Pint Size Media
The Lauren Edmunds Podcast
Are you a parent, teacher or caregiver navigating the world of neurodiversity, autism, learning difficulties or special needs? The Lauren Edmunds Podcast delivers practical insights and real conversations to help you better understand and support the children in your life. Hosted by Lauren Edmunds, founder of Omatas Learning Centre — a special-needs school in Johannesburg, South Africa — Lauren brings over 12 years of hands-on experience working with primary school children with remedial and special needs, backed by decades of academic research. Each episode dives deep into education, parentin...
Author
Pint Size Media
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 9, 2026
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Episodes
Going Back: Supporting Children as They Return to School 12.01.2026 3:45
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds discusses the challenges children face when transitioning back to school after the holidays. She shares simple, practical ways parents can prepare their children for earlier mornings, new routines and increased learning demands. By talking positively about the return to school and helping children know what to expect, parents can ease anxiety and support a calmer, m...
Using the Stationery List to Build Real Learning Skills 06.01.2026 19:16
Lauren Edmunds explains how something as ordinary as a school stationery list can become a powerful tool for building organisation, independence and foundational learning skills. She explores how small, everyday tasks help children develop confidence, planning and problem-solving abilities that support long-term academic and life success. Omatas Learning Centre
Denial and Loving Well 17.12.2025 12:54
Lauren Edmunds speaks candidly about the moment a child receives a diagnosis and the emotional journey that follows for parents and families. Drawing from her own experience as both a mother and an educator, she explores denial, grief, acceptance and responsibility, and why the weight of a diagnosis should never sit on the child alone. This episode offers an honest, compassionate look at how early...
Thinking On and Off 08.12.2025 11:49
Lauren Edmunds explores what it really means for a child’s brain to be “switched on” rather than passive. She shares a powerful story of a 10-year-old boy on the autism spectrum who has begun to drive his own communication journey from the inside out. Through this, Lauren reflects on agency, motivation, and how parents and teachers can create the conditions for children to find their own reasons t...
Repair Is Where Children Grow 03.12.2025 11:14
Lauren Edmunds reflects on how children learn through mistakes and why natural, fair consequences help them build responsibility, resilience and confidence. She argues that repair, rather than punishment, strengthens connection, encourages awareness and supports healthy development at school and at home. Omatas Learning Centre
Inside the Learning Brain: What Truly Switches Children On 24.11.2025 11:51
Lauren Edmunds explores what it means for a child to have a “switched on” brain and why real learning starts from within. She shares powerful insights from her work with children, including those with additional needs, and explains how motivation, safety and connection help children think, grow and engage more deeply. Omatas Learning Centre
Reimagining Homework: Building Habits, Not Battles 17.11.2025 9:37
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores why traditional homework often fails children with learning delays, ADHD, or modern short-attention-span brains. She unpacks the real purpose of homework, why parents often resist it, and how focusing on small, consistent daily steps can transform learning. Drawing on her work with families and a personal story about incremental progress, Lauren shares how...
The Art, Not the Business, of Education 10.11.2025 3:26
Lauren Edmunds reflects on why education should be guided by creativity and care rather than commercial goals. Inspired by Rick Rubin’s thoughts on creating for art’s sake, she draws a powerful link between artistry and teaching, reminding us that schools are human spaces, not businesses. When teachers bring their whole selves into the classroom and focus on connection, safety and growth, learning...
Building Learners 03.11.2025 8:42
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds talks about what it really takes to help children become independent, motivated learners. She shares stories from classrooms around the world and reflects on how teachers can shift from controlling to collaborating, creating spaces where children take responsibility for their own learning. Lauren also touches on the vital role parents play in shaping how children se...
The Power of Routine: Helping Children Transition Smoothly 27.10.2025 8:13
Lauren Edmunds explores how consistent routines can help children, especially those with ADHD or autism, manage transitions and build emotional regulation. Drawing inspiration from James Clear’s Atomic Habits, she explains how “habit stacking” and predictable sequences, like bedtime or morning routines, create calm, confidence, and a sense of safety for children navigating daily change. Omatas Lea...
Term 4 Exam Preparation: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Studying 20.10.2025 9:35
With Term 4 bringing exams for children who are in Grade four and up, Lauren Edmunds offers practical advice for parents. She suggests setting up a study workspace at home to signal the importance of the process, and working with your child to experiment with study techniques like the Pomodoro Effect or leveraging the forgetting curve. The focus should be on knowing the work and building a strong...
The Power of Getting It Wrong 13.10.2025 8:22
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds unpacks how our attitudes towards failure can either limit or empower our children. Inspired by Jessica Lahey’s The Gift of Failure, she reflects on the lessons we unintentionally teach when we take over tasks, and how allowing children to struggle builds resilience and confidence. Through personal insight and heartfelt examples, Lauren encourages parents to shift f...
