In this episode, I will explain the viral “Where’s Jessica?” distraction trend and discover whether it truly helps your child manage big emotions.

I am going to show you why distraction can work in the moment - the novelty, the shift in attention, and the calm, curious tone that naturally regulates your child’s nervous system, and you’ll see why relying on distraction long‑term can backfire, teaching your child to avoid uncomfortable feelings rather than build emotional resilience.

I want you to come away from today’s bucket emptying episode understanding the difference between a quick win and a meaningful skill, and feel clearer about when distraction is appropriate… and when it prevents your child from developing the confidence and coping strategies they genuinely need.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re helping or accidentally hindering your child’s emotional growth, this episode gives you the clarity, compassion, and practical insight you’ve been looking for.

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

Highlights from this episode:

00:38 - Where’s Jessica?

03:15 - Emotional cues

06:48 - The novelty factor

09:44 - Trading emotions

12:36 - A friction free world

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

In today’s episode, we will explore how to help your child navigate life’s inevitable uncertainties, from exam results and friendship turbulence to school transitions and family change.

You’ll learn why shielding your child from uncertainty actually weakens resilience, and how simple shifts in the way you listen, respond, and structure daily life can dramatically improve their ability to cope.

I will walk you through practical tools you can use today: active listening that uncovers what your child really means, honest reassurance without false promises, emotional validation that calms the nervous system, and routines that restore a sense of safety when everything feels up in the air.

You’ll also discover how to fact‑check the stories your child picks up from peers or online. and why managing your own emotional barometer is one of the most powerful supports you can offer, so that you feel equipped to guide your child through uncertainty with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

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

Highlights from this episode:

01:01 - Uncertainty is a natural part of life

03:55 - Listen first

07:03 - Honest reassurance

10:31 - Validate emotions

12:30 - Acknowledge the challenge

15:23 - Brains have a negative bias

18:09 - Routine is important

22:56 - Fact check

26:21 - Help yourself to help your kids

29:02 - Pay attention

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

In today’s bucket-emptying episode, you’ll learn the three essential foundations your child needs before confidence can grow.

If you’ve got a child who avoids challenges, gets overwhelmed easily, or insists they’re “rubbish” at everything, this is where you start. In this episode you’ll discover

• how to explain the mind–body connection in a way your child can actually understand,
• why their brain often misreads situations as danger, and
• how this shapes their confidence.

You’ll also learn why breathing techniques aren’t just “calming tools” but a physiological reset your child needs before they can face anything tricky.

Finally, you’ll explore how to build an exposure ladder - a simple, structured way to help your child take small, doable steps outside their comfort zone.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to lay the groundwork so your child feels capable, prepared, and ready to try.

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Boost Your Child’s Confidence in 10 Days: https://drmaryhan.com/episode/boost-your-childs-confidence-in-10-days/ 

30 Second Reset: https://drmaryhan.com/episode/bucket-emptying-30-second-reset/ 

Highlights from this episode:

01:24 - It’s all about experience

03:31 - The connection between mind and body

08:01 - Selective hearing

11:41 - The invisible gorilla

13:27 - Breathing techniques

19:10 - Get the foundations right

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

Today is my birthday, and it’s become a tradition of mine to reflect on life and what I’ve learned. So this year I’m reflecting in public, on the podcast with you.

I am going to share my top ten parenting lessons, drawn from my own experience, about how to raise confident children.

My two children are adults now, and I like to think I’ve learnt a lot over the years. I’ve gotten things right, and I’ve certainly gotten things wrong - we’re only human!

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

Highlights from this episode:

01:13 - A birthday wish

03:44 - Parents to adult children

06:54 - Meal time is family time

08:55 - A roast dinner goes a long way

11:47 - Value systems are for life

15:19 - This too shall pass

18:36 - People pleasing

22:27 - Comparison through a softer lens

26:21 - Humans are complicated

28:51 - Don’t take yourself too seriously

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

I talk a lot about confidence, because it’s super important, and it’s something we all struggle with - yes, even us parents!

But a lack of confidence can manifest in so many different ways, it can be really tricky knowing how to spot the signs in our kids and support them through it.

