Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic: Recent Episodes
Sonia Bestulic
Sonia Bestulic from the Chatabout Children Blog educates, enlightens, and entertains with valuable insights into all things children, from birth to pre-teen, so you can enjoy fulfilment with the children in your world.
Discover children at a whole new level, learning simple yet powerful strategies to nurture child development, overall health, effective learning and robust life skills.
Uncover techniques on positive parenting, and conscious communication to strengthen your relationships, and empower you to grow, together with the children in your life.
In her unique holistic approach, Sonia takes you further, including super easy tools to remember yourself, on the journey of fostering thriving happy children, within a connected family or workplace.
As a mother of three young children, a Children’s Author, and a reputable Speech & Language Pathologist, Sonia contributes a professional evidence-based perspective, and personal/ parental tips and tricks, as you share in a Chatabout Children with Sonia Bestulic.
“The quality of our communication determines the quality of connection to ourselves, to others and to the world around us” Sonia Bestulic
In this episode of the Raising Empowered Humans series on the Chatabout Children podcast, host Sonia Bestulic is joined by Julia Scott, founder of Love Luck Wealth.
Julia, an intuitive financial coach and mentor with over 20 years of experience, shares her unique approach to financial empowerment focusing on money mindset and the energy of money.
This episode dives into various aspects including Julia’s personal journey through financial hardship, overcoming emotional blocks, and teaching children about the energy of money.
Be ready to gain insights into shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, overcoming financial judgments, and practical tips to be financially empowered.
Julia emphasizes the importance of modeling positive behaviors, educating oneself about financial management, and investing wisely to leave a legacy of financial empowerment for future generations.
00:00 Introduction to Raising Empowered Humans
01:20 Meet Julia Scott: Intuitive Financial Coach
03:35 Julia's Personal Journey with Money
08:09 Understanding the Energy of Money
11:33 Teaching Kids About Money
20:31 Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance
31:39 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
35:48 Resources and Closing Remarks
Resources & LinksChatabout Children
Flourish with Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Julia on:Instagram: @loveluckwealth
Website: www.loveluckwealth.com
Read Julia’s Article: Who’s Teaching Our Kids About Money?
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Robyn Saranah, known for her long standing executive career in the financial industry; including the role of National General Manager of Commonwealth Private Bank, and Executive Director of Commonwealth Private.
Robyn shares insights from personal experiences and research, shedding light on financial attitudes, and the need for early financial education for children.
Empowering Moments
Real-Life Example: A compelling example is shared of a woman navigating financial challenges post-separation, showcasing the importance of long-term planning and taking incremental steps towards financial security.
Early Financial Education: Promoting open dialogue and accountability. Discussing concepts like needs versus wants and introducing tools for financial management.
Magnificence of Money: The positive impact of money, its role in supporting families, communities, and philanthropy.
Psychology of Money: Robin emphasizes the significance of self-awareness in understanding your feelings and attitudes towards money. Drawing from personal experiences and upbringing, individuals can recognise patterns that influence financial decisions and cultivates future empowerment.
Foundational Modules: Robyn highlights three fundamental modules for financial education: understanding personal feelings about money, basics of budgeting, and principles of savings and investment. Robin underscores the need for early financial education, emphasizing the diverse learning paths suited to individual needs and stages of life.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Robyn Saranah.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish with Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Robyn Saranah on LinkedIn
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
YES I LOVE TO PLAY WITH WORDS... that would come as no surprise to those who know me...
I love the art of words; within my author work for children and adults; my speaking engagements; my screenwriting; my Speech Pathology background... and my intuitive life/business coaching and consulting, where "Wordology" is something i passionately teach from an energetic perpsective.
My Monday message today is encompassed by my new word... "PHILOSO-BE"
This word is a simple yet powerful reminder that...
...the success of what you teach is communicated by the extent to which you have embodied your own teachings.
Enjoy some mindful moments with this...
May we flourish together,
🌻Sonia xo
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Paul Sullivan, to discuss his insights on this special Raising Empowered Humans series.
Paul is the:
- Founder of The Company of Dads, a platform dedicated to creating a community for lead dads.
- Former writer of the Wealth Matters column in the New York Times.
- Author of two books: Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast.
Empowering Moments
Paul Sullivan's Journey:
- Transition from journalist to founder of The Company of Dads.
- The ‘accidental’ path that led him to this new venture.
- The challenge and fulfillment of becoming a lead dad and starting a platform for others in similar roles.
The Company of Dads:
- Launched in 2022 with a mission to support lead dads and help families fulfill their full potential.
- Focuses on media, community, and workplace education.
- Explores the unique challenges and rewards of building a supportive community for lead dads.
Balancing Professional and Personal Life:
- Sullivan's experience managing career transitions and family responsibilities.
- The importance of modeling balanced, empowered behavior for his children.
- Strategies for maintaining family harmony and fulfilling professional commitments.
Impact on Family:
- Lessons his daughters learned from observing their parents' entrepreneurial journeys.
- Emphasizing the unpredictability and resilience required in both business and personal life.
Challenges and Triumphs:
- Overcoming initial setbacks and financial challenges.
- The importance of perseverance and adapting to changing circumstances.
- Building credibility and support for The Company of Dads.
Words of Wealth Wisdom:
- Paul shares key insights from his book; The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy
- Paul shares some truths about money, and the importance of empowered choices when it comes to instilling money values within the family
Future Vision:
- Continuing to grow the platform and expand its impact.
- Encouraging businesses to adopt more inclusive and supportive policies for caregivers.
- Sharing insights and experiences to inspire other lead dads and families.
Final Take Home message from Paul Sullivan:
- Embrace the journey of raising empowered humans both at home and in the community, opening to the significance of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership and parenting.
Join the Paul’s Community: Follow The Company of Dads for more resources and support.
Contact Information:
- Host: Sonia Bestulic -www.soniabestulic.com
- Guest: Paul Sullivan - The Company of Dads
Newsletter Sign-Up:
Visit soniabestulic.com for transformative tips, tools, and strategies to help you be more empowered as a parent/ carer or professional who works with children.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish with Sonia Bestulic
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learning how to live in synch with your mind, heart and soul creates a whole new melody of life.
(This is the essence of my intuitive life coaching work; and the deep essence of my award winning book, Flourish for Mums 21 ways to thrive with self-care and acceptance.)
Enjoy some mindful Monday moments in reflection of the above.
May we flourish together,
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this 100th episode of the Chatabout Children podcast, host Sonia Bestulic shares another insightful episode to this special Raising Empowered Humans series.
Sonia has produced this series, to inspire parents, carers, and professionals to raise children who are of highest service to themselves and to the world.
Today, Sonia weaves her decades of experience as a Speech Pathologist, working with thousands of children and their families across the globe, together with her expansive training within the realms of Intuitive Life Coaching, and Energy Healing. Sonia is also a mother of three children; who were all born in 2 ½ years, when she was four years into running her allied health company.
Discover what Sonia deems the top three life skills that help children build a flourishing future; and how parents/ carers and professionals who work with children can collectively and successfully contribute.
Enjoy this transformative episode with Sonia Bestulic.
Remember to leave a rating and a review for the Chatabout Children Podcast; and share this episode with family, friends and colleagues.
Links:
Chatabout Children
https://soniabestulic.com.au/chatabout-children-podcast/
Flourish with Sonia Bestulic
https://soniabestulic.com.au
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review:
chataboutchildren.com/itunes
chataboutchildren.com/spotify
chataboutchildren.com/stitcher
chataboutchildren.com/tunein
chataboutchildren.com/google
PODCAST DISCLAIMER
Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only.
Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener.
The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday Wisdom with Sonia Bestulic offers a monthly wedge of transformative wisdom, helping you ascend to new levels of flourishing, across all areas of life.
Today's episode deep dives into three powerful ways to rise above the energy of frustration.
What is frustration anyway?
What is your relationship with frustration?
How are you responding to frustration, so that it can be a tool of growth and expansion, rather than dis-ease and suffering?
Join Sonia Bestulic, for this power packed 12 minute episode, that will reveal, to help you heal.
Remember to sign up to Sonia's newsletter at www.soniabestulic.com
Follow Sonia on Instagram bestulic_sonia
And connect with her on LinkedIn.
It is your time to flourish!
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Monday Mindful Moments....
Today i put forward the question as to whether you make mistakes; or whether they make you?
As someone who identifies as a 'previous perfectionist'; there is great liberation in realising and emodying the greater/ higher gifts that come from anything you may have deemed a 'mistake'.
Let us flourish together...
Sonia xo
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Vanessa Bell. Vanessa is a passionate advocate for Australian merino wool, sustainable fashion designer, and entrepreneur.
In sharing her insights on this special Raising Empowered Children series, Vanessa discusses her journey from high fashion model to sustainable fashion designer, and her family's life on a farm.
Empowering Moments
- Vanessa's strong connection to the land due to her family heritage.
- Raising her son, Charlie, in the countryside and the unique challenges and benefits of rural life.
- The importance of trusting children and giving them space to explore and learn.
- Encouraging children to take part in family traditions and sustainable practices.
- The importance of teaching children resilience and independence.
- Advocacy for merino wool and its benefits: fire-resistant, thermoregulating, and biodegradable.
- The impact of disposable fashion on the environment and how wool offers a sustainable alternative.
- Introduction of Vanessa Bell's knitwear collection incorporating sustainable practices and heritage designs.
Legacy and Tradition
- Vanessa’s focus on creating generational pieces, such as heirloom baby blankets.
- The role of knitting in mindfulness and passing down skills through generations.
- Encouraging families to adopt sustainable practices and create lasting memories.
- The importance of choosing sustainable options, educating children on environmental issues, and creating a legacy through mindful living.
Future Ventures
- Announcement of Wilder Sanctuary: Partnership with WWF for wildlife conservation.
Connect with Vanessa Bell
Learn more about Vanessa, her knitwear collection and advocacy work.
Instagram: fashiontofarmer
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Flashback to one of my Monday messages...
CREATE VS CONSUME... which one do you feel the humanness package is truthfully engineered for?
One is an energetic pathway of survival.
The other is an energetic pathway to flourish.
The choice is yours...
Happy Monday mindful moments.
May we flourish together,
Sonia xo
PS If you are an individual or organisation keen to learn more about my Empowered Energy coaching and consulting visit www.soniabestulic.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Carrie Kwan, Co-founder and executive manager of Mums&Co, speaker, coach, and podcast host of Mumbition.
Carrie grew up in a big Malaysian Chinese family with strong support from her parents and siblings. Her upbringing instilled a sense of possibility and curiosity, leading to her current entrepreneurial endeavors.
Together Sonia and Carrie discuss insights on raising empowered children, especially for women who are nurturing family and business.
Empowering Moments
- Empowering Women in Business: Carrie Kwan emphasizes the importance of supporting women in business, highlighting structural barriers and the need for investment in women-led ventures.
- Balancing Family and Career: Mums&Co's mission is to help women balance family and career without having to choose between them, providing resources and support through a digital subscription model.
- Holistic Approach to Wellbeing: Emphasis on the importance of ambition, livelihood, and wellbeing.
- Strategies for Coping with Guilt and Pressure: Findings from a report indicated that many business-owning mothers do not feel guilty about less time with children and believe they set a good example.This highlights the importance of setting strategies to minimize guilt and maintain a healthy balance.
- Transferable Skills: Parenting skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience are valuable and transferable to the business world.
- Community and Support Systems: The significance of having a strong support system, both professionally and personally, and the value of a judgment-free community where parents can share and learn.
- Empowering Children: Use intentionally empowering language and involve children in decision-making. Encourage children to solve problems and learn from mistakes; and emphasize the importance of having fun and learning from both wins and losses.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Carrie Kwan.
Contact and Further Information
- Learn more about Mums&Co: mumsandco.com.au
- Follow on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.
- Explore "Mumbition the Journal" for practical insights and personal growth tools.
Host's Invitation
- Sonia Bestulic invites listeners to join her newsletter at soniabestulic.com for more tips, tools, and strategies for transformational empowerment.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish with Sonia
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
RATITUDE FOR ALL THE FAMILY & FREINDS i can count on... you know who you are!
Acknowledgement and celebration is in order not just today; but everyday, for those family and friends you can count on, who have your back unconditionally.
TAG someone in your flourishing circle you can count on.
May we flourish together...
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This podcast series with Sonia Bestulic as the host, guides listeners through enlightening conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts who embody a heart-led approach to raising empowered individuals. Through these discussions, the series aims to inspire and empower parents, caregivers, and professionals, encouraging them to nurture children who positively contribute to themselves and the world.
This episode features an insightful conversation with Stephenie Rodriguez, a renowned motivational speaker, human rights activist, resilience expert, and aspiring Paralympian.
