How Not to Screw Up Your Kids
Psychologist and parenting expert Dr Maryhan hosts this podcast for parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone who wants to raise confident children with self-belief. The show offers twice-weekly episodes, with shorter 'Bucket Emptying' episodes on Mondays and longer episodes on Thursdays. It aims to provide the right information and support to help children thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.
Episodes
Why Your Child Can't Concentrate: Focus, Distraction and ADHD with Professor Sam Wass
If you’ve ever wondered why your child can spend 40 minutes talking about Minecraft but can’t concentrate for four minutes on homework, this episode explains everything.I’m joined again by Professor Sam Wass, and if you heard his previous episodes, you’ll know why parents loved them. In today’s conversation, Sam breaks down what concentration actually is from a neuroscience perspective, why young
5 Questions to Ask Your Worried Child Tonight
If your child is anxious, you already know how hard evenings can be. You sit beside them wanting desperately to help, but every time you try to reassure them, it backfires. Logic doesn’t land. Distraction doesn’t stick. And sometimes, despite your best intentions, the thing you say makes everything worse.This episode gives you something you can use tonight.I’ll walk you through five specific, evid
When Your Child Won't Stop Worrying
If your child is melting down over homework, asking endless “what if” questions, getting mysterious tummy aches, refusing school, withdrawing from activities, or exploding the moment they walk through the door, you need this episode.I work with anxious and dysregulated children every single day, and what I want you to know is this: most of the behaviours parents struggle with aren’t actually behav
Bucket Empyting: One Thing to Say to Your Son Every Day to Build His Confidence
If you’re raising a boy, you already know this: you can believe in him with your whole heart, and still watch him struggle to believe in himself. You tell him he’s brilliant and he shrugs it off.You encourage him and he brushes it away.You try to have a meaningful conversation and suddenly his phone becomes the most fascinating object on earth.Meanwhile, you can see the gap widening - t
How Not to Screw Up Your Kids - A Podcast for Parents from a Child Psychologist Who Gets You
If your child is melting down, shutting down, refusing school, avoiding sleep, snapping back, or clinging to you because something feels “wrong” but they can’t explain what, you’re in the right place.I’m Dr Maryhan, a psychologist who works with anxious and dysregulated children every single day. And here’s what I want you to know: most of the behaviours that keep you up at night aren’t really abo
Raising Confident Boys
If you’re raising a boy right now, you already know this: the world he’s growing up in is tougher, louder, and more confusing than ever, and the cracks in his confidence can appear long before you realise what’s happening.Maybe you’ve watched your son compare himself to other boys and quietly decide he’s not good enough.Maybe he shrinks back, masks who he really is, or performs confidence he doesn
When Siblings Are Stuck Together
If your children have been at each other all week, this episode will change everything.I’m diving into one of the biggest sources of family stress - sibling conflict - and why it’s almost never about the toy, the sofa, or the “look” one child gave the other, and nearly always about your children’s emotional buckets overflowing.In this bucket-emptying episode, I walk you through three powerful tool
Why Parenting Feels Harder Than Ever
You don’t need more time with your child. You just need five intentional minutes.And in this episode, I’ll show you exactly why those tiny moments matter more than you think.If you’ve ever worried that you’re not present enough, not connected enough, or that the days are slipping by while you’re juggling work, life and everything in between, you’re not alone. I hear this from parents constantly, b
Back-Chat, Boundaries, and What Your Child is Really Trying to Tell You
Back‑chat isn’t your child being “difficult” - it’s a message. And in this episode, I’m going to show you how to finally hear it.If you’re dealing with eye‑rolls, snappy comebacks, or that sudden surge of attitude that leaves you wondering what on earth is happening, you’re not alone. So I’m going to unpack what back‑chat really means, why it shows up at any age, and the psychological needs sittin
The Meals That Carry Us Through Hard Seasons with Helen Hopkins
In this episode, you’ll discover a completely different way to think about feeding your family - one that saves you time, money, stress, and emotional bandwidth, and joining me is Helen Hopkins, better known as The Meal Time Maverick, whose viral batch‑cooking method has transformed kitchens across the UK.Instead of filling your freezer with meals you forget to defrost, Helen shows you how to batc
Good Parents Doubt Themselves Too