So in today’s bucket emptying episode, I’m giving you a cheat sheet, with five really powerful reflection questions you can use with any child at any age to help build their confidence.

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

Highlights from this episode:

00:44 - Reflection builds competency

02:34 - What was going on for you?

04:48 - What were you feeling?

06:37 - Focus on the unmet needs

08:19 - Building a growth mindset

09:55 - Encouraging self-regulation

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

Anxiety is not a one size fits all thing. It can show up in so many different ways, from school refusal to bedtime worries and everything in between.

We think it’s our job as parents to find the magic solution, but there isn’t one! Instead, we have to find ways to navigate these tricky situations and the supportive presence our children need.

In today’s episode I am going to help you tackle your kids’ anxiety with some super practical tips you can start using right now. Plus, I share the words which are most likely to calm your child or teen and the things you should definitely avoid!

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

Mentioned in this episode:

The 30 Second Reset - https://drmaryhan.com/episode/bucket-emptying-30-second-reset/ 

Highlights from this episode:

01:02 - Introduction to anxiety

03:54 - What is the feeling of anxiety?

08:00 - 2 things you do that increase anxiety

11:54 - Stay calm and carry on

14:55 - Encourage and normalise

17:25 - Building long term confidence

20:05 - Skills take time to learn

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

Spoiler alert: being a mum is hard.

It’s ok to be a good mum and feel like you’re not enough. You might feel like you can’t tell other mums that, but I promise you we are all feeling the same.

So in this bucket emptying episode, I talk about why that feeling is so common, why it’s not a personal failure, and why being a good mum can still feel exhausting and heavy.

This episode isn’t about fixing these feelings, because I can’t do that. What we will do together is get comfortable with those feelings, and get honest with ourselves.

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

Highlights from this episode:

01:38 - The two voices in your head

05:12 - Mad Mum

11:52 - Guilt is part of motherhood

14:32 - Final thoughts

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

Do you ever feel like you are speaking to a brick wall?

Do your kids sometimes ignore you as if you’re invisible?

Do you feel the frustration eating away at you?

Well let me tell you something - you are not alone! Every child has moments, and some more than others, of simply not listening. There are so many reasons for this, and yes some of them are learned, but some are simply part of growing up.

In today’s episode I am going to explore the main reasons your children don’t listen to you, and give you some practical tips you can start using right now to get your kids wanting to listen to you, which will bring your stress levels down too!

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

Highlights from this episode:

00:28 - You are not alone

03:10 - Listening is self-regulation

06:51 - Patterns of behaviour

08:30 - A need for independence

11:00 - 5 steps to get your kids listening

13:42 - How to make your life easier

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

After school tantrums are anything but random.

Often, they are a sign that your child has been trying super hard to follow the rules and be on their best behaviour all day - and for neurodivergent children they could be masking all day - and this is exhausting. So when you turn up, they release all of the emotions and big feelings.

It might not feel like it, but I promise you, that’s a good thing because it means you are their safe space.

But parenting these meltdowns is not easy, so in this episode I’m going to share some really practical tips that you can start using to make those moments feel less stressful and more manageable!

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

Highlights from this episode:

00:40 - The one mistake every parent makes

01:56 - Discharging the battery

03:58 - 3 things your child needs

07:19 - Create reset time

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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

From Adolescence to Louis Theroux, the manosphere has become a mainstream talking point, and that’s a good thing!

The manosphere is a term associated with toxic behaviour. Me, you, and all other parents out there know this is not what it means to be masculine or manly, but our kids don’t know that, and it is so important that we help them identify and understand problematic content when they see it, in age appropriate ways.

Today I am diving inside the manosphere… well, sort of… to give you some practical tips that you can use to support those tricky conversations, and to help your children become confident, independent and compassionate people.

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

Highlights from this episode:

01:17 - What is the manosphere?

04:44 - The internet fills information voids

07:15 - Don’t panic

08:47 - Don’t say don’t

12:54 - Critical thinking skills

15:45 - Help your son navigate problematic content

21:19 - For single mothers

💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together

💚  For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ 

💚  For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library 

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

💚 Brands and advertisers, email [email protected] 

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

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