Stephenie shares her incredible journey of survival, recovery from cerebral malaria, and her commitment to positively impacting a billion lives by 2025 in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As a single mom and a bilateral osseointegrated amputee, she discusses the importance of empathy, integrity, and resilience in raising empowered children. Rodriguez also touches on her mission to eradicate malaria through the Rotary International's Finish the Fight campaign, illustrating how resilience, empathy, and impactful actions can shape a legacy of empowered humans ready to serve the world.
Drawing from her own journey as a bilateral amputee, Stephenie emphasizes the value of problem-solving as a resilience-building tool. By teaching children to approach challenges with a proactive mindset, they can develop a sense of control and agency in their lives.
Stephenie shares her experiences training in the Australian fencing team, aiming for the 2032 Paralympics. She discusses the mental fortitude required for such a goal, emphasizing the concept of "delusional dreaming" and pursuing ambitious dreams against conventional expectations.
Stephaenie encourages parents to support their children's passions, even if they seem unconventional. She challenges societal norms that dictate certain career paths, advocating for individuals to pursue what truly inspires them.
Empowering moments…
- Stephanie Rodriguez: A Mission to Impact Lives
- Stephanie's Personal Journey and Achievements
- Parenting Philosophies and Empowering Children
- Stephanie's Childhood and Parenting Approach
- Empathy and Integrity: Core Values for Empowerment
- Defining and Developing Resilience in Children
- Mindset Mantras and Achieving Big Dreams
- Stephenie's resilience, passion, and commitment to making a difference serve as an inspiration, reminding us of the power we each hold to create positive change beyond measure.
Enjoy this chat with Sonia Bestulic and Stephenie Rodriguez; and remember to share it with family, friends and colleagues who you know will benefit.
May we all continue to flourish together…
The Chatabout Children Team.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish with Sonia
Stephenie Rodriguez
Connect with Stephenie on Instagram - @digitalgodess
Help Stephenie’s mission to stop malaria
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"UNCOMPROMISING RADIANCE"... one of my core mantras.
The embodiment of this, is to honour the shining of your light, with faith that it will touch others with rays of hope and inspiration... AND with a deep knowing that your light belongs; as part of the humanness package you signed up for.
Enjoy some mindful Monday moments reflecting on this.
Let us flourish together...
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 Ways to Help Kids Nurture Emotional Harmony
This episode of the Chatabout Children podcast forms part of the special Raising Empowered Humans series; hosted by Sonia Bestulic who shares insightful discussions aimed at helping parents, carers, and professionals empower children to serve themselves and the world better.
This episode focuses on nurturing emotional harmony in children which is fundamental to a harmonious life. Sonia draws from her background as a speech pathologist with decades of experience with social-emotional skill development in children and adolescents; combined with her training in Intuitive Life Coaching and Energy Healing.
Sonia introduces three methods to foster emotional harmony; whilst sharing personal stories to illustrate the importance of allowing emotions to be processed and metabolised, whilst emphasizing the significance of also supporting children's intuition.
The episode underscores the need for self-awareness and daily practice in building a healthy relationship with emotions, both for adults and children.
00:00 Welcome to Raising Empowered Humans Series
01:21 Introduction to Emotional Harmony
02:02 The Importance of Emotional Harmony
03:25 Understanding Emotions as Energy
05:27 Rebecca's Story: A Lesson in Emotional Expression
09:50 Three Ways to Nurture Emotional Harmony
09:56 Tuning Into Your Body's Emotional Signals
13:36 Practicing Non-Judgment with Emotions
19:23 Using Breath to Support Emotional Energy
Enjoy this chat with Sonia Bestulic; and remember to share it with family, friends and colleagues who you know will benefit.
May we all continue to flourish together…
The Chatabout Children Team.
Links:
Chatabout Children
https://soniabestulic.com.au/chatabout-children-podcast/
Flourish with Sonia
https://soniabestulic.com.au/
Connect with Sonia on Instagram
@bestulic_sonia
Remember to subscribe, rate and review the Chatabout Children Podcast
chataboutchildren.com/itunes
chataboutchildren.com/spotify
chataboutchildren.com/stitcher
chataboutchildren.com/tunein
chataboutchildren.com/google
PODCAST DISCLAIMER
Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only.
Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener.
The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday Wisdom is Sonia’s monthly episode offering a wedge of wisdom that invites you to an enriched pathway to flourish across all areas of life.
These episodes are an audio version of Sonia’s popular LinkedIn newsletter series; ‘What Did you Forget?’
Remember to sign up to Sonia’s newsletter at www.soniabestulic.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR HEART & SOUL LEAD THE WAY?
The universe says ‘YES’.
I cheerlead all those actioning their goals and dreams; with steps (big and small) each day.
And... for those who are sitting on the fence when it comes to actioning their goals and dreams... i invite you to jump down off the fence and let your heart and soul lead the way.
Enjoy mindful Monday moments...
Let us flourish together,
Sonia xo
Www.soniabestulic.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Hay House, NY Times Bestselling Author, Sonia Choquette; a globally renowned intuitive guide and spiritual teacher, to discuss the significance of intuition in Raising Empowered Children.
She shares the absolute importance of creating an environment where children can express their inner guidance without fear of judgment. By valuing and respecting children's perceptions, families can foster a culture of intuition that benefits everyone.
Empowering Moments
The Value of Intuition: Sonia reflects on her upbringing in a family that valued intuition as their sixth and most important sense, with her mother teaching her to trust her inner guidance. Sonia shares how this approach empowered her and her six siblings.
Passing the Tradition: Sonia raised her own children with a focus on intuition, leading to multiple generations embracing this empowered way of being. She highlights the significance of listening to children and creating a supportive environment.
Playful Activities and Open Communication: Sonia shares practical ways to nurture intuition in children whilst also strengthening family bonds.
Healing Potential of Intuition: Sonia reinforces the healing and transformative power of intuition, normalising this as an active use of six senses.
Resources: Sonia recommends valuable resources such as her books, 'Trust Your Vibes’ and ‘The Intuitive Spark’ for parents interested in fostering and strengthening their children's intuition.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Sonia Choquette
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Sonia Choquette
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The sun is fixed... the clouds pass.
Happy Monday mindful moments...
Let us flourish together.
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Master Astrologer and Business Strategist, Kim Woods, to discuss her insights on Raising Empowered Children.
Kim offers invaluable insights from her extensive and uniquely varied professional background. Prepare to be inspired as Kim shares her important perspective on merging feminine intuition with masculine logic to create a new paradigm of living and leading.
Empowering Moments
Kim's Why in Life: The journey from success-driven mindset to embracing wonder, magic, creativity, and joy. She shares the challenges with her son's developmental issues, and how this reshaped her perspective.
Raising Empowered Humans: Highlighting the importance of empowering children beyond traditional models; Kim shares more about the integration of intuition and energy work into mainstream practices.
Empowered Individuals: Kim shares how her now adult children, Nick and Katie are unique individuals with distinct characteristics; and how her raising of them as empowered humans has led her children to maturity, self-awareness, and inner authority.
Practical Strategies: Kim encourages us to avoid over-scheduling and foster open conversations from an early age. She was also open to embracing her personal growth across various modalities and sharing the learning with her children within areas such as, flower essences, acupressure, yoga and sound therapy for grounding and self-awareness.
And finally, Kim encourages humour and authenticity in parenting; helping us engage our children in meaningful conversations which will result in alignment and balance in their adult years.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Kim Woods.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Kim Woods
Connect with @kimwoodschannel on Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Recently there was an occurrence in which i experienced a bit of a 'shake up'. As much as there were short term lingering effects from this occurrence; the overriding experience was one of deep gratitude for being surrounded by and supported by incredibly heart led, authentic and genuine individuals.
The power of being in an energy of gratitude, practicing self-compassion, and being okay to accept help were further deepened.
I chose this lens; to be of greatest service to me and those around me... remembering this choice is to remember to reclaim your personal power.
Would love to learn your reflections on this... happy Monday mindful moments.
Let us flourish together!
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Karen McDermott, a multi-award-winning author, entrepreneur, and founder of various publishing ventures, including Serenity Press and KMD Books.
Karen shares her passion for motherhood and her journey as Mum of six children, raising her own empowered humans. She shares the importance of showing up and recognising that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting.
Empowering moments:
- Karen's Journey and Shaping Influences: How unconditional love and support provided a solid foundation for her life and, her experiences as a teenage Mum.
- Nurturing Relationships while Building Success: Balancing motherhood with life and work. And, Karen’s commitment to being present for her children while pursuing her dreams, empowering them to journey forward and pursue their own passions.
- Empowering Children and Setting Intentions: Karen shares her approach to intention setting and the importance of teaching children to work towards their goals while embracing struggles as opportunities for growth.
- Law of Attraction and Raising Empowered Humans: Karen explains the principles of the law of attraction, focusing on maintaining high-frequency emotions such as joy and gratitude to manifest desired outcome and, how to share this message with children.
- Defining Goals and Creating Space: The importance of clarity in defining goals, Karen encourages parents and caregivers to create space for their own growth and self-care.
- Ancient Wisdom and Final Thoughts: Karen shares her favourite ancient wisdom message, highlighting the importance of allowing children to grow, nurturing their curiosity, and offering unconditional love and support.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Karen McDermott.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Karen
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TIME TO UPVIBE… with my Monday Mindful Moments ✨
As many of you already know, i work extensively with individuals, groups and organisational teams on the science and art of upvibing...
…that is; the practice of increasing your personal energetic vibration, to align your hearts desires, and divine gifts with your outer reality; to flourish!
When you learn how to nurture your energetics; it results in incredible clarity, productivity, collaboration, and personal fulfilment.
🙋♀️Guess who benefits from this?
You, your homeplace, your business/ your workplace, the greater community.
📣ANNOUNCEMENT…
I’m considering hosting an ‘UPVIBE in FIVE’ a 5 day upvibe challenge!
DM me or leave a comment if you’d be keen to join this challenge as an individual or within your organisation.
Happy Monday mindful moments…
Let us flourish together!
Sonia xx
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join Sonia Bestulic in this Raising Empowered Humans Series as she navigates the transformative power of thoughts and words in parenting; or working with children. Dive into practical strategies to cultivate positive self-communication and empower both yourself and the children in your life.
Empowering moments:
- Sonia explores the significance of mastering self-communication as a life skill for fostering healthy relationships with oneself and others.
- Understanding the cycle from thoughts to actions and results as a pathway to empowerment.
- How through challenging thoughts, one can shift feelings and actions towards more positive outcomes.
- A poignant example from one of Sonia’s clients whose power of thoughts helped him overcome his stutter and shape reality.
- Sonia shares 4 KEY STEPS to responding to children when they have unhelpful self-communication.
- Practical strategies are shared for you to enhance self-awareness of your thoughts and words and start to shift them immediately to foster resilience and growth in both personal and parental journeys.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday Wisdom is Sonia’s monthly episode offering a wedge of wisdom that invites you to an enriched pathway to flourish across all areas of life.
These episodes are an audio version of Sonia’s popular LinkedIn newsletter series; ‘What Did you Forget?’
Remember to sign up to Sonia’s newsletter at www.soniabestulic.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
HEART LED LIVING ACROSS ALL AREAS IN LIFE... is being of highest service to yourself and the world.
No doubt many of you can relate to the exhaustion of the inner battle between head and heart; it is an all too common one... until one learns how to do differently; committing to leading life from the heart; and honouring the inner wisdom contained within it.
What can you do today to honour a heart led way of being?
Enjoy mindful moments reflecting - and actioning this...
May we flourish together; Happy Monday!
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes The CEO Magazine's Co-Founder Anna Dutton, to discuss her insights on Raising Empowered Children.
Anna shares practical strategies for maintaining balance in family life and, her insights on raising empowered individuals through leadership principles, personal reflections, and boundaries.
Empowering Moments
- Childhood Influences - Anna's independence and resilience stems from her strong female role models, including her mother's entrepreneurial spirit, her grandmother's financial independence, and her father's emphasis on health and fitness.
- Parenting Insights - The value of demonstrating strength, upholding personal values, and encouraging children to seek assistance. This will foster curiosity, authenticity, and determination.
- Setting Personal Boundaries - Anna discusses the importance of understanding personal values and boundaries, emphasizing the power of saying no and communication.
- Navigating Technology and Time Boundaries - Anna provides insights on managing technology usage and setting time boundaries for children, emphasizing consistency and awareness of risks.
- ‘Golden Time’ and Listening - The value of quality time with children, highlighting active listening and empathy for supporting their emotional well-being.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Anna Dutton.
Links
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Anna Dutton
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CREATING SPACE TO RECEIVE IS AN INTENTION & ACTION...
🙏 The process of embodying gratitude for the gifts from our past is an important step in opening ourselves to new possibilities.