Switched-On Brains: Helping Children Find Their Own Drive 09.10.2025 11:16
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, shares her thoughts on what it really means for a child to have a “switched-on” brain. Through the story of a 10-year-old non-verbal boy on the autism spectrum, she shows how powerful things can happen when children feel safe, supported, and have their own reasons to grow. Whether your child is in mainstream ed...
Learning Through Failure 01.10.2025 11:19
Lauren Edmunds explores the value of mistakes and failure in a child’s learning journey. Drawing on research and practical examples, she shows how setbacks can spark curiosity, strengthen thinking skills, and open opportunities for growth. Instead of labels or fixed traits, failure becomes a pathway to deeper learning and resilience. Omatas Learning Centre
The Power of Curiosity in Children’s Learning 22.09.2025 13:14
Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, reflects on how curiosity shapes learning and development. Drawing on research and her own experience, she shares why asking questions matters, how adults can encourage it, and why curiosity is key to unlocking a child’s potential. Omatas Learning Centre
Rethinking Reward Systems 15.09.2025 6:39
Lauren Edmunds explores the limits of star charts and external rewards, highlighting the importance of intrinsic motivation, awareness, and growth mindset in helping children build lasting skills and independence. Omatas Learning Centre
It Starts With You: Parenting and Self-Growth 08.09.2025 9:18
Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, talks about her journey as a parent and educator. She shares why real change begins with adults first, and how looking after ourselves helps us raise stronger, healthier children. Omatas Learning Centre
Why Reading with Your Child Matters More Than Ever 02.09.2025 7:49
Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, reflects on the profound impact of daily reading. She explores how something as simple as 20 minutes with a book can nurture vocabulary, connection, emotional well-being and resilience in children. Touching on modern challenges such as screen time, parental fatigue and society’s reliance on AI, she urges parents to reclaim fami...
Rethinking School: Why Skills Matter More Than Grades 18.08.2025 9:35
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds talks about the gaps in our education system and what happens to children who don’t fit the mould. She shares why repeating a year isn’t failure, the difference between learning content and building real skills, and how approaches like Montessori can open new doors. It’s an honest look at how parents and teachers can support children to grow at their own pace. Omata...
Beyond Bullies and Victims: Understanding Behaviour as Communication 11.08.2025 8:03
Lauren Edmunds unpacks the language we use around bullying, urging a shift from labels to deeper understanding. She explores how all behaviour—whether aggressive or anxious—is a window into a child's emotional world, and how support, not stigma, helps both the struggling and the hurt to grow into stronger, more resilient individuals. Omatas Learning Centre
The Words That Calm: Speaking Safety to Children 04.08.2025 2:48
Lauren Edmunds reflects on a powerful lesson learned during her daughter’s seizures—how changing her words from instruction to reassurance transformed the moment. She explores the impact our language has on helping children feel safe and supported, especially in times of distress. Omatas Learning Centre
Supernova Thinking: Reframing ADHD with Ivana 21.07.2025 37:14
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds speaks with Ivana, founder of the pop-up restaurant concept NaanSense, about living, learning, and thriving with ADHD. Together, they explore the idea of ADHD not as a disorder but as a divergent way of thinking—an energetic “supernova” that, when understood and supported, becomes a powerful asset. They unpack masking, cultural expectations, sensory overload, and th...
Finding Your Own Path: A Conversation with Ryan Brewer 16.07.2025 55:48
In this heartfelt episode, Lauren Edmunds chats to Ryan Brewer about his journey through school struggles, discovering cricket, and living with type 1 diabetes from a young age. Ryan shares candid stories of feeling like an outsider, finding his place through sport, and learning to stand firm in who he is. He reflects on the pressures children face, the importance of supportive environments, and w...
Honoring Children’s Special Interests 07.07.2025 9:35
Lauren Edmunds shares why it’s so important to meet children exactly where they are, especially when they have strong, singular interests. Instead of trying to change them, she encourages us to see these passions as safe spaces — and gently help children build new skills from there. A warm, thoughtful look at supporting kids without taking away what makes them feel secure. Omatas Learning Centre
When Teachers Leave: What It Reveals About Your Child's Attachment 30.06.2025 7:09
When a favorite teacher leaves or changes classes, some children feel a deep sense of loss. In this episode, Lauren Edmunds unpacks why this happens and what it can tell us about a child's attachment at home. She shares how parents can help their children feel secure, why schools shouldn’t replace that primary bond, and simple ways to reconnect at the end of the school day. Omatas Learning Centre
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