We all have an inner critic. Even us parents.In today’s episode, I explore one of the most overlooked but powerful ways to lighten your emotional load and quieten your inner critic.Modern parenting gives that critical voice endless opportunities to speak up - especially when we compare our behind‑the‑scenes chaos to everyone else’s curated highlight reel. I unpack why we’re so much kinder to our c
Homework: Building Persistence, Resilience & Independence
Hands up if you like homework…Me neither.But homework isn’t just a task to be completed. It’s a powerful opportunity to build persistence, resilience and independence in your children.Homework can so easily become a battleground filled with tears, avoidance and frustration, yet when we shift our focus from performance to process, everything changes. In today’s episode, I explore why the “how” of o
Bucket Emptying: Living with Parental Guilt
In today’s bucket‑emptying episode, I explore what it really means to live with parental guilt - that ever‑present tug that arrives the moment we become parents and never fully disappears.I talk about why guilt isn’t a sign that you’re failing, but a natural by‑product of caring deeply across multiple roles: parent, professional, partner, friend, adult child.Instead of treating guilt as a performa
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Siblings
Do you have more than one child?Are they constantly fighting for your time and energy?So how do you parent siblings?In today’s episode, I explore how birth order shapes your children’s development, behaviour, and long‑term identity. You’ll learn why research consistently shows firstborn advantages in earnings, IQ, and academic outcomes, and what sits beneath those patterns - from early illness exp
Bucket Emptying: Does Distraction Tame a Tantrum?
In this episode, I will explain the viral “Where’s Jessica?” distraction trend and discover whether it truly helps your child manage big emotions.I am going to show you why distraction can work in the moment - the novelty, the shift in attention, and the calm, curious tone that naturally regulates your child’s nervous system, and you’ll see why relying on distraction long‑term can backfire, teachi
Helping Children Manage Uncertainty
In today’s episode, we will explore how to help your child navigate life’s inevitable uncertainties, from exam results and friendship turbulence to school transitions and family change.You’ll learn why shielding your child from uncertainty actually weakens resilience, and how simple shifts in the way you listen, respond, and structure daily life can dramatically improve their ability to cope.I wil
Bucket Emptying: Foundations to Building Confidence
In today’s bucket-emptying episode, you’ll learn the three essential foundations your child needs before confidence can grow.If you’ve got a child who avoids challenges, gets overwhelmed easily, or insists they’re “rubbish” at everything, this is where you start. In this episode you’ll discoverhow to explain the mind–body connection in a way your child can actually understand,why their brain often
What I Know for Sure About Raising Confident Kids
Today is my birthday, and it’s become a tradition of mine to reflect on life and what I’ve learned. So this year I’m reflecting in public, on the podcast with you.I am going to share my top ten parenting lessons, drawn from my own experience, about how to raise confident children.My two children are adults now, and I like to think I’ve learnt a lot over the years. I’ve gotten things right, and I’v
5 Powerful Reflection Questions to Build Confidence in Children
I talk a lot about confidence, because it’s super important, and it’s something we all struggle with - yes, even us parents!But a lack of confidence can manifest in so many different ways, it can be really tricky knowing how to spot the signs in our kids and support them through it.So in today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m giving you a cheat sheet, with five really powerful reflection questions y
What to Say When Your Child Feels Anxious
Anxiety is not a one size fits all thing. It can show up in so many different ways, from school refusal to bedtime worries and everything in between.We think it’s our job as parents to find the magic solution, but there isn’t one! Instead, we have to find ways to navigate these tricky situations and the supportive presence our children need.In today’s episode I am going to help you tackle your kid
Good Mum, Not Enough Mum: Why It Still Never Feels Like Enough
Spoiler alert: being a mum is hard.It’s ok to be a good mum and feel like you’re not enough. You might feel like you can’t tell other mums that, but I promise you we are all feeling the same.So in this bucket emptying episode, I talk about why that feeling is so common, why it’s not a personal failure, and why being a good mum can still feel exhausting and heavy.This episode isn’t about fixing the
Why Your Child Won't Listen, and One Thing to Try Tonight