✨ It is a process i guide individuals through at a deep level, to facilitate healing, transformation and manifestation.
What gifts from the past are you ready to embody?
Enjoy mindful moments reflecting - and actioning this...
May we flourish together; Happy Monday!
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the 'Raising Empowered Humans’ Series, we are joined by David Meltzer; World Renowned Sports Executive, Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur.
David’s mission - to empower over 1 billion people to be happy! Empowering 1000 people to empower 1000 more, creating a collective consciousness of abundance and happiness. These are principles we can share with our children.
Empowering Moments
- Empowerment in Childhood - The beginning of David's belief system and the patience of his single Mum, who raised six children while working two jobs.
- Accountability and Personal Growth - Accountability involves asking oneself what they did to contribute to a situation, forgiving those imperfections, and enjoying the learning process rather than punishing oneself.
- Manifest Everything you Desire - Defined as the ability to learn from unplanned circumstances and attracted experiences through gratitude and forgiveness.
- Reconciling the opposites - Teach children to be productive, accessible, and gracious while pursuing their potential, with faith that good outcomes will result from doing one's best and having fun.
- How to give children the ability to find peace and control in the face of challenges.
- Teaching Children Abundance and Financial Wellness – with 66% of 4-12 yr olds worrying about cost of living, David share’s how parents can teach children an abundance mindset to overcome scarcity mentality
- Empowering Families for Fulfillment and Goodness - Living in the present moment is key to happiness, health, wealth, and worthiness.
Sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic and David Meltzer.
CLAIM DAVID’S FREE GIFT FOR YOU! A COPY OF HIS BOOK: "Connected To Goodness By David Meltzer"
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
David Meltzer
Connect with David on Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
PRIORITISE BEING IN 'LIKE- HEARTED' COMPANY... this is a simple yet powerful way to be of highest service to your elevated self-care.
Who comes to mind when you consider like-hearted people in your network?
How do you plan to grow and expand this network for the remainder of 2024?
Enjoy mindful moments reflecting - and actioning this...
May we flourish together; Happy Monday!
Sonia xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the 'Raising Empowered Humans Series, we delve into a profound conversation with Tory Archbold, founder and director of Powerful Steps. She shares insights from her book, "Self Belief is Your Superpower," and discusses the importance of self-belief in personal and professional growth.
Empowering Moments
- Childhood Influences - Tory reflects on her childhood experiences, being the eldest of four daughters and how she embraced her own authenticity.
- The Self-Belief Story - Learning from life's challenges, embracing discomfort, and trusting the process for personal and professional growth.
- Raising an Empowered Child - Tory's journey as a single Mum and the importance of surrounding her daughter with a supportive community.
- Looking after YOU! - The need to prioritise personal well-being for effective parenting and leadership while alignment with one's values and intentions.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic and Tory Archbold.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Tory Archbold - Powerful Steps
Connect with Tory on Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mindful Monday Moments with Sonia Bestulic is your 60 second dose of inspiration, motivation and revelation.
Sonia is renowned for her lifelong mission to creatively empower positive change and healing in the world; and it starts by empowering YOU.
Why? Because this empowers the young people in your life to flourish; collectively creating a flourishing future for humanity, the planet and beyond!
Ensure you check out www.soniabestulic.com to discover how Sonia can help you to flourish in any area of life and how she can help your family ecosystem flourish too.
May we all flourish together… x
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back to the Chatabout Children podcast where our host, Sonia Bestulic sets the stage in the inaugural episode of the "Raising Empowered Human" series.
This series is aimed at empowering parents, caregivers, and professionals working with children. With a diverse lineup of guests from around the globe, Sonia promises insightful conversations exploring principles and practices to 'Raising Empowered Humans'.
Rooted in her own journey as a speech pathologist and Author, Sonia shares 4 key Principals of Raising Empowered Humans:
- Nurturing Unconditional Love and Support of Self - The significance of nurturing unconditional love and support for children. She shares a poignant moment with her daughter that sparked deep self-exploration.
- Helping Kids Be Contributors and Acknowledge Their Contributions - empowering children to recognize and engage in contributions to their daily lives, fostering independence, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
- Practicing Gratitude - The transformative power of gratitude, encouraging expressions of appreciation in daily interactions and what family life centered around gratitude looks like.
- It's Okay to Ask for Help When You Need It -The importance of modeling vulnerability and asking for help when needed, reframing it as an act of courage rather than weakness.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Dani was 29, she got a tattoo which read, ‘to thy own self be true’. There is courage required to be true to yourself and she shares how she struggled with post-natal anxiety. Dani says, ‘It’s about leaning into the unknown, leaning into fear even though it is scary and not being afraid to be who you are’.
Children keep us young. We discuss the importance of play as this leads to being present. Sonia says, ‘Children are authentic, vulnerable humans and they remind us who we are.’ It’s important to keep those child-like qualities as an adult.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Dani Vee
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dani shares her own experience of Mother guilt and taking on the masculine stereotypical traits, rather than her own strengths of vulnerability and humour. Mother guilt is a real phenomenon – Dr Rose Sociologist discusses this in her research and she states that it comes from not meeting societal and cultural expectations. We discuss how to counteract this subconscious nature of being a ‘good mother’ or ‘good wife’ and the unrealistic expectations.
‘The golden thread of humanity is human connection’ says Sonia, ‘and this can only be achieved through vulnerability’. Sonia shares her tips for re-claiming our human-ness and says, ‘the challenge is not to be perfect, but to be whole.’ It’s all about giving yourself permission to be YOU and being accepting of your whole self. This should become our narrative - self-care in motherhood is not just a possibility; it is a necessity.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Dani Vee
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since our last chat with Dani Vee in Episode 67, she has released a picture book 'My EXTRAordinary Mum'.
In this episode we discuss, ‘Are you a human being or, a human-doing?’ As mums it can be easy to adopt an outer focus, and feel at a loss when it comes to our identity. Dani share’s the reason she wrote 'My EXTRAordinary Mum' after discussing her life with her children and realising they didn’t know who she was. ‘When you have children there is a breaking down of your identity. But, that’s ok – the positive side of breaking down is being able to re-build.’ Although it has been a difficult few years for us all, Dani has focused on celebrating the ‘wins’ and, more importantly, celebrating and practicing the celebration of others.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Connect with Dani Vee
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
According to Harvard’s longest study of adult life, relationships play the most important role in making human beings happy. Social connections not only enhance mental and emotional well-being, but they also affect our physical wellness. This fact is noticeably true even early in childhood. However, certain difficulties may affect a child’s ability to interact with his or her peers, teachers, and even family members. How can parents, teachers, and professionals help children develop great social skills? We bring in Alex Kelly to talk to us about this topic.
Alex Kelly is a speech and language therapist with over 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents who have difficulties with their social skills, self-esteem, and relationships. Alex is best known for being the author of 13 books including the hugely popular Talkabout Resources, a collection of books that teach social skills to children. Together with her husband, who was a teacher, Alex runs Speaking Space, a business that provides training and consultancy work as well as speech, language, and occupational therapies for over 40 local schools. The business also provides a day service to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Speaking Space is the only speech and therapy service in the United Kingdom to be accredited by the National Autism Society and the only day service in England to have advance status. Alex also conducts research and lectures internationally on her field of expertise.
Listen to my conversation with Alex Kelly and learn:
The critical role that social skills play in the lives of children. The definition of social skills. The components of social skills and how they develop from birth to school age. Why assertiveness is the final stage of social skills. Why getting help for social skills when your child is already at school is already quite late. The most common problems Alex encounters in her work. How important a child’s environment is in building his or her social skills. The relationship between self-awareness, self-esteem, and social skills. Being alone and not wanting friends is not necessarily a bad thing. How technology can help build social skills among children. Alex Kelly’s top three tips for teaching social skills to children. Find the child’s motivator and work with that. Look at the child’s environment and modify it to support the child’s confidence. Teach social skills in a safe space.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Alex Kelly.
Listen to the full episode here.
Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Alex Kelly’s website Alex Kelly’s work website
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Even if we wish they were, our children will never be immune from the setbacks and failures inherent in life. These setbacks could be experienced by our children very early on, whether they be in the form of friendship dramas, academic pressure, or internal self-doubt. Getting back up after a setback is what we call resilience. Resilience is therefore an important skill to teach our children. In this episode of Chatabout Children™, we bring in author Michelle Mitchell to talk to us about how parents can raise resilient children.
Michelle Mitchell is an award-winning speaker, author, and educator who has incorporated years of grassroots experience into her books. After leaving her profession as a primary school teacher, Michelle focused on helping teenagers, particularly teenage girls, learn vital life skills to support them while at school. Her latest book, Everyday Resilience: Helping Kids Handle Friendship Drama, Academic Pressure, and the Self-Doubt of Growing Up, tackles the very interesting topic of teaching resilience to children and teenagers, and we ask her to talk more about this subject in this episode.
Key Learnings: - How Michelle transitioned from being a primary school teacher to teaching kids how to be resilient. - Michelle explains “Resilience is the capacity to thrive regardless of the circumstances’ and shares the importance and challenge of connecting with your child. - The seven characteristics of a resilient child - She shares some strategies on helping children develop resilience in their everyday lives, for both girls and boys. - Addressing a child’s “I can’t” mindset - Teaching why it’s okay for kids to start doing something poorly. -We discuss perfectionism in kids.
Michelle says to parents and educators - It’s all about connection. Connecting with our kids is vital. Kids need the loving support of adults in their life so that they are not afraid to take risks. In replace of being connected, sometimes we over-parent kids, whereas we really need to be focusing on connection and allowing our children to fail.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Michelle Mitchell.
Listen to the original episode here.
Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Michelle Michell Follow @michellemitchellspeaker on Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Attention is a very basic skill for human beings, so basic that we don’t usually talk about it.
But for some, attention is not a skill that comes easily and this problem can emanate early in childhood. This is where Occupational Therapists like Jacky Peile enter. They help children with attention difficulties live a better life. In this first episode of a two-part series, we chat with Jacky about attention, learning, and your child.
Jacky Peile established EarlyLinks in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire in Australia in 2010. Today, she leads a team of occupational therapists who support children, teens, and young adults with anxiety and sensory-processing difficulties through practical strategies that make their daily life easier.
Key Learnings What attention is and how it develops early in life. How attention problems arise in childhood. How a shift in a child’s social environment (i.e. pre-school to school) affects attention The different subtypes of attention: shared attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. The relationship between motivation and attention. How a child develops divided attention. How parents can identify attention issues in their child and when they should get professional help. What sensory-processing difficulties are and how they are related to a child’s ability to sustain attention The “Purple Mat” technique to teach your child selective attention
Jacky’s questions for parents who want to test children for attention difficulties before consulting a professional: Can your child maintain attention to something that is important or motivating to him or her? Can your child achieve basic short periods of attention?
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Jacky Peile.
Listen to Part One and Part Two of the Attention, Learning and your Child episodes.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic
Early Links
Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this week’s episode of the Chatabout Children™ Podcast we sit down with dietitian Monica Kubizniak, where we will talk about food fuel for effective learning.
Monica completed her Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2000. Since graduating, she’s worked in community health centers, hospitals, and private practice both here in Australia and overseas.
Monica is not only a dietitian but also a mum to 3 young kids. So, we ask her how she practises her expertise in food and nutrition at home. She gives us her top tips for creating healthy filling meals to help sustain our children as they grow and learn. In this episode Monica and Sonia Bestulic also discuss: Why she advises parents against cooking more than one meal for families with more than one child. How she teaches and encourages her kids to listen to what their bodies are telling them — to cues — about fuelling and refueling themselves; something they will bring with them when they become adolescents. What are the best foods to give your preschool or school-age child for learning, concentration, and attention. A typical day for a dietitian with three kids. She shares the actual food she prepares for her kids’ breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner. The common culprits that we find in the lunch box of a typical Australian child. How to cope with the imperfect days when you don’t have time to buy, or prepare, healthy food for your child. Monica’s Top After School or Morning Tea Snack Ideas for Kids What everyone should know about the harmful effect of nitrates in your body and the healthier options available in the market.
When I asked Monica about her top 3 healthy snack ideas to prepare for kids, she gave me more than 3, which is amazing. Here are her top 7 snack ideas: Whole grain toast with toppings like avocado, baked beans, egg or peanut butter Nuts Savory muffins Mini frittatas Yogurts Smoothies with low-fat milk and fruits Soups – chicken and veggie or lentil and veggie
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Monica Kubizniak.
Listen to the full episode here
Links: Chatabout Children Book an appointment with Monia
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children™ Podcast, we look at the foundations of learning to read and spell with a real focus on pre-schoolers. This is part 2 of this comprehensive topic and a guide can be found in Sonia’s e-book - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell.
