In this lively, insightful episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma dive into the work of Dr Ross Greene, the clinical psychologist behind The Explosive Child and Lost & Found. They explore his compassionate, actionable approach to supporting children with challenging behaviour – not through control or rewards, but through collaboration, reflective conversation, and a deep respect for unmet needs.

Broadcast from a rainy Devon morning filled with cold toes, happy hardcore, and philosophical detours into Parisian pianos and historical opiates, the conversation moves through Greene’s model of Plan A, B, and C, the power of reflective listening, and what it means to shift from adult authority to mutual understanding.

From Forest School to formal classrooms, they reflect on the relevance of Greene’s work in outdoor learning, behaviour policies, and parenting. They also unpack the links to nonviolent communication, the pitfalls of binary thinking, and the power of seeing children’s struggles as skill deficits rather than defiance. Essential listening for anyone working with young people.

🌲 Episode also includes an unscripted (and very Forest School) promotion of their Level 3 training and a tangent on muddy boots, personal appearance, and the curse of the "tradesman look" in Tesco.

⏱ Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Informal intro and Level 3 training shoutout
02:23 – Cold feet, Goldfish Bowl vibes, and seasonal blues
06:53 – Introducing Ross Greene and the Lives in the Balance model
08:43 – Comparing The Explosive Child and Lost & Found
14:20 – The ALSUP tool: reframing “behaviour issues” as difficulties
22:11 – The child’s point of view: collaborating, not commanding
29:11 – Fairness, empathy, and the fallacy of top-down solutions
33:13 – Forest School adaptations: handwork conversations and timing
43:58 – Classroom flashbacks, corridor chats, and reactive approaches
59:19 – Parents, pressure, and the myth of “just bad parenting”

🌲 Keywords: Ross Greene, collaborative problem solving, The Explosive Child, Lost & Found, behaviour support, outdoor education, Forest School adaptation, reflective listening, needs-based support, nonviolent communication, emotional safety, child-centred practice, power dynamics, parenting SEN, inclusive pedagogy

🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #BehaviourSupport #RossGreene #TheExplosiveChild #LostAndFound #ReflectivePractice #SENSupport #InclusiveEducation #ChildLedLearning #CollaborativeProblemSolving #NonviolentCommunication #EmpathyInEducation #ForestSchoolPodcast

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