parents, understanding that young children need real, first ha...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we covered: Why both rewards and punishments disempower our children. How the Prepared Environment at home that is simple, ordered and accessible allows us to be more proactive, rather than reactive in our parenting. Simple phrases we can use to invite connection when there is undesirable behaviour. We also had some great questions towards the end of the L...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: The Preparation for my 4 week Course "Creating a Montessori Playgroup" ! > Two years ago in October, myself and a group of intrepid friends created the first @enrichingenvironments Montessori playgroup. 🥰 > I was the only one of our group who had any Montessori Training so this experience was an adventure for all of us. For them, immersing...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: The importance of involving the child in food preparation and preparing a kitchen space so that they can access the tools they need to be able to prepare their own snack, and lay the table for mealtimes. The child seated on a low chair eating from a low table. Allowing the child to come to the table when they are ready to eat, and leave the table...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: Understanding the benefits of a medical sheepskin for babies (and young children). Learning why they are so comfortable, comforting and help your baby to grow, move and develop at her own pace. How they can assist in weight gain, support tummy time and provide your baby with a point of reference for deep, restful sleep. Visit enrichingenvironment...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: Giraffes have the largest hearts of any land animals, so non-violent communication for children calls upon them (and us) to step into being as big-hearted as giraffes. ❤️🦒 Non-violent communication offers a level of consciousness whereby people feel seen and heard; restoring care and connection in our families, classrooms, groups and communities...

Thank you for joining me! In this session we cover: Setting up a simple, enriching space for your child at home. The basics! Why it is important and how to do it! Visit enrichingenvironments.com Workshops/Courses Page for my transformative online Parent Enrichment Courses.  I’ll see you there! *All podcast sessions originally recorded on Instagram Live, see my IGTV @enrichingenvironments for...