In part 1 we talked about practical strategies, speech and language milestones for 3-5 year olds, what to do if you are concerned that your child is not reaching those milestones, and oral language skills. You can listen to Part 1 here.
How oral language is linked to literacy In the preschool period and early schooling, the real focus is for children to receive life experiences that are going to enrich their vocabulary. So, it’s really about having fun and incorporating things in your everyday life, and it’s not about sitting at a tabletop and forcing your child to learn to read or spell. Because those life experiences will build their vocabulary and their view of how things operate in the real world. Think about this: your child starts out by learning to read. And as they grow older, they are reading to learn.
Phonological awareness What is it? Phonological awareness is the conscious awareness of the sounds of language and that ability to reflect on the sounds in words. For example, preschool children start to notice the following: Words that rhyme: mum and drum Words that sound odd Words with the same sound beginning Engaging a lot in sound play – making their own words and rhymes
5 ways to build phonological awareness Here are the 5 ways to build phonological awareness: Syllable counting – learning how to break up words into smaller parts makes it easier for children to spell long words. For example: Break the word caterpillar into cat-er-pil-lar. Another tip: To make it fun, you can clap out the syllables. Rhyme time – is a great way to learn new words and get kids to think about how words can relate to each other. It sets the foundation to learn about word families and sounds that letters can make. For example: ‘fight’ and ‘night’ belong to the same word family. Hearing the first sound in a word – You can start with family names from photos. For “Here’s Sally. What’s the first sound that we hear when we say Sally?” Another tip: You can use catalogues from supermarkets and let your child identify the first sound of products. Sounding out words – It’s not about the spelling of words, it’s about the sounds. Focus on words with a structure of 2 to 3 sounds like bin, dog, cat, go. Another tip: Use coloured counters. Alphabet – learning and reinforcing the alphabet in everyday life. The car is a great place where you can do a lot of these activities like street signs, shop signs, billboards, etc.
Listening and attention skills Being able to focus, pay attention and listen is so crucial to skill development, particularly for children looking to start school. There’s got to be that important foundation because they are going to an environment so different to their home environment. If you are concerned about your child’s attention or listening skills, you can do the activities that we already talked about or sharing books within a daily book routine will help build their concentration skills.
My comment on apps There’s lots of great apps that help with learning to read and spell, but there’s a popular one called Reading Egg. https://readingeggs.com/apps/ You should check it out. But be very mindful of screen time, a topic that I discussed in the last episode.
It is good practice, a year before going to school, to have your child checked for the following: vision checked, particularly by a behavioural optometrist. ears and hearing checked fine and gross motor skills
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she shares the foundations for reading and spelling.
Resources: Reading Eggs Chatabout Children 079 – Foundations for Reading & Spelling Part 2 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell
Links: Chatabout Children
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Chatabout Children™ Podcast, we look at the foundations of learning to read and spell with a real focus on preschoolers – children who are from 3 to 5 years of age. This is part 1 of this comprehensive topic and a guide can be found in Sonia’s e-book - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell
Speech and Language Milestones
Learning to speak and communicate is a crucial part of a child’s development because it will help them progress in their early school years in terms of mastering those rules of language.
Even though development will vary for each child, it is important to have a rough guide (or milestones) as to what typical development is and you can ascertain if your child might need a bit more help.
3 years of age Children at 3 years of age understand more complex directions (2-part instructions), WH Questions (What, Where and Who). Different concepts, and they can sort items into groups when asked. In terms of expressive language, they are able to say 4-5 words in a sentence and they start to have a conversation with you. When it comes to play skills, this is the age when they start playing beside other children and start role playing games
4 years of age Children at 4 years of age children understand most questions about their daily routine, more WH questions (and answer those related to a story they just heard), and they are showing an awareness that words may start or finish with the same sounds. In terms of their speaking, sentences are longer now, making use of connecting words (and, but, because), they are able to describe or recount something that they had just done, asking a lot of questions, and you’ll also notice lots of concepts developing. As to play skills, they are now playing in small groups, they are continuing their pretend play and they are starting to play games with simple rules.
5 years of age Children at 5 years of age understand longer instructions (3-part instructions), starting to understand “before and after instructions” and they understand instructions without having to stop and listen. They start speaking well-formed sentences understood by most people, turn-taking in a longer conversation, and tell simple stories with a beginning, middle and end. Play continues to be quite imaginative, they start to negotiate, you’ll find that they include other things — things they haven’t experienced like space.
Speech sounds At 4 years of age, a child can say most of the consonant and vowels sounds correctly, and between 4 and 5 some of their pre-literacy skills start to be a little bit reinforced — rhyming words and syllables. At age 5, they may still have a bit of trouble with the r sound, replacing it with w like “wabbit” instead of “rabbi”. Also, they confuse the th sound with an f sound like “fank you” instead of “thank you”. Another common one is a lisp, where the s goes to a th sound like “it’s thunny outside” instead of “it’s sunny outside”.
A child speaking another language at home (aside from English) If you speak a foreign language at home, you can still use the milestones I mentioned earlier as a guide and apply to the dominant language spoken at home. But if you are still not convinced, it is best to consult with a speech pathologist about this.
What to do if you are concerned after learning the milestones? If you are concerned that your child has not reached the milestones we discussed earlier at her age level, then have a chat with your medical professional or family doctor, get the child’s hearing checked or contact your local speech pathologist.
6 practical, easy-to-apply strategies on how to power up your child’s vocabulary Children between 2 and 5 years of age learn at a really extraordinary pace. They understand and remember words that they may have heard once or twice (warning: be careful with your own language). So a strong vocabulary helps a child to create a message and information that they want to express successfully.
Here’s how you can encourage the growth of your child’s vocabulary in 6 easy ways: Interactive book-sharing – Make book-reading engaging and a little bit more fun, not just one-way. Go to your local library for variety and to save on costs. Download the PDF guide Interactive Book Sharing Speak to your child using a variety of words – Be mindful of your own vocabulary. Rather than using just one word to describe something, add other words that give the same meaning (e.g. for “big” use also “enormous”, “huge”, “gigantic” etc.) Be specific and descriptive – The more words your child hears daily, the more they will likely absorb them and use them. For “teddy bear” say “teddy bear with the blue pants and striped shirt” instead, for example. Use everyday life opportunities to reinforce words and alphabet – Those routines that happen every day are perfect for you to talk to your child about what’s happening at that time. For example, at bath time say: “Pouring water in the big blue cup. Pouring, pouring, pouring.” Make label cards for items around the house – For example, in a bedroom, label simple words like a bed or a rug and also talk about the letters and the sounds they make in those words like b for bed. Look at sorting common household items – This will help your child organize information in their brain and gives them a chance to see what they’re hearing. For example sorting socks, shoes, or pencils by colour or size.
Screen time habits
Screen time is so easily accessible these days and it is said to contribute to a language delay and social skills difficulties especially if the screentime is so excessive that it takes away from human interaction time.
One of the parenting websites here in Australia recommends that children under 2 years of age should have to steer clear of the screen altogether, which I did for my own children. For Children 2-5 years of age, the recommendation is no more than an hour a day and for 5-18 year olds, it should be no more than 2 hours a day. In essence, just exercise some common sense and moderation when it comes to screen time and it should not replace human interaction.
You’ve now had an understanding of the milestones for speech sound, language and play skills. For any other concerns, please seek the advice of a medical professional.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she discusses Foundations for Reading and Writing.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Resources:
E BOOK - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell
Download the PDF guide Interactive Book Sharing
Toddler Communication Checklists
Top 10 Tips to Nurture Confident Communication in Kids
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is money an openly talked about topic in your family? Most of the time, our frustration comes when children want us to buy them what they want even though they don’t need it. As parents, we often consider our finances before any buying decision. But do we include our kids in the conversation? If you’re someone who struggles with saying ‘no’ to your kids when they frantically beg you to buy them another toy to add to their never-ending collection, today’s episode is for you. With me today is Melissa Meagher who took her passion for finance and making a difference in people’s lives to create her own money-coaching business called ‘Talking Money.’ She is a financial advisor who is also a mother of two.
Melissa shares her top tips for talking money with kids. She shares the most common obstacles that people need to overcome; how to be conscious about what we say and the impact money can have on relationships. She reveals practical ways to help kids understand the value and importance of money, and how to handle money better in this modern era, including common trends like credit cards for kids.
Money chat should be a normalized daily conversation. Melissa says, ‘Talk to your kids about money in everyday life, as if it’s a normal thing. Don’t make it this thing you’ve got to sit down and have this big conversation about it.’ She shares how we can encourage healthy money mindsets, shape children’s reasoning as they handle money growing up, and how we can reframe language and be more conscious of the words we use in addressing money matters with our children. ‘Get your children involved with making family money decisions so you get their buy-in and their involvement.’
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Melissa Meagher.
Links: Chatabout Children
Talking Money Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn Taking Money Facebook
References: Pocket Money Calculator and Card Savings Goal Calculator Budget Planner 45 Minute Strategy Session
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Raising a child has never been easy. Raising a strong confident child, during a pandemic, is even harder. To learn how this is possible, I sit down with Dr. Louise Metcalf to discuss ways to look after our children’s wellbeing. We specifically talk about how we can teach our children to be more resilient and adaptable, so they can enjoy life as kids while becoming more eager to face the challenges of life growing up.
We discuss the definition of resilience and adaptability, the makings of a strong and confident child and, how we help our kids discover their strengths and find ways to use them. Dr Louise shares how we can manage anxiety in our kids particularly during the COVID pandemic. Dr Louise says “Tell your kids what you like about them as a person – it’s about recognising self-worth.” Her advice to parents and carers is to slow down, practice relaxation and self-care, meditate, teach your kids how to meditate and remember to just stop and breathe. We discuss some of the reasons we’re observing these mental health issues in kids nowadays and how, after years of supporting children with anxiety and mental wellbeing, Dr Louise had the idea for a robot that can help kids with their anxiety. It came in the form of an app called ‘Gheorg’. The Friendly Robot empowers children with emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing. ‘Build a village around your kids, the village should be quite big’ says Dr Louise ‘Gheorg can be part of that village.’
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dr Louise Metcalf.
Links: Listen to the full episode here Chatabout Children Connect with Dr Louise Metcalf on LinkedIn Download ‘Gheorg’ here
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In our previous chat with Julia Pappas, we talked about what emotions are, what emotional development is, and how we regulate emotions. We’ve learned that our ability to acknowledge, express, and regulate emotion is a very crucial life skill and fortunately, as parents, we can teach this skill to our children.
In this episode, we’re diving a bit deeper and discussing how to strengthen emotional wellbeing. We tackle specific strategies and tools that we can use to nurture that strength in our children, such as building emotional vocabulary, storytelling, simple observation, and so much more.
Julia shares some common issues parents have when dealing with their child’s emotional wellbeing and how their emotions might translate into behaviours when the child’s needs are not met.
No child comes with a parenting manual. Julia re-assures all parents that there is support. She shares the skills which are needed to strengthen our child’s emotional wellbeing and the difference between teaching the recognition of emotions and teaching emotional regulation. Julia gives us some real-life examples of situations wherein a child may still not have developed the skills needed for emotional wellbeing and how we can best respond to them.
The first step is to be observant. Whenever you are noticing a negative behaviour or the way a specific emotion is expressed, ride that out. This is what I see; this is a challenge. Then flip it into, this is what I would like to see instead. Be specific about the skills you want your child to learn. Ask yourself, What would I like my child to be able to do, to express, to show? And how can I teach that?
It is important to remember, even in the midst of a meltdown, that your child is trying to communicate. Remember that emotions and behaviour are devices to communicate a need. Knowing ourselves as parents, how we process emotions, and how we support our own emotional wellbeing will help us in guiding that process in teaching and modelling to the child.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Julia Pappas.
Links Chatabout Children
Julia’s website
The Parenting Presence Podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Raising children is not only a fulfilling and rewarding experience in itself but also one that is quite challenging – especially when we see our kids having temper tantrums, mood swings, and getting upset over the smallest things. Sometimes, these situations can leave us feeling frustrated, guilty, and shameful when we don’t handle them well. We wish our child would just remain calm all the time and respond positively in the face of disappointing situations but could that even be possible? Fortunately, our guest knows a thing or two on how to regulate our child’s emotions and regulating our own emotions as parents as well. In this Chatabout Children episode, our guest Julia Pappas, introduces us to the topic of emotional development. She shares why it is so important, and how we can help our children develop this valuable skill throughout life (without becoming an emotional mess).
We start by defining emotions and the four core emotions she wants all parents to understand. We look at how social-emotional development develops from birth to toddler years to up until our child enters school. The three pillars of appropriate emotional development are ‘You’re ok, your needs are ok and your emotions are ok’ says Julia. As the adult care-taker, we need to have the self-awareness and emotional maturity to reinforce these pillars.