Do you ever feel like you are speaking to a brick wall?Do your kids sometimes ignore you as if you’re invisible?Do you feel the frustration eating away at you?Well let me tell you something - you are not alone! Every child has moments, and some more than others, of simply not listening. There are so many reasons for this, and yes some of them are learned, but some are simply part of growing up.In
Bucket Emptying: After School Meltdowns
After school tantrums are anything but random.Often, they are a sign that your child has been trying super hard to follow the rules and be on their best behaviour all day - and for neurodivergent children they could be masking all day - and this is exhausting. So when you turn up, they release all of the emotions and big feelings.It might not feel like it, but I promise you, that’s a good thing be
The Manosphere and Raising Boys
From Adolescence to Louis Theroux, the manosphere has become a mainstream talking point, and that’s a good thing!The manosphere is a term associated with toxic behaviour. Me, you, and all other parents out there know this is not what it means to be masculine or manly, but our kids don’t know that, and it is so important that we help them identify and understand problematic content when they see it
Bucket Emptying: 5 Mindset Shifts Before Returning to Work
Returning to work is not easy, especially for new parents.You’ve probably had an extended time off. Your routine is different, your priorities are different, and life is different - you have a child now! So going back to work will never be the same as before.It is hard to adjust to your new normal, but I am going to share five ways you can shift your mindset to deal with this big change.Spoiler al
Thriving as a Single Parent
There are many myths about single parent families, and I’m telling you they are not true.The success, wellbeing and happiness of your child has nothing to do with how many parents they live with. In fact, children with single parents are very high achievers.But that doesn’t stop you feeling isolated, lonely, even out of your depth, wondering if you’re doing things right, or doing enough, or being
Bucket Emptying: 30 Second Reset
Calm down.Every parent knows these are the worst two words you can ever say to your child in the midst of a meltdown… and we’ve all learnt the hard way!Bringing your kids down from a tantrum can be impossible, and it’s much better if you have the tools and the tricks to diffuse a situation or calm them down before it escalates into a full tantrum.In this episode I am going to share a life-changing
The 9 Expectation Changes to Supercharge Success
You have high expectations for your kids. Every parent does, and I get it!But sometimes we can present those expectations in ways that may not be as supportive to our children as we hoped.Last week I talked through the behaviours you can model to boost your kids’ academic success, confidence and friendships, so today I’m going further and giving you practical, easy to use tips for each of these, t
Bucket Emptying: Grabbing the Opportunity
The UK government has opened a public consultation on a potential social media ban for under 16 year olds, and this creates a huge opportunity for us.It’s not just about giving our opinion to government, but as parents we now have a real chance to connect with our kids like never before.What is their opinion on this?How do they feel?What matters to them, and why?This is chance for us to encourage
9 Modelled Bevahiours Boosting Academic Success, Confidence & Friendships
If you have not yet watched American skier Eileen Gu’s interview following her silver medal at the recent Winter Olympics, click the link below, because it blew me away!Her confidence and self-assuredness is an amazing example to lots of young people, especially young women and girls, and it got me thinking… are there common actions or traits of parents who raise successful, confident children?We’
Bucket Emptying: Parenting in Public
Children should be seen and not heard. Do you agree?We’ve all heard that expression, and we were all probably told this by our own parents! But I have noticed more and more examples of adult only areas of public spaces - on trains or in shopping malls - so I wanted to tackle this head on.For the record, I don’t agree with that saying, and in this episode I am going to share five reasons why it is
Managing Emotional Outbursts
Outbursts, tantrums, meltdowns… whatever you call them, they’re not fun!But your kids are not hardwired to deal with their emotions, it’s a skill they learn over time, and it’s your job as parent to support them and encourage them to develop those skills.It’s not easy - I can attest to that, having raised two kids myself! And that’s why in this episode I help you understand what causes emotional o
Bucket Emptying: Pocket Money - 5 Benefits You May Not Have Considered
Should I give my children pocket money?How much is enough?Should they have to earn it through chores?Knowing how much, when, and what can feel like a tricky minefield when thinking about pocket money for our kids. Some of you might decide simply not to do it, and that’s ok too.I can’t give you the right answer, because only you know what’s best for your family, but in this bucket emptying episode,
