If you’re a parent, you might dread the thought of a long car ride. Managing your kids’ hunger, boredom, and frustration is like being in parenting hell until you reach your destination.

Well, you’re not alone.

So in this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to share some quick tips and simple hacks to help you manage those long journeys without having a meltdown!

So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy seat, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

02:28 - Support the podcast

02:24 - Get everyone involved in planning

04:47 - Get your children to pack their own bags

10:11 - Plan A, B, C, and D

12:46 - The element of surprise

15:28 - Reflect back and learn for next time

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please with at least one friend

💚 mentioned in the episodes

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the pressure to provide constant experiences?

Have kids who are "always bored" or glued to devices?

Or struggle with guilt about not doing "enough" activities?

Then this episode is for you. I challenge the modern parenting myth that we need to pack our children's lives with endless activities and experiences. Instead, I reveal why unstructured play is actually your child's most powerful learning tool.

I break down exactly how play develops emotional intelligence, social skills, problem-solving abilities, and academic success - often better than formal lessons. I also share game-changing strategies for different age groups, from toddlers to teenagers.

So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy seat, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

02:28 - Play to recharge

04:45 - Play to work through and resolve issues

08:16 - Play to teach social skills

14:12 - Play is a safe space to fail

17:24 - Reframe the purpose of play

23:11 - Allocate time to play

27:24 - Never too old to play

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please with at least one friend

💚 mentioned in the episodes

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when your child says "Everyone hates me," "I'm rubbish at everything," or "I'm a loser"?

In this bucket-emptying episode, I share exactly how to respond in the moment when your child is being self-critical.

I'll walk you through my 5-step approach to handle these heartbreaking moments without dismissing their feelings or being overly positive. You'll learn why that internal dialogue matters so much, how to validate their experience while offering a more realistic perspective, and my powerful "pause and reframe" technique that helps children catch themselves before negative self-talk becomes hardwired.

This is about what to do RIGHT NOW when these comments happen - not the long-term strategies (that's coming in a full Thursday episode). Whether your child occasionally has these moments or this has become a pattern, these techniques will help you respond in a way that actually helps rather than accidentally making things worse.

Remember: self-criticism reflects their internal monologue, and with the right approach, we can help them develop a healthier inner voice. Their brains are incredibly plastic - we have time to turn this around.

Key topics covered:

• Understanding your child's internal dialogue and self-talk
• The 5-step response framework for self-critical moments
• Why validation comes before correction
• Teaching the "pause and reframe" technique
• How to model healthy self-talk as a parent

This episode is perfect for parents dealing with children who struggle with self-esteem, negative self-talk, or perfectionism.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

01:35 - What is self talk?

03:50 - Validate your child’s feelings

05:55 - Offer a realistic alternative

08:30 - Pause and reframe

11:56 - Rome wasn’t built in a day

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.