We also discuss parent guilt when we are not able to regulate our own emotions and tips on how to respond to our child having a tantrum - Make sure we are ready. Show up fully regulated ourselves. Recognize that the tantrum is an escalation of our child’s emotions because their need was not met. ‘When an adult is fine with whatever the child is feeling, then the child will be as well.’ Says Julia.
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Julia Pappas.
Links:
Chatabout Children
Julia’s website
The Parenting Presence podcast
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In today's episode, we chat with Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen, the Vice President and Chair of Learning Through Play at the LEGO Foundation in Denmark. He spent 9 years building the research agenda and organizational expertise on children's development, play, and learning to enable the LEGO Foundation to be the leading authority on Learning Through Play.
The process of "learning through play" is a long-term game. LEGO builds skills for life. Regulation, manipulation, symbol recondition, muscle building and cognitive learning are all bonus’ of learning through play. Free-play teaches children to deal with change and uncertainty which is a skill needed for success in adulthood. So, by allowing children to play, create, build and problem solve is a valuable skill needed for their future.
Dr. Bo's wise advice to parents during their children's playtime: ‘Do not set your expectations, always to be the one who knows everything, but instead acknowledge uncertainty and help to ask questions, reflect and explore ideas. The goal is to equip children to make decisions and learn. We cannot do it for them. Always reflect and say, "How can we facilitate play?". Children need time, and an open from structure, to be able to ask questions, reflect, and contribute. ‘It’s the best way for them grow up and learn to make decisions on their own.’
Educators, have a different role in play. First and foremost, the goal is to balance the instruction with project based learning and free play. Work with the school leadership to embed playful learning as part of longer sessions. Stitch topics together, embed collaboration, creativity and knowledge into that. ‘Be less concerned about failing as instructors, and just show the source of knowledge’ says Dr. Bo. Invite students to think about creative problems, projects, and collaborations. Allow them to assess what they are doing.
So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen.
Links:
Chatabout Children
LEGO Foundation
Join the Free LEGO Foundation Course
LEGO Foundation Facebook
LEGO Foundation Twitter
LEGO Foundation LinkedIn
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Joining us today on the children’s author spotlight, we speak with Dave Pow Tabain. Dave is a three-time World Kettle Bell Champion, motivational speaker and creator of the 30 Day Challenge which inspires thousands of people around the world to achieve their best and face their challenge. He is also the author of the ‘POWman’ books which aim to teach children how to turn bullying into a positive experience.
Before he was an author, Dave grew up in a small country town which came which difficulties. After failing high school English, along with negative mental health experiences, he came to a realisation - ‘When you see what you don’t want to become, you get to a point where the only option is to do something about it.’ So, Dave started Australia’s first kettlebell gym, in a backyard, and actively made choices to change his life. The question then becomes - How can I make this great?
Dave shares his mindset during his first kettlebell championship. ‘I remember stepping onto the platform and the guy who was winning at the time, was making fun of me.’ This just motivated Dave to push harder. ‘My first mindset was to prove myself and that evolved into creating a pathway for myself.’ Dave wanted to use his championship wins to inspire others to look after their own lives. ‘These last few years I have gone within. I’ve taken the energy from kettlebell lifting and turned it towards the books’ says Dave.
There are three books in the POWman series. Book one is ‘Unleash the Hero Within’, then ‘Discover the Strength Within’ and the third being ‘Find the Courage Within.’ Dave tours around to different schools and shares the impact meeting POWman has on the kids. ‘We get all the kids from the school together and I help them to picture themselves in the story and feeling what it would be like. The goal is for them to read a story, which then inspires them to be their best selves.’ Dave goes on to say, ‘I can’t take away the pressure from these kids, but I can teach them how to grow through what they go through.’ In each book Dave has included a ‘POWplan’ where kids learn to strategize around a particular situation. ‘We’ve seen kids who are becoming bullyproof’ says Dave.
So, what are Dave’s top tips for parents and carers who feel the pressure of becoming the perfect role model? ‘Remove the idea of perfect. A superhero’s superpower is rising to occasion in challenging times.’ Dave says parents need to ‘drop the perfectionism and teach your kids that no matter how bad the day is, we can fight again the next day.’
So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dave Pow Tabain.
Links: Get a copy of ‘POWman’ Join the ‘Creating Change In 2021 with Dave POW Tabain’ group on Facebook Follow @davepowtabain on Instagram
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a rating, and review: chataboutchildren.com/itunes chataboutchildren.com/spotify chataboutchildren.com/stitcher chataboutchildren.com/tunein chataboutchildren.com/google
PODCAST DISCLAIMER
Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only.
Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener.
The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional.
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ADHD is a huge topic area for discussion; with so many questions attached! So what exactly is it? What is it not? Why is it so often missed? Misunderstood? And what approach works to best help our children with an ADHD diagnosis? I was keen to explore this further, and did so with the exceptional Simon Da Roza; who has over 33 years teaching experience and a specialised passion for helping kids and families with ADHD. Enjoy the chat, and remember to share with family, friends and with colleagues who you know will benefit.
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What a treat to have the amazing award-winning Author, Josh Langley join me for a chat! Josh is an inspirational mental health advocate; whose book series, latest course for kids, and latest book "Wildly Kind" is changing the lives of children around the world. This is an important chat to tune in to, as I know for parents/ carers and professionals working with children; there is a collective movement and wish, to have kids develop not just a strong relationship with themselves; but also with others, and the world around them. Is kindness the superpower to do this? Enjoy this insightful chat with the talented Josh Langley.
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What can we learn from Danish parents? After all, Denmark has been voted the happiest country on the planet for 40 consecutive years?! I share a fascinating chat with Jessica Joelle Alexander, the Bestselling Author, Journalist, Danish Parenting Expert and Cultural Researcher. Her book “The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident Capable Kids" is published in over 28 countries. This chat with Jessica is overflowing with inspiration, and wonderful ways we can incorporate simple, yet deeply meaningful approaches in our daily lives with the children we share our world with. Enjoy this beautiful chat!
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SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY MASH UP EPISODE! Excited to be sharing something a little different in this episode; themed to honour mothers and celebrate children. Multiple guests join the show, as we wrap up our five episode special self-care series. Not only will you hear from my three children - you will also relish in words of wisdom from the wonderful Psychologist and Yoga Teacher, Miranda Watkins; Founder of Evolve Wellbeing; AND be empowered and inspired by high profile entrepreneur and podcast host to one of Australia's top rating podcasts, Tory Archbold, who joins this episode with her teenage daughter Bella. Sit back, and enjoy this authentic, celebratory episode! Sonia x
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Dahlas Fletcher is known to many, around the globe, for her expertise when it comes to exercise and nutrition during and after pregnancy. Her specialised training approach makes her highly sought after. Dahlas continues to inspire women worldwide to nurture and cherish both their bodies and their minds, during the transitional time into motherhood and beyond. This is episode 4 of a 5 episode special self-care series inspired by the release of Flourish for Mums 21 ways to thrive with self-care and acceptance.
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Chatabout Children has joined podcast forces with the infamous Dani Vee from the Words and Nerds Podcast
We share a wide-ranging and super enriching chat covering fascinating topics; including: Books and their deep impact on our development, health, wellbeing and brains! The challenges and triumphs of self-care for artists and teachers Our personal stories, tips and practices that keep us doing the things we love.
You will absolutely love this chat, and I am so excited to have you join us!
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Wow-what a jam-packed chat with the wonderfully talented Children's Author, Georgie Donaghey. Georgie not only shares her own personal writing journey to publication; she also generously offers her renowned wisdom when it comes to writing; author school visits; kids writing workshops, adult writing workshops and events; and ALSO let us in on some HUGE NEWS! This is a must listen to the episode!
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The need to incorporate mindfulness in our day to day, is becoming increasingly important. Not just from a healthy mind point of view, but also as a means to experience our days with a deeper level of connection and joy. I enjoyed this chat with Jane Martino, published Author of a number of books, including her current series of six Thank You books, in partnership with Smiling Mind; a globally recognised tech-based not-for-profit (of which Jane is Chair and Co-Founder) serving 5.4 million people globally with its free mindfulness app; designed as an accessible and preventative mental health tool. Jane's work across her various platforms is changing lives, and today she shares her tips to strengthen kids' mindfulness muscles and reap the many rewards and benefits.
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Life can present various challenges to our children's world, whether it be within their social and/ or academic world, dealing with rejection, friendships, pressures of study - resilience is a quality we all hope for our children, AND can actually actively support! This is a valuable and super practical chat with author, speaker, and teacher, Michelle Mitchell! She shares with us fantastic tips and opportunities we can use in our everyday as parents or educators, to raise more resilient children. She also lends insight into the seven key traits of resilience, and offers strategies you can use right away! Enjoy the chat!!
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We chat to Jacky Peile, a proactive and super passionate Occupational Therapist, who gives us the low down on attention in children; how to build it, and knowing when it becomes a problem that needs that extra bit of support along the way. Jacky shares some valuable tips too that can be applied in your everyday, to help your child's attention!
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Fuelling children with the right foods can be a challenge sometimes, especially giving them the right fuel to maximise their learning and development. This episode we chat to a dietitian, Monica Kubizniak who helps us understand what to look out for when choosing and preparing food snacks and meals for children - especially within our busy lifestyles!
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In this episode, we get into some super practical strategies that you can apply in your everyday, with your child, or the children you work with. These valuable tips will help you consolidate those fundamental skills children need in preparation for them later learning to read and spell. NB i will NOT be recommending that you have your child tutored in order to ready them for school!
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In this episode of Chatabout Children Podcast, we look at the foundations of learning to read and spell with a real focus on preschoolers – children who are from 3 to 5 years of age. This is part 1 of this comprehensive topic, so I hope you stay tuned.
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We are celebrating Children's Book Week this week! In honour of the occasion, we have multi award nominated Author, Jane Smith joining me for a chat. Jane's latest series showcases the adventures of strong women from the past (in Australia and internationally). Jane certainly has a unique and enjoyable way for kids to learn and be inspired by these amazing women; whilst opening a doorway for kids to really value and appreciate their present by acknolwedging those gone before them and their remarkable lives. Jane also shares her insights and tips into what it takes to write a series for kids.
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Dr. Louise Metcalf is a psychologist with about 30 years of experience helping people create better lives and healthier brains. Louise has worked in multiple sectors as a psychologist and has a keen interest in positive psychological change. Louise values away 1 individual could make a difference and have a strong interest in brain health and resilience. After years of supporting children with anxiety and mental wellbeing, Louise had the idea for a robot that can help kids with their anxiety. now launched in app form, Gheorg The Friendly Robot empowers children with emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing through check-ins and meditation exercises.
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Have you ever had days when you were just so happy to be able to find the perfect song to accompany you while driving your car, getting to work, running a marathon, or even while putting your kids to bed? Regardless of what song you put on (or lullaby you sing), there's no denying that music has this amazing ability to affect our moods, boost our energy, bring back memories, and even sometimes, soothe our pain. Our guest today talks more about the wonderful benefits of music and how she uses it as a therapeutic tool in her practice working with families, children, young adults.
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In honour of Speech Pathology Awareness Week and this year’s theme ‘Communicating with Confidence’, Sonia Bestulic shares her top ten tips to nurture confident communication in kids. Sonia has been a speech and language pathologist for over 20 years now, having had the privilege of working with thousands of children and their families to support their communication development – both at oral and written communication levels for a variety of purposes.
She founded the Talking Heads Speech Pathology clinics in Sydney, Australia in 2006, which provides a speech pathology service to individuals of all ages. To find out more about speech pathology and communication disability, please visit
www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
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Do you have a child, or work with children born from the year 2010? Welcome to Generation Alpha! Today I share a fascinating chat with Ashley Fell, a researcher, specialised in understanding the world of this generation amongst exploring their common traits and characteristics! There are certainly interesting insights you will be keen to learn, and consider when looking to the years ahead with the Generation Alpha children in our lives. Enjoy the chat!
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What a fascinating chat today with Dr Daniel LeGoff the pioneer of Lego Based Therapy. So many people, for so many years around the globe have loved Lego® , and continue to love it, often with deeply fond childhood... and adult memories! Would you like to discover how Lego® can also be used to successfully foster children's social skills? Tune in to the chat, and remember to share this episode with family, freinds and with colleagues!
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You may be thinking of a puppy or dog as a new addition to your family; but dont know where to start? Or perhaps you already have a dog within your family dynamics; but want to ensure you are all living as harmoniously as possible. My chat today with Katie Saran sheds some light on considerations when it comes to choosing a dog suited to your family, as well as the common behaviours that she works to improve, to ensure positive pet relationships. Of course there is also mention of the growing number of benefits for children and dogs at various levels, as therapy dogs, or assistance dogs. Enjoy the chat with Katie, whose level of expertise allows her to work so holistically, and successfully with so many families who have dogs as a valued family member.