Confidence is on the Decline
Did you know 1 in 3 children have little or no confidence?Did you know girls are more likely to downplay their confidence?And did you know that children from non-white and minority ethnic groups are likely to have less confidence than their white male friends?Today I speak to Kathryn McColl, co-founder of Hark, the education agency that delivers programmes to over 90% of UK schools. Hark recently
Bucket Emptying: Parenting Trends and How They Affect Our Own Parenting
From gentle parenting to FAFO, social media bombards us with content about the latest trends, so how do you really know what works and what doesn’t?In today’s bucket emptying episode, I talk you through some of the biggest parenting trends, and explain how they can be impacting you, and the ways in which you might then choose to parent your own kids.Because parenting is all-consuming. It’s a 24/7/
Let's Talk - 5 Ways to Start a Conversation About Mental Health
Mental health is not just a buzz word, and oftentimes it goes hand in hand with physical health. But because we can’t see mental health, as parents it can be so easy to procrastinate these important conversations that provide a safe, supportive space for our children to really get honest with us.Whether you’re listening to this during Children’s Mental Health week or at any other time of the year,
Bucket Emptying: Valuing Children - 5 Ways to Build a Sense of Belonging
A sense of belonging is a basic human need. Without it can lead to loneliness, depression and many other mental and physical health issues.So to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week, the theme of which this year is ‘this is my place’, I am going to give you five tips to help your children build their sense of belonging, because the world is a better place with them in it, and it’s our job as pa
Navigating Exam Stress
From the 8 Plus to A-Levels, exams can be a stressful experience… often as much for you, the parent, as the kids.You want the best for them, and of course you want them to do well, but it’s important to make sure we create a supportive environment, and not inadvertently add to the pressure.That’s why, in this important episode, I’m going to talk you through the dos and do nots of navigating exam s
A new perspective on emotional co-regulation
In this bucket emptying episode, I look a bit closer at my conversation with Professor Sam Wass, who you may recognise from such TV shows as The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds. He is is currently Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years at the University of East London.In last week’s interview he spoke to us at length about his research, but in today’s episode I want to drill down just
Neuroscience and Emotional Regulation in Children, with Professor Sam Wass
Does your child ever get worked up, and you find it escalates super fast but feel powerless to bring them down from that ledge?Every parent has been there, but it’s only in recent years that we have really begun to understand the reasons why, and it’s all about neuroscience.Children’s brains are changing and developing all the time, which means as parents it can be so difficult to keep up, and kno
Stop Making Life Easy! 5 Proven Ways to Build Your Child's Resilience
“I can’t do it!” - as parents we hear this all the time.Our children are learning new skills and experiencing new things every day, which means they are always facing things they’ve never done before. This can be scary, and often our kids might think they can’t do it or they’re not good enough.That’s why building resilience is so important. It gives them the foundation they need to persevere, to f
"Why Won't They Sleep?" The Hidden Factors Affecting Your Child's Sleep Part 2
Why won’t my kids go to sleep at their bed time?It doesn’t matter if your child is 2 or 20, every parent in the world will ask themselves this question, because sometimes, even if we stick to the routine, they just won’t settle down and get in bed.In this episode I continue our discussion around sleep, sharing some of the ways in which overtiredness can impact our kids and what you can do about it
Bucket Emptying: Creating New Habits by Stacking
New year is my favourite time of year.It’s a chance for us to turn a blank page and make conscious changes in our lives. Maybe you want to improve your health, or perhaps you have certain career goals, or maybe you just want to save for that dream family holiday.Whatever it is you set out to do this year, it all comes down to one thing: habits.Saving money is a habit.Eating better is a habit.Exerc
"Why Won't They Sleep?" The Hidden Factors Affecting Your Child's Sleep Part 1
It’s bedtime. You’ve done all the right things. You followed the routine. There are no disruptions. And yet… the kids just won’t go to sleep!We’ve all been there, which is why in this episode, the first of a two-part special, I am going to explore the hidden reasons your children might not sleep.Some of these things might be hiding in plain sight, and that’s ok. Over the next two episodes I am goi