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The chat continues with the wonderful Julia Pappas. This time we delve into how to strengthen emotional wellbeing in our children (and ourselves too!); and discover what emotional wellbeing actually is anyway! Parenting and/ or working with children is an ongoing learning journey; and there are some fantastic insights shared by Julia today. Julia is Psychologist and a Parent Coach, who empowers parents to own their mission, discover limiting beliefs and parenting blocks, and helps develop essential skills so that parents can have the most fulfilling years of their life while raising children. Look forward to you joining the chat!
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A wonderful chat with Julia Pappas! A Psychologist and a Parent Coach, who empowers parents to own their mission, discover limiting beliefs and parenting blocks, and helps develop essential skills so that parents can have the most fulfilling years of their life while raising children. This episode Julia helps us understand; what emotional development looks like, how emotions are regulated and the factors influencing children's emotional development. This is part one of our chat. Part two, coming up next episode, will delve into how to strengthen children's emotional wellbeing (and ours too!). Enjoy the chat with Julia!
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Spotlight on Children's Author! episodes are a favourite. Today i share such a joyful chat with children's author Katrina McKelvey, who is celebrating the birth of her book baby, Isla's Family Tree. Katrina shares with us her journey to becoming a children's author, and the amazing rewards experienced. She also has fantastic tips and advice for kids reluctant to read or write, as well as how to nurture those kids who already love to read and write. And - if you (or your child) are an aspiring author, stay tuned to learn what easy and wonderful things you can do, along your journey to publication. Enjoy the chat with the delightful Katrina McKelvey!
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This is a definite listen to episode! I chat to Dr Kristy Goodwin about Digital Wellbeing. A super relevant topic for us all, living in a highly digitalised world. This episode is immensely value packed, as Kristy shares awesome tips and strategies to have our children (and possibly even ourselves!) learn healthy ways to use the digital world to thrive. Our chat will certainly have you in the driver's seat, confidently steering and navigating everchanging digital times with the children in our lives.
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Our previous, and very popular podcast episode was all about Gifted and Talented children (a recommended listen!). Today's chat is with Vanessa Ryan-Rendall, a passionate teacher who works to support Gifted and Talented children, and their teachers in the classroom. Vanessa shares her insights and practical strategies within the classroom context; with timely advice on how parents can also support their children's learning styles too! Enjoy the chat with Vanessa!
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Giftedness is usually equated with being a genius. Our guest for today thinks this isn't always the case and this stereotype can do more harm than good.
In my conversation with Melinda, we talk about how parents and educators can help gifted and twice-exceptional students succeed in life. Key Learnings
Tune in and learn: How the needs of her own children led Melinda to work in the area of giftedness What giftedness mean How giftedness differs from talent How a child is diagnosed for giftedness What are the early signs of giftedness Why gifted children are sometimes misunderstood Why the myth that giftedness = genius can do more harm than good The challenges of parenting a gifted child What twice-exceptional children are How to support gifted children at school What the AAEGT does Information about the Gifted Awareness Week Australia
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Sacha Kaluri is the CEO of The Motivational Company. In the past two decades, she has spoken in front of school groups, parents, teachers, universities, colleges, and government agencies about parenting. Her topics of expertise are careers, motivation, bullying, cyberbullying, and cyber safety, body image, stress management, teamwork, and leadership. Every year, she does more than 150 presentations on these topics. Sacha writes weekly columns at the Herald Sun and has authored the internationally acclaimed book The Two Worlds of Your Teenager. She is also the co-owner and founder of Australia’s largest youth educational event: The Australian Teenage Expo.
In this episode, we pick Sacha’s brain for her thoughts on how best to support our teens and tweens.
Key Learnings
Listen to my conversation with Sacha and learn:
• Some pointers on how to prepare yourself for your kids’ adolescent years • Why it’s important not to be too hard on yourself as a parent • The core things that parents need to foster with their children no matter what their age is • Why it’s so important to recognize what information to share and when to share them to your children as they advance in life • The importance of self-awareness in a teen’s or tween’s life • How parents can help their children make wise career choices • The top challenges that teens and tweens face in today’s current world • How parents could connect with other parents for support • An introduction to Sacha’s book The Two Worlds of Your Teenager • The story behind the Australia Teenage Expo
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Rich Stephens has lived with the physical, social, and emotional impact of stuttering since he was four years old. What made his situation worse was that he didn’t know anyone else who stuttered. He can’t confide any of his struggles and this led to feelings of loneliness and isolation. When he grew older, Rich realized that thousands of other children go through the same struggles he had as a child who stuttered. Today, Rich is determined to do something about this problem. He is now President of SAY Australia, the first international arm of SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young).
In my conversation with him, Rich shares his experiences of stuttering and opinions about how best to deal with the issue. Key Learnings
Listen to the episode and learn about: Rich’s experiences as a child who stuttered The psychological and social impact of stuttering on children Why educating the public about stuttering and how to talk with people who stutter is critical in improving their lives The correlation of stuttering and social anxiety and why it’s so important to address not just the former but also the latter What it felt like for Rich to finally meet someone who also stuttered Why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with stuttering Rich’s experience at Camp SAY How Rich help brought SAY in Australia SAY’s programs in Australia
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According to Harvard's longest study of adult life, relationships play the most important role in making human beings happy. Social connections not only enhance mental and emotional well-being, but they also affect our physical wellness. This fact is noticeably true even early in childhood. However, certain difficulties may affect a child’s ability to interact with his or her peers, teachers, and even family members. How can parents, teachers, and professionals help children develop great social skills? We bring in Alex Kelly to talk to us about this topic. Key Learnings
Listen to my conversation with Alex Kelly and learn: What got her into speech pathology How Alex realized she wanted to focus on social skills The critical role that social skills play in the lives of children The definition of social skills The components of social skills and how they develop from birth to school age Why assertiveness is the final stage of social skills Why getting help for social skills when your child is already at school is already quite late The most common problems Alex encounters in her work Some successful stories How important a child's environment is in building his or her social skills The relationship between self-awareness, self-esteem, and social skills Why being alone and not wanting friends is not necessarily a bad thing How technology can help build social skills among children How social skills learned at school could be transferred in home life
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Listen to my conversation with Sarah and learn: What Sarah was doing before Girl Geek Academy and what led her to this advocacy What a “hackathon” is How Sarah and her friends accidentally created the world’s first women’s hackathon The factors that created the gap between women and technology Sarah’s thoughts about what technology is How Sarah and her team also work with boys The story behind the Girl Geeks book series Sarah’s thoughts about screen time How learning technology could actually teach children social skills How Sarah keeps track of her team’s goal of inspiring one million women into technology by 2025
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Can children save the environment?
In this episode of Chatabout Children, we bring in award-winning child empowerment author Karen Tyrrell. Karen is a childhood teacher turn children’s book author whose Songbird series has sparked interest in many children about the wonders and importance of the environment. Her books have won various awards and recommendations as well as the admiration of Sir David Attenborough, an English broadcaster and natural historian. In my conversation with her, she shares her best advice on how parents and teachers can facilitate environmental awareness in young minds.
Key Learnings
Listen and learn about:
• Why Karen writes about the environment • What children need to know the most about saving the environment • Are children getting more environmentally aware? • Why spending time in nature and using your five senses while there is important • Awakening interest in nature in someone who is detached from the environment • The genesis of Karen’s Songbird book series • What’s happening with the bees at the moment • What children can do the take care of trees • What kids can do to keep the seas healthy • The letter Karen received from Sir David Attenborough • Greta Thunberg's example
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Our guest is Paul Russel, the author behind the children’s books My Storee, The Incurable Imagination, and Grandma Forgets. The latter was named a 2018 Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book. In this episode, we talked about Paul’s journey as a dyslexic who found success in the very thing he struggled with: words.
Key Learnings
Listen to my conversation with Paul Russell and learn: What inspired him to pursue teaching His childhood experiences while learning with dyslexia How he learned about his dyslexia How one can be successful despite dyslexia How Paul’s parents nurtured his creativity Paul's relationship with writing How Paul navigated his relationships with his peers What Paul would say to a dyslexic child who is avoiding school The story behind My Storee The power of picture books The story behind Grandma Forgets An inside peek into how Paul creates and writes his stories
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Today, we’re talking with Dianne Scott, a very experienced and passionate teacher, to tell us more about this important skill that every child has to have.
In this episode, Dianne and I talked about:
• How she realized she wanted to be a teacher • Why Dianne sees teaching as a way of life • The physical and cognitive skills needed for a child to learn writing • On parents’ fear of their children learning writing very early at school • How to use game and play teaching writing to your child • The relationship between drawing and writing • The biggest barriers children face in learning how to write • The effectiveness of breaking down writing into individual skills • Why put time limits when teaching a child to write • Involving other children in teaching writing to your child • Why you need to show that you value what your child is writing • The power of modeling • An introduction to Dianne’s Seven Steps to Writing Success program
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How do you encourage young children to read books? In the age of the Internet and electronic gadgets, is the library still relevant? Are there practical steps you could take to help your child fall in love with reading books? We talk about these questions and many more in this episode of Chatabout Children. Key Learnings
I talked with Megan about:
• What led her to become a teacher-librarian • What compelled her to write a book about nurturing a child’s love for reading • How to choose the right book to read to your child • Megan’s opinion on physical books versus eBooks • Why you should avoid mass-produced books in department stores and where to look instead • Why audiobooks are awesome • How teachers can inspire children to love books • How to make sure that our children balance reading with physical and social activities
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Bullying is one of the most common problems that school children experience. There are many strategies to approach this problem, and our guest for today offers one very effective strategy, and it has to do a lot with books. Key Learnings
• How Susanne’s experience as a refugee influenced her writing and work • Susan’s views on bullying • Practical know-how on how kids could help themselves or their friends face bullying • The importance of teaching children the context where they can communicate themselves most effectively • The story behind the book series “I am Jack” • Some signs that your child might be a victim of bullying • Two important support systems that will protect your child from bullying • How to understand the psychology of the bully • How to use “I am Jack” at school • The power of storybooks in coming inside a child's world • Why characters are so important in the success of stories • How books could teach little children about relationships • Why children need sunlight
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In this episode, we dive deeper into the countless benefits of interactive book sharing. Here, we also learn how to establish an effective reading or book sharing habit with your children, and, in case you already have one, we also tackle specific strategies you can use to maximize the time you invest in sharing books to them. Key Learnings The far-reaching benefits of sharing children’s books to children How sharing children’s books can help your child improve his or her vocabulary How reading books to children teach them grammar and sentence construction Why books are fantastic for fostering creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and innovation How reading books strengthen a child’s inferential thinking Reading books and a child’s predicting skills The relationship between reading and your child’s attention and ability to focus Why reading is a great way to expose children to the visual and auditory components of words How reading teaches children how to organize and sequence their ideas How reading develops a child’s communication and social skills as well as his or her educational opportunities Why books are powerful tools to teach your children empathy The difference between passive and interactive book sharing Tips for interactively sharing books with your child How to share a book with a quiet child The WH formula of asking questions when sharing a book to your child
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How could children’s books bridge the gap between parent and child in communicating emotional states? And just what goes behind the creation of a children’s books? That is what we talk about in this episode. What drives Josh in the work that he does How Josh wrote 7 books in 8 years! How writing about your own story makes it easier for you to write How Josh manages his ideas The story of how Josh learned how to draw The story of Josh’s first book, Being You is Enough The magic of writing and reading children’s books Why showing how we make friends with our emotions as parents have a powerful effect on our children Why listening—and not fixing the child’s emotions—is, sometimes, the best solution A teaser about Josh’s upcoming book, Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures: Finding the Good When Things Seem Bad. Josh’s “five-year” vision
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Sue Larkey is an autism specialist who has authored books and resources on the subject of autism spectrum disorders. Having taught students in the spectrum both at mainstream and a special autism school, Sue has a unique perspective on her area. In her work, she combines both knowledges from her practical experience and her extensive research in creating resources and interventions that inspire parents and educators to succeed in helping the children they love who are in the spectrum. Sue has a Master’s degree in Special Education and is currently taking up a Doctor in Education program focusing on inclusive education. Key Learnings What got Sue to be so passionate about autism spectrum disorders Current progress in our understanding of autism spectrum disorders The best way to understand what autism spectrum disorders are What “changes” after a child receives a diagnosis The overarching themes in Sue’s books, resources, and workshops The biggest area where educators need support within the classroom Strategies for encouraging the child to engage and connect Strategies for understanding and responding to the behaviour of children in the spectrum Why negative instructions don’t work well with children in the spectrum and what to do instead Recognizing the different sensory needs of children in the spectrum and responding to them effectively Strategies to help a child in the spectrum develop communication skills Playground tips and strategies
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, we talk about this range of learning-related problems that you and your child may already be facing. To talk about them and their available interventions, we've invited Tanya Barber. Key Learnings
• The difference between a clinical psychologist and an educational and developmental psychologist • The current state of specific learning difficulties based on Tanya's practice • What specific learning difficulty is • How specific learning difficulties were called in the past • How specific learning difficulties are diagnosed • What IQ tests are and how children with specific learning difficulties fare with them • What executive functioning is • The relationship between specific learning difficulties and attention problems • Red flags to watch on children that may have specific learning difficulties • Some success stories of children with specific learning difficulties • Learning styles of children with specific learning difficulties • Tanya's advice for educators • How to boost a child's self-image if he or she has a specific learning difficulty
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How can we teach our children to be effective, cautious users of the Internet? In this episode of Chatabout Children, we invited Kirra Pendergast to help us understand the difficult-to-navigate world of social media and the internet. Key Learnings How an incident at a previous job lead Kira to her current field The best age to teach children about social media and the best way to start doing so Trends, stats, and research on how parents introduce social media to their children How parents can monitor their children’s social media activity Examples of security child safety issues posed by children’s use of social media that parents are usually unaware of Parental controls that parents should take advantage of Behaviors parents should role model on their children with regards to social media use The best ways to describe social media platforms to children Children’s need for autonomy as they grow older Silent signs that something is wrong with your child in social media The importance of building trust-based relationship with your child
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Michelle Mitchell is an award-winning speaker, author, and educator who has incorporated years of grassroots experience into her books. After leaving her profession as a primary school teacher, Michelle focused on helping teenagers, particularly teenage girls, learn vital life skills to support them while at school. Key Learnings
• How Michelle transitioned from being a primary school teacher to teaching kids how to be resilient • What resilience is • The importance and challenge of connecting with your child • The seven characteristics of a resilient child • Strategies on helping children develop resilience in their everyday lives • Addressing a child’s “I can’t” mindset • Why it’s okay for kids to start doing something poorly • Perfectionism in kids
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, we talk with Robert Vescio, a children’s book author, about his work and his thoughts on how adults could help children nurture a love for the written word. What drives and inspires Robert in his work Where Robert gets his ideas for his writing The challenges that Robert face when writing Some memorable comments from students in a few of Robert’s school visits Robert’s thoughts on what makes a good children’s book Robert’s advice for parents struggling to read a book to their children Robert’s newly released and upcoming books The power of pictures Take-home Message for Parents who have Kids Who Want to Write Encourage them to try new things and tackle new projects Start small, don’t push them to do too much Expose them to good writing Try out different forms like writing to a friend Let them enjoy writing
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In today’s episode, we bring in Todd Widman from CrossFit Headquarters to talk about children and exercise. Todd is a husband and father to three children aged 12, 9, and 2 and a half who currently lives in Montana, USA.
Key Learnings How Tom found CrossFit How Tom decided to focus on training children and teenagers What CrossFit really is Why high intensity is relative to who is working out The importance of associating a workout with “fun” when teaching children how to exercise How CrossFit relates with the other sports that children engage into What contributes to the decline of physical activity among children and teenagers Myths about exercise The benefits of exercise to academic excellence How to fix the cycle of obesity in the family Tom’s top three benefits of exercise Tom’s vision for CrossFit in the future
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To talk about anxiety, we bring in Dr. Elizabeth Woodcock. Dr. Woodcock is a clinical psychologist who provides treatment for children and adults in her general private psychology practice.
Key Learnings
• The criteria of anxiety disorder in children • Factors that affect the rise of diagnosis of anxiety disorders in children • The common causes of anxiety disorders in children • How anxiety disorders go across the lifespan • How anxiety looks like in a child • The different kinds and categories of anxiety disorders • What parents should do first when they notice signs of anxiety in their children • Why the meaning we attach to a diagnosis is more important than the diagnosis itself • Signs of anxiety that parents should be aware of, particularly on schoolchildren • Addressing anxiety issues in toddlers • How a child can still live a fulfilled life despite an early diagnosis of anxiety
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To talk about anxiety, we bring in Dr. Elizabeth Woodcock. Dr. Woodcock is a clinical psychologist who provides treatment for children and adults in her general private psychology practice. She the director of the Selective Mutism Clinic in St. Leonard, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Woodcock completed her training at the University of New South Wales, after which she worked with children with severe psychiatric conditions at Westmead Hospital, among her other professional experiences. Aside from her clinical practice, Dr. Woodcock provides regular training seminars for parents and schools and supervision for professionals. In her 15 years of experience, she has seen and managed an extensive number of children, including those experiencing anxiety, making her a credible resource for this episode’s topic.
Key Learnings • The criteria of anxiety disorder in children • Factors that affect the rise of diagnosis of anxiety disorders in children • The common causes of anxiety disorders in children • How anxiety disorders go across the lifespan • How anxiety looks like in a child • The different kinds and categories of anxiety disorders • What parents should do first when they notice signs of anxiety in their children • Why the meaning we attach to a diagnosis is more important than the diagnosis itself • Signs of anxiety that parents should be aware of, particularly on schoolchildren • Addressing anxiety issues in toddlers • How a child can still live a fulfilled life despite an early diagnosis of anxiety
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In the previous episode, we brought Dr. Helen Tsamoulous to the show to give us an introduction to the most common behavioural problems present among children. In this episode, we take the conversation a step deeper and talk about the underlying causes of behavioural issues among children. How can parents and professionals work together to assure a better future for a child with behavioural issues, either diagnosed or undiagnosed? This question is what we try to answer in this episode of Chatabout Children.
Key Learnings
• The most common medical issues that may cause behavioural problems in children • The difference between typical behaviour and non-typical behaviour in children • How to work with a child whose comprehension has been compromised • A detailed description of Dr. Helen’s method and her team’s coordination while helping a child with a behavioural issue • What Dr. Helen says to parents who are anxious about the future, given their child’s behavioural issue • The importance of open communication in managing a child’s behavioural problem • The importance of having a strong support network, which consists of both family members and professionals
Dr. Helen’s Advice for Teachers Working with Children with Behavioral Issues
• Establish firm boundaries within the class system. • Be alert with behaviours that have a different underlying cause. • Learn how to work in a collaborative way with the child’s family.
Dr. Helen’s Self-Care Tips for Parents, Teachers, Professionals, and Other Caregivers of Children with Behavioral Issues
• Be mindful of how you are feeling. • Don’t be afraid to ask help for yourself. • Accept the things you can work on and delegate what you can’t handle. • Have time for yourself. • Don’t neglect your other relationships.
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, we talk with Dr. Helen Tsamoulous to learn practical steps we parents can take to manage our children’s behaviour. Dr. Helen is a registered psychologist who has provided assessment and counselling services with children, adolescents, and families for over 20 years. Aside from private practice, Dr. Helen is also a school counsellor and a teacher, helping undergraduate and postgraduate counselling psychology students who are looking to work with children and families. In her work, Dr. Helen uses a positive growth framework to ensure that children, adolescents, and their families experience a sense of empowerment when addressing any opportunities for growth in daily life.
Key Learnings
• What encouraged Dr. Helen to work with kids • A discussion about the prevalence of behavioural in children • Common behavioural issues in children that move parents to ask for help from a professional • Common causes of behavioural difficulties among children • The effect of technology and the modern world to today’s children • How to know if your child is about to have an emotional meltdown and what to do about it • Ignoring versus negotiating with your child during a meltdown • How to use acknowledgment when talking with your child during a breakdown • The meaning of positive parenting and how can you adopt this framework • The differences between a child’s behavioural patterns in school and at home
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, we invited Dr. Virginia Oliviera to give us an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders. She also gives us some very helpful advice on how best to manage the condition, which parents with children diagnosed with the disorder or those who are concerned that their children might have it will find useful. Dr. Oliviera is a consultant pediatrician with expertise in various pediatric fields including sleep, child behaviours, child development, and autism spectrum disorder. She worked for ten years at Sydney’s two predominant children hospitals and is the clinical director of Southern Healthcare Specialists
Key Learnings An introduction on Autism Spectrum Disorders The early symptoms and signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders How common Autism Spectrum Disorders are The different factors that may contribute to the occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children Why not knowing the real cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders might actually be beneficial to parents How Dr. Oliviera talks to parents about prognosis Websites and resources about Autism Spectrum Disorders that Dr. Oliviera suggest that parents check out to find support and more information How parents should deal with the siblings of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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In this episode of Chatabout Children, we bring in Dr. Dimitrios “Jim” Papadopoulos, one of Australia’s leading sleep specialist, to talk about how parents can help their children get the best sleep they ought to have.
Key Learnings
• What interested Dr. Papadopoulos to specialize in sleep • How physical issues could affect a child’s quality of sleep • The links between dental health issues and sleep problems among children • Snoring and why it isn’t the only symptom of sleep difficulties among children • How sleep problems affect a child’s development • Dr. Jim’s top three sleep problems • How Dr. Jim treats his patients • How sleep apnea is related to asthma • Lifestyle habits to teach your children to improve the quality of their sleep • What sleep studies are and what kinds of children need them
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For episode 14 of Chatabout Children, we are talking with Dr. Justine Millar, a trained and accredited ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist here in Australia.
She specializes in the management of ear, nose, and throat disorders among adults, but she also works extensively with children and their families. Being a mother of three children herself, Dr. Millar understands the challenges of keeping one’s child healthy.
Key Learnings What encouraged Dr. Justine Millar to specialize in ears, nose, and throat (ENT). The most common ear, nose, and throat problems that Dr. Justin sees among her child patients What is glue ear and how can they be treated The age range that glue ear typically affects The truth about your child’s swimming lessons and middle-ear infections What you can do to prevent ear infections in your children even if he or she is taking swimming lessons Signs and symptoms of middle-ear infections to watch out on your child How to know if your child has a hearing issue What grommets are and how they can help in your child’s ear problems What tonsils are and when do they become a problem to your child Sleep-disordered breathing and its relationship with tonsil problems
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While good eyesight is clearly critical for the overall growth of your child, it probably isn’t as important to the development of your child’s learning abilities. In this episode you'll learn: What behavioral optometry is and why Aimee chose to specialize in this area The difference between optometry and behavioral optometry The relationship between visual function and learning What usually happens when someone consults a general optometrist The best age for a child’s first visit to an optometrist Symptoms to look at for potential vision problems in children ages three and below How vision function changes as a child grows Government-sponsored vision screenings and how to make sense of them How behavioral optometry could help children with learning difficulties What vision therapy looks like and how it helps a child with vision difficulties When or when not to give your child eyewear with colored overlays The latest evidence on how screen time affects your child’s vision
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In this episode, we invited Emma Richards to talk about the importance of vision and how parents can protect their children’s eyesight. Emma is an optometrist and a mother who lives in the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. She had training in behavioral optometry, and she continues to nurture her interest in children’s vision. According to her, her primary motivation is to educate people about accidental eye damage and its prevention throughout the lifespan. This mission is supported by an online business she put up, which provides quality eye protection for kids.
Key Learnings What Emma loves about being an optometrist What influenced Emma’s decision to work on children’s vision How Emma became interested with eye injuries on children The most common eye injuries on children based on age groups Why 44–76% of eye injuries happen at home Why it’s important to watch how your pets and your children are interacting What parents can do to prevent eye injury accidents First aid treatments for different eye injuries What children might see in their vision when they have a damaged retina The long-term repercussions of some significant eye injuries Some ideal scenarios when it comes to eye protection How to find the best pair of sunglasses
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In part two, we bring back Jacky Peile to talk more about attention and the different interventions available for children with attention difficulties. Jacky is the founder of EarlyLinks, an occupational therapy clinic for children at Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia. She leads a team of occupational therapists who support children, teens, and young adults challenged by anxiety and sensory-processing difficulties to improve their daily life through practical strategies.
Key Learnings How attention develops in the early years of a child A working definition of attention Specific strategies to cultivate the attention skills of babies and toddlers (0–2 years old) What changes in children’s attention as they transition to school age and how parents can continue to cultivate their attention at this point How going down to the level of the child can help communicate what he or she needs to be focusing on at particular moments The role of breaking down a task into small steps that a child can follow in building attention in schoolchildren How to encourage children to ask for help when they need it The key difference between ordinary attention difficulties and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Jacky’s thoughts on medication for ADHD and working with health professionals What parents need to expect when they visit Jacky for an assessment of their children’s attention issues How therapy looks like and how long it will take
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Attention is a very basic skill for human beings, so basic that we don’t usually talk about it.
Jacky Peile is an occupational therapist who established EarlyLinks at Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia in 2010. Today, she leads a team of occupational therapists who support children, teens, and young adults with anxiety and sensory-processing difficulties through practical strategies that make their daily life easier. Jacky has also presented at National Occupational Therapy conferences and is a member of several organizations advocating for greater support and understanding for children who are usually overlooked.