Bucket Emptying: 10 Powerful Questions to Get Your Kids Talking
What did you do today?It’s the question every parents asks when we pick our kids up from school, nursery, or wherever they’ve been. The response is usually ‘I don’t know,’ ‘nothing,’ or a disinterested grunt or huff, am I right?Getting our kids to open up can be painful and frustrating, so in this bucket emptying episode I am sharing 10 questions that will get your children talking.These are every
The Comparison Trap: Why We Compare, When to Say Yes, and the 48-Hour Rule
It’s said that comparison is the thief of joy, and there’s truth to this.Whether it’s your kids thinking their life is so unfair because their friends have phones, or go to parties and they’re not allowed, to you as a parent constantly judging yourself against the other mums and dads at the school gate.In this episode, I show you how to avoid the dreaded comparison trap. I explain the five step re
Bucket Emptying: 10 Things to Say to Your Children Every Day
I believe in you.I will always love you.I am always here for you.How often do you say any of these things to your children?The truth is, it’s probably less you’d like to admit, and you’re not alone. As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day of parenting, that we forget to give our kids the affirmation and reassurance they want and need from us.In this bucket emptying episode, I’m go
The Power of Failed Goals: Why Broken Resolutions Build Confidence and Capability in Children
Have you and your family made New Year resolutions?And how many have you broken already?I love making resolutions. It’s the highlight of my year. But statistics show that most New Year resolutions are broken, so you are not alone! However, making resolutions, even if we break them, can still be super valuable for our personal growth and in building confidence, especially in our kids.In today’s epi
The Best of 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, I thought the best way to round out another year of the podcast is to give you a compilation of our best bits and the best tips in one episode.Consider this your How Not to Screw Up Your Kids cheat sheet for 2025!So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy seat, have a very happy new year, and enjoy the conversation…Highlights from this episode:01:05 - Rage Against the Screen0
Merry Christmas: The Best of How Not to Screw Up Your Kids
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from me and the team at How Not to Screw Up Your Kids. However you are celebrating, and whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re having some well earned time off, and getting some precious quality time with your loved ones.Just in case you need a few wise words of encouragement in your ear, here are some of the best bits from the last year of the podcast, taken from
Bucket Emptying: Start Right, End Right - Daily Routines for Calmer, Happier Kids
Our children are sponges. They absorb our energy.So when we start our day with a bang, that rubs off, and our kids will be unbalanced from the get go. And that just sets us all up for a difficult day, doesn’t it?So, in today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m going to share my top tips on how to set up your day for calm, cooperation and compassion.I will give you 5 things that you can do at the start
The Reconnected: Transform Your Parenting in 20 Minutes a Week
Are you close to your children?Do you still feel connected as they get older?Do you spend as much time with them as you want?I’m going to guess that you answered no to at least one of these questions. Am I right?Today I am joined by Emma and Eleanor from The Reconnected, to discuss the importance of making time to connect with our children… and ourselves.We talk about breathwork and why we all nee
The Secret to Child Cooperation: 7 Psychology Proven Strategies
How do you get your children to cooperate with you, when they just don’t want to?It’s a problem we all face - our kids will refuse to do something not because they don’t want to, but because we’re telling them to, and it’s so frustrating! So what’s the answer?In this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to introduce you to the psychology of cooperation, and give you some simple, helpful, and practic
Boost Your Child's Confidence in 10 Days
Does your child struggle with their confidence?Do you wish you could help?Well you’re in luck, because confidence is a learned skill, and there are many easy things you can do to help build self-confidence in your kids.In this episode, I’m going to give you a 10 day plan, which you can start using right now, to help develop those skills and improve confidence. Remember: the brain is a muscle, and
How to Avoid Resentment
Do your children resent you?Do you resent your children?How good are you at managing this?Resentment is a funny thing. It feels like it comes out of nowhere, but actually, it can be the result of many small little events that build up and up until it overflows.Then, you find yourself arguing with your children, or worse, that resentment just continues to simmer, and it becomes harder to resolve.We
Supporting Our Children Through Separation and Divorce
On Christmas Day in 1986, 30 million Brits were glued to their screens as Eastenders’ Dirty Den handed divorce papers to Angie Watts, in one of the most watched television episodes of all time.As shocking as that was in 1986, the reality today is that separation is commonplace and 40% of marriages end in divorce. Many parents part ways, and often our children get caught in the crossfire, through n
The Christmas Survival Kit for Parents
From Elf on a Shelf and advent calendars to the business of seeing the whole family in such a short period… Christmas can be stressful, and it can be super overwhelming, especially for us parents.Santa doesn’t do organising for us, which means the holiday season is often wrought with so much pressure to get everything right, and so often we put that pressure on ourselves.So in this bucket emptying
Helping Children with Setbacks
Whether it’s toppled block towers, disappointing test results, or missed goals on the sports field, setbacks are a daily occurrence for our children, and I want to show you how to transform them into powerful opportunities for growth.This is about raising resilient kids who see mistakes not as failures, but as stepping stones.In this episode, I will share a practical framework you can use at home,
Bucket Emptying: 6 Things Your Children Worry About... and What to Do About Them
As parents, we worry. It’s in our nature!Are they safe?Are they hungry?Are they happy?The list goes on…But SPOILER ALERT: our kids worry too!The world is a scary place, and the world around them is constantly changing, with new things to learn and new experiences to process all the time.In this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to reveal the six most common things your children worry about AND I
How to Deal with Academic & Exam Stress
Are your children currently revising for exams, working hard on an essay, or worrying about homework?Academic stress is very real, and sometimes the things we do to help, only seem to create more anxiety and overwhelm. So what can you do as parents, to help your kids through homework and revision?In this episode I’m going to talk through some of the things you must not do, and give you some super
Bucket Emptying: Tantrum or Meltdown?
Do you know the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown?Most parents think they’re the same, but they’re not!That’s why in today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m going to talk you through the key differences between what they are and how to manage them, because mastering this might just be the difference between a quick win and a sleepless night!So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy seat, and e
Inside and Out: A Conversation About Emotions
What’s the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown?When should you start worrying about behaviour?And how do you regulate your kids’ screen time?In this episode, the tables are being turned as I am the one being interviewed. Daniel Weisberg, Managing Director of CAYP Psychology, asks me about emotional regulation, tantrums, neurodivergence, and lots more.So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy
Bucket Emptying: 5 Parenting Lessons I Learnt from Mumsnet's Justine Roberts
Nobody is a perfect mum, and none of us know everything… not even the experts.That’s why I found my recent chat with Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, so fascinating. She shared her own insights as a founder, an influencer to millions of parents, and a mum, and it blew my mind.We covered everything from how to regulate our kids’ use of technology, to why there’s so much shame around weight loss
Rage Against the Screen: Children, Tech & Social Media with Mumsnet Founder Justine Roberts
Would you give your eight year old a smartphone?Should children be banned from social media?How much screen time is too much?As parents in a digital world, we ask ourselves these questions all the time, and there never seems to be a right answer. But in today’s episode I am joined by Justine Roberts CBE, the founder of Mumsnet, to discuss these very issues.Justine shares her insights on the relati
Unhealthy Friendships
Is your child friends with a bad influence?Are they being bullied or treated poorly by someone they think is a friend?Do they struggle to broaden their social circle?If you relate to any of the above, then this episode is a must listen, because I am going to explain the how, the why, and the what you can do about those unhealthy friendships your children find themselves in.It happens to everyone,
Does My Child Have OCD?
Diagnoses of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, are rising sharply.But how do you know if you or your child might have it?And what can you do about it?It can be hard to find the right info about symptoms, causes, and treatment. So In this episode I’m going to talk through what OCD is, but also what it isn’t, and what the common early signs are.Plus, I’ll give you some super easy, practical thi
Get Your Children Reading!