In this episode you'll learn: What exactly is an occupational therapist and why Jacky fits the job well What attention is and how it develops early in life How attention problems arise in childhood How a shift in a child’s social environment (i.e. pre-school to school) affects attention The different subtypes of attention: shared attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention The relationship between motivation and attention How a child develops divided attention How parents can identify attention issues in their child and when they should get professional help What sensory-processing difficulties are and how they are related to a child's ability to sustain attention The “Purple Mat” technique to teach your child selective attention
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Allergy, much like any chronic illness, is causing discomfort to a lot of people across the lifespan. Signs of allergy could arise as early as childhood and this may be a cause of worry for many parents. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Ana Dosen to talk about allergy, specifically peanut allergy, and your child.
Key Learnings What led Dr. Dosen to focus her career on allergy Theories on what caused the allergy explosion in the last 10-15 years What you need to know about what happens to the immune system early in a child’s life The latest findings in allergy research and how Australia is at the forefront of all of it Guidelines on how to introduce peanut to your child safely and test for the possible presence of an allergy How eczema is connected with a child’s propensity to peanut allergy The signs and symptoms that indicate that your child may have a peanut allergy What to do after noticing symptoms of peanut allergy in your child Dosen’s peanut allergy testing procedure and advice for allergy management Immunotherapy for peanut allergy Tips for parents, educators, and children on using adrenaline injector
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Joining us in this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast is Nicole McGrath. Nicole is a speech pathologist who specializes in pediatric feeding. And she’s going to help us understand this area a little more and give us tips on how to handle fussy eaters.
Key Learnings What got Nicole drawn into speech pathology and the area of feeding in particular. The key things that she looks at when assessing fussy eaters. The various sort of skills that she tries to uncover when doing an initial feeding assessment, where she actually observes a child eating in real-time. How she assesses babies’ feeding differently from older children, the different things she looks at like the baby’s oral cavity, tongue ties, history of reflux, and allergies. The complexity of feeding and why you need to take a holistic approach. Why someone should see a speech pathologist for their child’s feeding issues. How to differentiate between fussiness and not being fussy in a child. Why you need to get support, especially if your child’s fussiness is affecting the family. Why fussiness does not equate to misbehaving. Concerned about your child’s nutrition? Nicole discusses when is the right time to consult a nutritionist or dietician. Why using gadgets or TV as a distraction for kids while eating is not good.
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Please join us in this podcast episode of Chatabout Children Podcast as we interview dietician Monica Kubizniak, where we will talk about food fuel for effective learning. In this episode you'll learn: Monica’s background and how she fell in love with nutrition and being a dietician from a lecture in college. The biggest challenge she experienced fuelling her 3 children. Why she advises parents against cooking more than one meal for families with more than one child. How she teaches and encourages her kids to listen to what their bodies are telling them — to cues — about fuelling and refuelling themselves that they will bring with them when they become adolescents. What are the best foods to give your preschool or school-age child for learning, concentration and attention. What’s a typical day like for a dietician with three kids. The actual food she prepares for her kids’ breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner. What are the common culprits that we find in the lunch box of a typical Australian child. How to cope with the imperfect days when you don’t have time to buy or prepare healthy food for your child. What everyone should know about the harmful effect of nitrates in your body and the healthier options available in the market.
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In this Part 2 of The Bilingual Child, we talk about the ways on how your child can maintain a second language.
In case you missed part 1, I highly encourage you to tune in to part 1: Episode 005 – The Bilingual Child Part 1
Now in this episode, we continue the discussion about the bilingual child, in particular: Factors that influence learning another language for the bilingual child. Ways to motivate your child to speak another language. Common myths about bilingual language development. Advantages of speaking another language. How to assess language difficulties for children with another language at home. Practical tips for educators
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Today we will give you an introduction and the foundation knowledge to what bilingual language development looks like and give you the confidence to understand what are some characteristics we see when we have a child who has a different language spoken at home.
Over the years, multilingual families has increased quite progressively. Collectively Australians speak over 300 languages. In Sydney South, we have 30.5% born overseas and large portion are born in China. Other common languages spoken aside from English are: Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese and Greek.
It is important for parents and carers of children coming from homes speaking a different language to have an understanding of what bilingualism development looks like.
Why I discuss bilingual development as a speech pathologist
For myself, personally, Italian was my first language and I was only immersed in English once I started school. I used Italian when I talked to my parents and relatives, while I used English with my siblings.
Having another language is such an amazing gift for me now as an adult and it’s something I encourage parents to continue to develop, if they speak a different language at home.
Why I speak about bilingualism as a speech pathologist? The reason is I’ve seen so many children with speech delay that have not been diagnosed earlier because parents attribute it to having a second language at home.
So I wanted to raise awareness about what the typical stages are for language development so that if there are concerns, you can refer the child sooner rather than later.
2 Key Components of Language Receptive language - an ability to understand language, to follow directions, to understand different questions and sentences. Expressive language - an ability to use language, speaking, making sentences, answering questions, using grammar and being able to retell stories.
So when we are looking at milestones, we are looking at both receptive and expressive language milestones.
For a bilingual child, you are gonna use these milestones based on what the language the child is predominantly using.
Receptive language milestones At birth - as soon as babies are aware of their environmental sounds 6-9 months of age - they start to understand their own name, understand greeting actions like “hello” and “goodbye”, understand questions like “where’s mum?” 10-12 months of age - understand familiar objects and begins to respond to simple requests 1-2 years of age - able to understand more simple directions, enjoy stories and nursery rhymes 2-3 years of age - understand functions of objects and 2-step directions 3-4 years of age - understand WH questions (who, what, when) and you can have a conversation with them too 4-5 years of age - understand more complex WH questions like “why” or “what will happen next” and nearly everything that’s said to them is understood.
Expressive language milestones At birth - sounds are made by a newborn to express pleasure or pain 4-6 months - increasing sounds they are making like babbling 7-12 - the babbling gets longer and starting to put longer sounds together like “mama” and intonation is used too 12 months - first words are spoken. For example, if Spanish is spoken at home, the child’s first words are in Spanish. 12-18 months - more and more words are being expressed including gestures, facial expression and using single words like mommy, drink, more. Starting to imitate new words and sounds. 18-24 months - words start to get a little bit clearer, ask questions like “where’s mommy”, the typically speak 25-50 words and start to put 2 words together. 2-3 years - vocabulary starts to expand up to 200 words and sentences are getting longer up to 3 word sentences. 3-4 years - lots of new experiences, they have a lot to talk about, starting to combine words into 4 words or more, grammar is more correct, people are able to understand your child, their speech is more clear and fluent. 4-5 years - sentences are longer, they tell stories, right topic focus, retell what they’ve done for the day in the right order of events.
No matter what the language is at home, these milestones should serve as your guide. If the language is not progressing, you might want consider to getting professional advice.
Patterns of bilingual development Simultaneous - 2 languages are acquired at the same time before the age of 3. When you have high exposure to both languages and high opportunity to use both languages, then you have simultaneous bilingualism, where both languages are developing at the same time. Sequential - The 2nd language is learned after the first language from the age of 3. If your child has a high opportunity to use both languages, then they have rapid sequential bilingualism occuring. Receptive - A child is exposed to a 2nd language but has little opportunity to practice it. They understand it, but because they are not practising it, they don’t speak it. If you got high exposure to both languages but low opportunity to use the 2nd language, this results in receptive bilingualism.
Typical characteristics of bilingual language development Language interference - the first language might influence the 2nd language development in terms of grammar or word syntax. Code switching - changing or switching languages within the same sentence or conversation. Silent period - a child become silent during initial exposure to the 2nd language ( should not be more than 12 months). Language loss - happens when fluency in the first language might decrease if not practised or maintained.
In the next episode, which is part 2 of The Bilingual Child series, we will talk about how you can help your child maintain more than one language. Please do watch out for that.
Resources: Download the checklist www.chataboutchildren.com
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Bullying is one of the most common problems that school children experience. There are many strategies to approach this problem, and our guest for today offers one very effective strategy, and it has to do a lot with books.
Key Learnings
• How Susanne’s experience as a refugee influenced her writing and work • Susan’s views on bullying • Practical know-how on how kids could help themselves or their friends face bullying • The importance of teaching children the context where they can communicate themselves most effectively • The story behind the book series “I am Jack” • Some signs that your child might be a victim of bullying • Two important support systems that will protect your child from bullying • How to understand the psychology of the bully • How to use “I am Jack” at school • The power of storybooks in coming inside a child's world • Why characters are so important in the success of stories • How books could teach little children about relationships • Why children need sunlight
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Last episode we talked about the foundations for learning to read and spell.
In particular, we talked about practical strategies, speech and language milestones for 3-5 year old, what to do if you are concerned that your child is not reaching those milestones, and oral language skills, especially vocabulary.
You can go here to listen to Part 1
We also touched briefly on pre-literacy skills and we will dive deep into that topic today. Here’s what to expect in today’s show: Fun ways to introduce your child to more building blocks for reading and spelling Oral language, how it is linked to literacy 5 ways to build phonological awareness Comment on apps for building foundations Listen and attention skills Other considerations
Links and Resources: Reading Eggs Chatabout Children 003 - Foundations for Reading & Spelling Part 1 Subscribe on iTunes
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In this episode of Chatabout Children Podcast, we look at the foundations to learning to read and spell with a real focus on preschoolers - children who are from 3 to 5 years of age. This is part 1 of this comprehensive topic, so I hope you stay tuned. Speech and Language Milestones 3 years of age 4 years of age 5 years of age Speech sounds A child speaking another language at home (aside from English) What to do if you are concerned after learning the milestones? 6 practical, easy-to-apply strategies on how to power up your child’s vocabulary Screen time habits
Links and Resources: For more about this topic, get my free mini-ebook “6 Steps to Launch Your Child’s First Words and Beyond” at www.chataboutchildren.com. Chatabout Children on Facebook
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In this episode of the Chatabout Children podcast, we’ll talk all about first words where I answer the top question I naturally get from parents and educators as a speech pathologist.
In particular, we’ll discuss the following in the podcast: Communication milestones from birth to 2 years of age What to expect from children who speak a foreign language outside of English What if your child is not reaching those milestones? 3 early signs that first words are soon to erupt 6 key strategies to boost those first words Answers to common questions
Links and Resources: For more about this topic, get my free mini-ebook “6 Steps to Launch Your Child’s First Words and Beyond” at www.chataboutchildren.com. Chatabout Children on Facebook
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Welcome to the inaugural episode of Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic - where we chat about all things children while supporting and empowering you to also grow with the children in your life.
First things first, here’s the reason why we started the Chatabout Children Podcast.
The Chatabout Children podcast is an extension of www.chataboutchildren.com, a blog that I started years ago to share to my audience (parents, grandparents, carers and people who work with children) some of the topics that I regularly get asked to speak about at various events and conferences.
With the podcast, I plan to use the platform to share my content in audio format, especially now that people are busier than ever and a podcast is another exciting medium to reach those busy parents and carers.
The purpose of Chatabout Children is to create a positive and a collaborative community without the need for the unnecessary judgement that already occurs in society; the intention is to build each other up and provide a wealth of information about raising children, from newborns to pre-teens.
Who is Sonia Bestulic?
I am a children’s author, businesswoman, and speech pathologist who has worked with so many children through the years. I’m a mother of 3 young kids, who were all born within a period of 2 ½ years (no twins in there).
My professional and personal experience working with children and families culminates in my newest endeavour, The Chatabout Children Podcast.
In this episode you’ll learn: My deep insight into the rewards and challenges of raising young children, having worked with so many families and children through the years One of my greatest passions has been to teach, to educate and to spark the transformation that comes when you empower others. The podcast is looking to not just educate but enlighten you with essential tips, tricks, and strategies that you might find valuable in your day-to-day. Apart from the education, the podcast is also about the celebration of children, and those that care for them - parents, grandparents, carers, people that work with children or people training to work with children. The key message is to encourage you to learn and to laugh with the ones you love -- to make you feel empowered, inspired, supported and feel a sense of belonging to a community that understands you. My mantra is family first, but do remember you are part of that family too. Professionals that work with children have a very emotional role, and they need to make sure to look after themselves too. Having borne three children so close together was a steep learning curve for me. My five main pillars of connection: with myself, my husband, children, extended family and the community. Expect fortnightly episodes of Chatabout Children of 20-30 minutes per episode featuring experts in the world of children’s health and education, everyday parents and carers, children plus solo shows with your truly.
Links and Resources: Subscribe to Chatabout Children Podcast Like Chatabout Children on Facebook Read the blog at www.chataboutchildren.com
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