Are you looking for fun and free or low cost family activities?Have you considered reading?Before you switch off, hear me out, because reading can be an incredibly relaxing and enjoyable activity, and I’m here to explain how you can encourage your children to want to read.However, there’s been a huge decline in recent years of young people who enjoy reading, and it’s on us - the mums, the dads, th
Becoming Me - The School Years
Are you getting in your child’s way?Should you praise effort or results?And are you strict enough with enforcing your own rules?In today’s episode, I’m expanding on a recent episode (linked below), where we explored how your children build their sense of self, to answer the above questions and more.I’m going to give you the five areas where I believe you can really help your children navigate thei
When School Doesn't Work - Part 2
What went wrong?Have I failed my children?That’s the question many parents ask themselves when contemplating home schooling. But in reality, the school system simply isn’t the best choice for some children.In the second part of our discussion, we look closer at the process of choosing a home schooling option, what a good education really looks like, and when or why you might transition your kids b
When School Doesn't Work - Part 1
Has your child ever refused to go to school?It’s a morning routine all parents dread, but for nearly one in five parents, this is a common occurrence.. But what do you do?In the first of this special two part episode, I am going to explore the reasons why our kids might not want to go to school and the ways in which both parents and educators can identify and support this.Because as absenteeism co
Bucket Emptying: When Bedtime Feels Frazzling
Does your child refuse to go to bed?Is the nighttime routine a daily stress?And why won’t your children sleep when they’re tired?Today’s episode is a listener question, and one I’m sure affects most parents, because it’s all about how to make bedtime less of a battle and more of a breeze.I am going to talk through the reasons why the sleep showdown happens, give you three things you can do, and gi
What Do Teens Need Most from their Parents?
Are you more emotionally mature than your children?Do you project your problems onto your kids?Does your child feel like a burden or a failure?These might be tough questions to think about but, according to a recent study, these are common things your teenagers might be thinking, but do not feel like they can tell you.And don’t worry, you are not a bad parent, and this isn’t a generational thing.
What's All the Fuss About Breathwork?
When I say breathwork, what comes to mind?Many of you will think of yoga, meditation, or something a bit silly. I’m sure most of you don’t think it can help your children, and I get it!But did you know that good breathwork can have real, physical benefits on our nervous system, our brain, and our body? In other words, it’s not just some hippy dippy nonsense, and I’m going to explain why.This means
Parenting at Work: Can We Really Have It All?
“I want it all. I want it now” - timeless words sung by the late Freddie Mercury, and sampled by every child ever, including your own, am I right?But let’s be honest, they’re not the only ones. As parents, we put ourselves under so much pressure to keep up with the Joneses and have it all… but what does that even mean?A big house?Private school?Or maybe just financial security?In this episode, I a
Bucket Emptying: ADHD & Neurodivergence in Children - The Facts
Let’s be clear: tylenol does not cause autism.It does not cause ADHD.Neurodivergence is not contagious.And it is not a disease to be caught or cured.You’ve probably heard these claims being made by certain politicians and Presidents recently, but let me assure you: there is no credible scientific evidence to support this.As parents, we already feel so much shame and guilt about our kids’ neurodive
Does Self-Control Make Successful Children?
Someone leaves you in a room with a tasty treat. You can eat it right away, but you’ve been promised two treats if you resist for 15 minutes. What do you do?This isn’t a riddle, but a very important experiment called The Marshmallow Test, and I bring this up to show you that building self-control and willpower in our kids is an age-old challenge for parents like you and me.Which is why in this epi
Boosting Low Self-Confidence
Is your child’s self-confidence at rock bottom?Are you feeling a bit helpless, or lost at how to help?Firstly, remember we have all been there, I promise you! And secondly, this bucket emptying episode builds on our previous episodes about confidence, but this time I talk specifically about how to boost really low self-confidence in your kids and teens.I’m going to share three things that I guaran
Building Children and Teens' Self Belief and Confidence
Confidence is something we all struggle with, sometimes on a daily basis.But for our kids, who are dealing with new experiences, new challenges, and constant change all the time, their confidence and self belief is being really tested. Childhood is not quite as easy as we like to remember.. we’re all guilty of that!That’s why I’m kicking off a trilogy of episodes, taking a long hard look at confid
What to Do in the Moment of Non-Compliance
Do you find yourself getting louder and louder when your kids don’t listen to you?Are you constantly fighting to get them to do what you ask?In the second of our two part bucket-emptying special, I am helping you manage your child’s non-compliance: when they just say no or, more annoyingly, they ignore you completely!Last week we talked through some of the main reasons why your children do this, a
From Google to the Great Outdoors: Why Spending More Time Outside is GOOD for Your Children
On today’s episode, I am joined by Tish Feilden, formerly a teacher and psychotherapist, but today one of the founders of Jamie’s Farm.Alongside her son, they have created a life-changing program that, in their words, leaves children ‘better equipped to thrive academically, socially and emotionally during their school years and beyond.’We have a great chat about the benefits of putting the screens
